The McGee Applied Research Center for Narrative Studies aims to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge required to adeptly navigate and critically assess narratives in the dynamic media landscape of the 21st century.
Through innovative research endeavors, collaborative educational initiatives, and active engagement with the community, we are helping build a future where media literacy becomes a cornerstone for informed and empowered citizenship.
OUR IMPACT
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Innovative Research
Our commitment to innovation is reflected in our use of novel methodologies and emerging technologies to study the evolving nature of media and its diverse, interconnected forms—from traditional print, broadcast and radio channels to newer digital and social media landscapes. A key resource in these efforts is the Vanderbilt Television News Archive, the world’s most extensive and complete archive of broadcast news, which now features a new digital format with search capabilities.
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Collaborative Education
We foster an environment that encourages collaboration across diverse fields of study to enhance learning experiences. Our partnerships include work with the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, a nonpartisan initiative that aims to inform thinking and reframe public discourse on critical topics; Dialogue Vanderbilt, which provides a range of programs to students, faculty and the public to promote civil discourse and better understand and address political polarization; and Studio 608, a creative space in Central Library led by podcasting pioneer Jad Abumrad and free speech expert Jacob Mchangama that gives students distinctive opportunities to explore narrative studies.
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Community Engagement
Global impact and community engagement are at the heart of our mission. We actively seek to bridge the gap between academia and the public by organizing events, workshops and awareness campaigns. By fostering dialogue among Vanderbilt’s faculty, students and the wider community, we aspire to create a collective understanding of the profound influence that media narratives have on our society.
PAST EVENTS
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October 30, 2025 ** NEW DATE
4:30 PM Central Library Community Room
Andrew Leeper, Nashville Severe Weather
If you live or work in Williamson or Davidson County, chances are you are spending time with the Nashville Severe Weather team. What started as a hobby in 2009 has grown into a full-fledged weather reporting operation with tens of thousands of followers. In this Q&A session, Andrew Leeper, who joined the team in 2015, will talk about the evolution of NSW’s expertise and how their commitment to helping their community stay “prepared, not scared” is changing how we think about weather reporting. This an interactive session that will start with a brief moderated Q&A followed by time for audience questions. Snacks will be provided.
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November 12, 2025
5 PM Central Library Community Room
Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News
Andrew Heyward is a nationally known journalist and expert on the changing media landscape. He served as president of CBS News from January 1996 to November 2005. Before that, he was also executive producer of The CBS Evening News and started the weekly prime time series 48 Hours. He began his career working in local TV news in New York City.
Andrew now works with local TV newsrooms on storytelling and innovation. He is also an adviser to MIT's Center for Constructive Communication; the Knight Center for the Future of News at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU; and the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont, which supports student journalism at colleges and universities around the country.
RSVP here
RESEARCH
The Value of Misinformation
"Using a complex adaptive systems framing, we describe how misinformation can generate value for individuals, groups, and platforms," write McGee Center Executive Director Kristy Roschke and her co-authors in a recent study published in Nature Complexity.