معرفی
Caty Borum is Professor at American University's School of Communication (SOC) and Executive Director of the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), a creative innovation lab that creates, showcases, and studies entertainment for social change. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical media production, focusing on the intersection of comedy, documentary, and social justice initiatives.
Professor Borum's research centers on how comedy functions as a tool for social change and civic engagement. She has developed frameworks for understanding comedy's role in social justice movements, examining how humor can create solidarity, challenge power structures, and make difficult topics accessible. Her work explores both historical perspectives on comedy as a societal corrective (dating back to Aristotle and Freud) and contemporary applications in addressing issues like climate change, refugee crises, and systemic inequality. She emphasizes that effective social change comedy 'punches up' at power structures rather than marginalizing vulnerable groups.
Borum's scholarly publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining how narrative strategies in both comedy and documentary can empower communities and drive social movements. Her work demonstrates how marginalized voices are increasingly shaping comedy content, moving beyond traditional representations to create authentic, impactful storytelling that drives awareness and change. She particularly focuses on the mechanisms through which comedic approaches can foster public engagement with serious issues that might otherwise be too painful or polarizing to address directly.
- Outstanding Scholarship, Research, Creative Activity, and Other Professional Contributions Award from American University (2021)
- Broadcast Education Association Book Award for Story Movements (2021)
- DOC NYC's inaugural list of New Documentary Leaders (2020)
- Six Anthem Awards from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
- One Telly Award
- Multiple academic awards from communication associations
Professor Borum directs several major initiatives including the Yes, And...Laughter Lab (a creative incubator of comedy for social justice with partnerships including Netflix, Amazon, and NBC Universal), Comedy ThinkTanks, and GoodLaugh. Her work has been supported by dozens of external grants from prestigious funders including the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts. Prior to her academic career, she held significant positions at FleishmanHillard International Communications, worked with Norman Lear, and served at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
As Executive Director of CMSI, Borum leads a dynamic team that operates at the intersection of academic research and practical media innovation. The center functions as both a research hub studying media impact and a production incubator developing new content. Her leadership has positioned CMSI as a key player in connecting entertainment industry professionals with social justice organizations to create meaningful content that drives awareness and change.
