Dr. Jacob Smith

Professor

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Biography

Jacob Smith teaches cultural history of media, focusing on sound and music. He is the Interim Department Chair and a Professor at Northwestern University’s School of Communication. Smith's research encompasses the creative industries, media history, music, the recording industry, and sound studies. He has authored several significant works including 'Vocal Tracks: Performance Sound Media' (2008), 'Spoken Word: Postwar American Phonograph Cultures' (2011), 'Thrill Makers: Celebrity, Masculinity, Stunt Performance' (2012), and 'Eco-Sonic Media' (2015). His most recent publication, due in 2024, is titled 'Bateson’s Alphabet: ABCs Gregory Bateson’s Ecology Mind'. Smith's innovative scholarly contributions, particularly his work 'Lightning Birds: Aeroecology Airwaves', earned him the SCMS Anne Friedberg Innovative Scholarship Award in 2022, and it was a finalist for the 2025 ACLS Open Access Book Prizes. Through his teaching and research, he explores the intersections of sound, media, and cultural identity, contributing richly to the field of communication and media studies.

Research Interests

Awards

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SCMS Anne Friedberg Innovative Scholarship Award

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American Council Learned Societies (ACLS) Open Access Book Prizes

Courses

History of Recording Industry Musical Media Environment and Sound Meet David Lynch Art Soundtrack Children’s Media Culture Understanding Creative Industries Sound Studies The Videographic Essay

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.