Forum to explore the future of AI in communication

FIU will bring together media and technology leaders for a timely conversation about the evolving role of artificial intelligence in storytelling and journalism. 

On Thursday, March 12, at 1 p.m., the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication will host the Virgil and Joann Smith Thought Leaders Forum: “The AI Communicator: Blending Creativity, Critical Thinking and Technology.” The event, held via Zoom and free to the public, will examine how AI is reshaping the communications industry and how professionals can use emerging technologies thoughtfully and responsibly. 

The forum will feature keynote speaker Emily Brown, journalism director at Microsoft, a media strategist known for helping news organizations adapt to rapid technological change. Brown’s work focuses on the intersection of journalism, audience engagement and digital innovation, where she has helped develop strategies that connect high-quality journalism with audiences across platforms, including mobile apps, newsletters, podcasts and social media.

Moderating the conversation will be Erika Gonzalez, anchor and reporter at CBS News Miami and an FIU alumna. A Miami native who began her journalism career in South Florida, Gonzalez returned home after reporting in markets including South Carolina, Alabama and Colorado. She now helps lead CBS Miami’s morning news coverage and remains committed to telling stories that reflect and serve the South Florida community. 

The event will explore how communicators can blend creativity, critical thinking and technological fluency in an era increasingly shaped by AI. As newsrooms and communication professionals navigate rapid changes in media production and distribution, the forum will offer insights into how AI tools can enhance storytelling while preserving the values of strong journalism.

Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver, executive director of the Kopenhaver Center, maintains that “AI is transforming the communication landscape every day. This reality is requiring communicators to use critical thinking and creativity in order to tell an accurate and effective story and make the technology work for them and their audience. In order to be effective, the AI communicator must know how to use the AI tools that are available and judge how well these tools are telling the story.”

The Thought Leaders Forum series brings distinguished professionals to FIU to share insights with students, faculty and the broader community about emerging trends shaping the future of communication and media.

For FIU students, events like these provide an opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders working at the forefront of technological change in journalism and digital media.

Taylor Johnson, a Master of Science in Mass Communication student, described the forum as an important opportunity for students preparing to enter the field. “The Thought Leaders Forum is always something I look forward to as an emerging communications professional. It is a great way to hear from women who are doing the work I aspire to do as well,” Johnson noted.