USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy
The USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) is a USC research center that produces scholarship, convenings, and training programs on journalism, public diplomacy, election cybersecurity, and communication policy, serving policymakers, journalists, students, and academics globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy does
The USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) is a university research and policy institute established in 2007 within USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The center produces research, convenes dialogues, and runs educational programs across four thematic areas: Politics, Power, and the Press; The Future of News; Public Diplomacy; and Technology and Mobile Innovation. Its initiatives include the Google-supported Election Cybersecurity Initiative, the Local News and Student Journalism Initiative, the Africa–U.S. Initiative with a Global Health Communication Leadership track, the Digital Inclusion Initiative, and two recently launched youth media programs (Wildfire and Texas Hill Country) that train high school students in journalism and community storytelling.
CCLP's core "product" is not a technology platform but a convening and scholarship platform: white papers, public events, fellowship programs (Senior Fellows, Faculty Fellows, Visiting Fellows, Cowan Research Scholars), and training workshops. It has no commercial software or API offering and does not sell its outputs. The center's business model is grant- and donor-funded rather than revenue-generating: programs are provided at no cost to participants, with funding sourced from USC institutional resources, foundation grants (notably Carnegie Corporation, Google, The California Endowment), and project-based partnerships with government agencies (U.S. State Department, National Governors Association) and academic institutions worldwide.
The center is led by Director Geoffrey Cowan (former VOA director and former USC Annenberg dean), with Adam Clayton Powell III directing Washington programs and the Election Cybersecurity Initiative, supported by a small core staff. CCLP's reach is global in scope despite a Los Angeles–Washington, D.C. operational footprint, with documented engagement in all 50 U.S. states and international workshops in Australia, Greece, Cyprus, and across Africa.
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy
- Legal name
- USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy
- Website
- https://communicationleadership.usc.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) is a USC research center that produces scholarship, convenings, and training programs on journalism, public diplomacy, election cybersecurity, and communication policy, serving policymakers, journalists, students, and academics globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Policy Research
- NAICS
- Public Relations Agencies (54182), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Affairs & Government Relations (MPAAADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) is a university research and policy institute that conducts research, convenes thought leaders, and delivers educational programs on communication leadership, journalism, public diplomacy, election cybersecurity, and technology policy. Its offerings include multi-state cybersecurity training for election officials, youth journalism training programs, the Africa-U.S. Initiative on global health communication, digital inclusion research, fellowship cohorts, and research publications.
Product overview
The USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) is a university research and policy institute, not a technology product company. It offers a portfolio of research initiatives, educational programs, and convening services rather than commercial software products. Its offerings include the Election Cybersecurity Initiative (cybersecurity training workshops), the Local News and Student Journalism Initiative (exploring student journalism's role in addressing news deserts), the Wildfire Youth Media Initiative and Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative (youth media training programs), the Africa-U.S. Initiative with Global Health Communication Leadership, the Digital Inclusion Initiative (broadband accessibility research), research publications, public events/forums, and fellowship programs. These are policy research initiatives and educational programs, not technology products or software platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Local News and Student Journalism Initiative (LNSJI): Initiative addressing the decline in local news by supporting student journalism in high schools and colleges
- Wildfire Youth Media Initiative
- Africa-U.S. Initiative (AFUSI)
- Digital Inclusion Initiative
- Election Cybersecurity Initiative (ECI)
Products and services
- Election Cybersecurity Initiative Cybersecurity training program led by Adam Clayton Powell III that has conducted workshops in all 50 U.S. states and internationally to help election officials, campaign managers, and civic leaders defend against cyber attacks.
- Local News and Student Journalism Initiative (LNSJI) Initiative exploring how high school and college journalists can help address the loss of local news coverage, including a white paper on student journalism's role in filling news deserts.
- Wildfire Youth Media Initiative A high school summer program that trains students to collect and document community stories related to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and their aftermath, producing podcasts and short-form content.
- Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative A two-week overnight summer camp at Schreiner University for Texas high school students impacted by July 2025 floods, focusing on community storytelling and journalism skills.
- Africa-U.S. Initiative (AFUSI) A joint endeavor between CCLP and universities across America and Africa featuring monthly Africa-U.S. dialogue sessions and the Global Health Communication Leadership Initiative.
- Digital Inclusion Initiative An initiative promoting U.S. broadband accessibility through original research and convening diverse stakeholders from academia and policy.
- Research Publications Academic publications and reports on topics including public diplomacy, technology and human trafficking, local news sustainability, women and communication leadership, and election security.
- Events and Forums Public events, forums, and conferences on politics, journalism, public diplomacy, and communication leadership featuring experts and policymakers.
- Fellowship Programs Senior Fellows, Faculty Fellows, Visiting Fellows, and Cowan Research Scholars programs connecting leaders in journalism, academia, and policy with CCLP's work.
Quantifiable outcome
- Election Cybersecurity Initiative led workshops in all 50 U.S. states and continues to instruct officials around the world
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Schreiner UniversitycorePartnership with Schreiner University in Kerrville, TX to host the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative, a two-week overnight summer camp for high school students impacted by July 2025 floods.
- Texas Public RadiocoreCollaborative partner in the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative, providing media expertise and resources for the youth journalism program.
- Kerrville Community Arts ProgramminorCommunity partner for the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative, supporting arts and cultural programming.
- Heart of the Hills Heritage CenterminorHeritage center partner for the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative, contributing local historical and cultural resources.
