Renee Hobbs

Media Literacy Education Scholar & Professor of Communication Studies at University of Rhode Island; Founder of Media Education Lab; Author of "Mind Over Media"

South Kingstown, RI, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info
Author, Communication, Disruptive Thinking, Education, Education Reform, Educational Motivational, Entrepreneurship, Female Leadership, Influential Women, Literacy, Modern Media, News & Media, Professors, Social Media, Storytelling, Thought Leadership, Women
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Renee Hobbs Biography

Renee Hobbs is an American scholar and educator specializing in media literacy education. She serves as Professor of Communication Studies at the Harrington School of Communication and Media at the University of Rhode Island and is the founder of the Media Education Lab. Hobbs holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and film/video studies and a Master of Arts in communication from the University of Michigan, as well as an EdD from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her doctoral research examined how the relationship between images and narration in television news affects viewer comprehension and recall. She spent 18 years teaching media studies at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Hobbs has developed her career at the intersection of communication, education, and public advocacy. At Temple University's School of Communication and Theater, she established the Media Education Lab and later became founding co-editor of the Journal of Media Literacy Education, a publication of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. She was appointed the founding director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media at the University of Rhode Island, where she later served as co-director of the URI Graduate Certificate in Digital Literacy program. Hobbs contributed to the development of media literacy education by co-founding the Partnership for Media Education, which became the National Association for Media Literacy Education.

Hobbs has authored 12 books and published more than 200 articles in scholarly and professional journals, securing over $5 million in funding for research and community projects in media literacy education. Her books address a range of topics within the field, including "Reading the Media: Teaching Media Literacy in High School English," "Copyright Clarity: How Fair Use Supports Digital Learning," "Digital and Media Literacy: Connecting Classroom and Culture," "Create to Learn: Introduction to Digital Literacy," and "Routledge Companion on Media Education, Copyright and Fair Use." Additional titles include "The Library Screen Scene: Film and Media Literacy in Schools, Colleges and Communities" and the edited two-volume "International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy," which was a finalist for a PROSE Award for best multivolume reference work. With colleagues Patricia Aufderheide and Peter Jaszi, Hobbs developed the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use in Media Literacy Education, outlining normative practices for the use of copyrighted content in media literacy education.

Hobbs's book "Mind Over Media: Propaganda Education for a Digital Age" addresses misinformation and propaganda in the digital era. She received the PROSE Award for Excellence in Social Sciences from the American Association of Publishers for this work. Additional honors include the Research Excellence Award from the University of Rhode Island Division of Research and Economic Development, the Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity from the Media Ecology Association, and the Media Literacy Education Meritorious Service Award from the National Association for Media Literacy Education.

Hobbs has presented at the United Nations and consulted with educators, school leaders, and government officials in numerous countries. She has delivered keynote addresses and presentations at professional associations worldwide and has worked in Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, France, and China to advance media literacy education. Hobbs has partnered with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations to explore how media literacy can promote children's understanding of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East. The Media Education Lab, which she founded, has reached users in 66 countries, reflecting the global impact of her work in media literacy education.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/17/2026.

Renee Hobbs Speaking Topics

  • Beyond Blame: Resisting the Fear and Hate that Leads to Violence

    Mistrust and distrust are rising because it’s so easy to profit from conflict. Conflict compels our attention: it’s hard to look away. Movies, TV shows, news and social media all amplify (and sometimes glorify) fear, hate, and violence. In many movies, vigilantes are depicted as heroes and people working businesses and social institutions are depicted as corrupt, motivated purely by self-interest.

    We live in a world of media stories that promote us-vs-them tribal thinking that limits our ability to see the value of people and ideas outside of our comfort zone. But what happens when we change the stories we tell about conflict? What happens when we humanize “the other”? When we recognize the difference between productive conflict and harmful conflict, we can activate simple but powerful communication strategies that leverage conflict and transform it into courageous conversations that connect people and build a spirit of shared humanity.

    Attendee Results:

    • Learn how conflict entrepreneurs exploit conflict for fun and profit and how people are attracted to conflict and the drama it produces.
    • Understand how media messages offer distorted depictions of conflict in ways that can interfere with our understanding of its power and transformative potential.
    • Experience the joyful surprise of recognizing and resisting forms of us-vs-them thinking that are embedded in everyday life.
    • Learn to apply critical questions when encountering conflict in social media, entertainment, the news, and in our relationships.
    • Be part of a courageous community of people who recognize the power of productive conflict and resist pressures to amplify the harmful conflict that leads to fear, hate, and violence.

Renee Hobbs Videos

#CSLA20 Conference - Renee Hobbs Opening Keynote Excerpt ...

#CSLA20 Conference - Renee Hobbs Opening Keynote Excerpt ...

Excerpt of Keynote Speaker Dr. Renee Hobbs at the California School Library Association conference “The Library Screen Scene” on sharing ...

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Exploring the Roots of Digital and Media Literacy Through Personal Narrative
Exploring the Roots of Digital and Media Literacy Through Personal Narrative
Digital and Media Literacy Connecting Culture and Classroom
Digital and Media Literacy Connecting Culture and Classroom
Media Literacy in Action Questioning the Media
Media Literacy in Action Questioning the Media
Mind Over Media Propaganda Education for a Digital Age
Mind Over Media Propaganda Education for a Digital Age
The Library Screen Scene Film and Media Literacy in Schools, Colleges, and Communities
The Library Screen Scene Film and Media Literacy in Schools, Colleges, and Communities
Reading the Media Media Literacy in High School English
Reading the Media Media Literacy in High School English

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  • What topics does Renee Hobbs speak about?

    Renee Hobbs is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Communication, Disruptive Thinking, Education, Education Reform, Educational Motivational, Entrepreneurship, Female Leadership, Influential Women, Literacy, Modern Media, News & Media, Professors, Social Media, Storytelling, Thought Leadership, Women

  • Where does Renee Hobbs travel from?

    Renee Hobbs generally travels from South Kingstown, RI, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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Renee Hobbs is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Beyond Blame: Resisting the Fear and Hate that Leads to Violence. The estimated speaking fee range to book Renee Hobbs for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Renee Hobbs generally travels from South Kingstown, RI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Liana Zavo, Tania Israel, Maha Abouelenein, Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Julianne Malveaux. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Renee Hobbs for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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