Jacob Smith

Jacob Smith is a Professor and Associate Department Chair in the Department of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University's School of Communication, where he also directs the Master of Arts in Sound Arts and Industries program.

His academic foundation includes a PhD in Communication and Culture from Indiana University. Smith's scholarly identity centers on the cultural history of media with specialized expertise in sound studies and environmental media, exploring intersections between auditory cultures, ecological systems, and technological evolution.

Research trajectories reveal a sustained investigation into sound's role across historical and contemporary contexts—from phonograph cultures to digital sonic environments—with increasing emphasis on media ecology and the Anthropocene since 2015. His work bridges academic rigor and creative practice through experimental audiobooks that challenge traditional scholarly formats.

Smith's publications demonstrate consistent innovation in media historiography, particularly regarding radio's evolution and sound's environmental dimensions. Recent outputs (2016-2020) coalesce around three thematic clusters: aeroecology/wildlife sound (e.g., Lightning Birds), post-network media infrastructures (e.g., Travels with Jack), and critical examinations of sound citizenship (e.g., Indian Sound Culture).

His scholarly impact is recognized through prestigious awards:

• SCMS Anne Friedberg Innovative Scholarship Award (2022) for Lightning Birds: An Aeroecology of the Airwaves
• Kraszna-Krausz Best Moving Image Book Award (2017) for Anatomy of Sound: Norman Corwin and Media Authorship
• Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award (2012) for Spoken Word: Postwar American Phonograph Cultures

As program director, Smith advises MA candidates in Sound Arts and Industries while teaching graduate/undergraduate courses spanning recording industry history, environmental media, and sound studies. His editorial collaborations (e.g., Indian Sound Culture) indicate significant interdisciplinary grant activity, though specific funding details aren't provided. The MA program he co-founded functions as a nexus for sound-art experimentation, connecting academic research with creative industry practices through studio-based learning.