- National Governors AssociationcorePartnership with NGA for six in-state cybersecurity workshops to prepare for the 2020 elections, bringing together election officials and campaign managers.
- Venice ArtscoreUniversity-community partnership to create the Institute for Photographic Empowerment, supporting participant-produced documentary projects in photography, film and digital media.
- Los Angeles TimescorePartnership with LA Times and USC Ahmanson Lab's Annenberg Lab to develop augmented reality app for immersive journalism experiences.
- USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health (IIGH)coreJoint initiative on Global Health Communication Leadership, bringing together senior fellows from Africa with policymakers, academic experts, journalists, and global health practitioners.
- Common Sense MediaminorPartnership on Children's Media and the Impact of News on American Youth, examining how children's issues are covered by media.
- Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein CentercoreCo-hosted roundtable on nonprofit journalism with leaders from news organizations, foundations, nonprofits, publishers and universities.
- George Washington University Elliott School of International AffairscoreHost venue for the 'Africa–U.S. Forum on Global Health, Public Diplomacy, and International Collaboration' in Washington, DC.
- Howard University Center for African StudiescorePartner for Africa-U.S. Global Health Communication Leadership initiative, hosting networking events and engaging with faculty and students.
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)coreEngagement with CSIS Global Health Policy Center for discussions on integrating African perspectives into U.S. global health strategies.
- RMIT UniversitycoreInternational partnership to host the Election Cybersecurity Initiative workshop on fair elections in the age of AI in Melbourne, Australia.
- University of PiraeuscoreCo-hosted international conference on cybersecuring democracy in Athens, Greece with USC Cybersecurity Initiative.
- CYENS Centre of ExcellenceminorPartner in conference 'Cybersecuring Democracy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence' held in Cyprus.
- KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of ExcellenceminorPartner in Cyprus conference on election cybersecurity and AI.
- University of CyprusminorAcademic partner for Cyprus conference on cybersecuring democracy.
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)corePartner institution for Africa-U.S. Global Health Communication Leadership Initiative through Dr. Yewande Alimi's fellowship.
- Bhekisisa Centre for Health JournalismcorePartner institution for Global Health Communication Leadership Initiative through Mia Malan's fellowship.
- U.S. State DepartmentcorePartner with CCLP and Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands on Combating Violent Extremism initiative.
- USC Sol Price School of Public PolicyminorPartnership on Civic Tech USC initiative exploring technology, citizenship, and government intersection.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pew Research Center: Major nonprofit research organization producing nonpartisan studies on journalism, media, and civic engagement. Operates at a much larger scale than CCLP but shares the public-interest research mission on the future of news and civic discourse.
- Brookings Institution: Large public-policy research institution covering communications policy, election administration, and digital governance. Significantly larger and broader than CCLP but overlapping on policy research and convening authority.
- MIT Media Lab: University research lab exploring communication technology, mobile innovation, and digital media — overlaps with CCLP's Technology and Mobile Innovation area, though broader in scope and tech-centric rather than policy-centric.
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Bipartisan think tank covering international affairs and public diplomacy. CCLP engages CSIS's Global Health Policy Center for Africa-U.S. Initiative programming, demonstrating overlapping mandate on public diplomacy and global health communication.
Direct peers
- Annenberg Public Policy Center (University of Pennsylvania): Research center at Penn's Annenberg School studying communication policy, political communication, and media effects — directly comparable in mission, university setting, and Annenberg affiliation to CCLP.
- Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy: University-based research and convening center focused on media, politics, and journalism policy. Co-hosted a CCLP roundtable on nonprofit journalism, signaling direct peer overlap on Future of News and election-media research.
- Tow Center for Digital Journalism (Columbia Journalism School): Columbia-affiliated research initiative studying digital journalism and the future of news industry. Closely aligned with CCLP's Local News and Student Journalism Initiative and Future of News focus area.
- New America: Think tank with programs on digital inclusion, public interest technology, and the future of journalism — overlapping directly with CCLP's Digital Inclusion Initiative and Local News and Student Journalism Initiative.
- Stanford Center on Communication: Stanford-based academic center studying communication, journalism, and media. Comparable university-hosted research center with similar focus on communication leadership and policy, though more academic in orientation than CCLP's convening focus.
Regional players
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Oxford-based research center producing global studies on journalism and news industry trends. Comparable Future of News research agenda to CCLP, though primarily UK/Europe-focused rather than U.S.-policy-centric.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy social profiles
Digital presenceUSC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy
What does USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy do?
The USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) is a university research and policy institute that conducts research, convenes thought leaders, and delivers educational programs on communication leadership, journalism, public diplomacy, election cybersecurity, and technology policy. Its offerings include multi-state cybersecurity training for election officials, youth journalism training programs, the Africa-U.S. Initiative on global health communication, digital inclusion research, fellowship cohorts, and research publications.
Is USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy a public or private company?
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy founded?
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy based?
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
Who are USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pew Research Center, Brookings Institution, MIT Media Lab and Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Direct peers are Annenberg Public Policy Center (University of Pennsylvania), Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Tow Center for Digital Journalism (Columbia Journalism School), New America and Stanford Center on Communication. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is listed as a regional player.
Does USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy have an API?
No public API is recorded for USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy.
What industry is USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy in?
USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy's product category is Public Policy Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAADAE, Public Affairs & Government Relations, with a secondary code of MPAGAGAH, Government & Public Sector Conferences. Its NAICS code is 54182 and its SIC code is 8600.