UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — It might be a little early to introduce her as an internationally recognized expert, but that kind of thing might not be far away for one Penn State graduate student.
Securing a highly competitive international scholarship represents a strong first step.
Sydney Forde, a doctoral candidate in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, recently earned a scholarship from Canada’s Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to support her dissertation.
The highly competitive process to earn support from SSHRC ranks as one of the most prestigious awards possible for a graduate student in or from Canada. Forde earned her bachelor’s degree at Brock University in Ontario and completed her master’s degree in a program jointly operated by Brock University and the University of Buffalo.
For any doctoral student, funding allows them to fully focus on their studies, seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields and contribute to the research ecosystem.
“It’s an exciting award, and getting support is obviously helpful,” said Forde, a fourth-year doctoral candidate at Penn State who plans to remain in the Bellisario College one more year to complete her dissertation. “It’s a great chance to make the most of my work. Plus, with all the experiences and opportunities provided to me at Penn State, the scholarship offers another chance to do even more.”
Forde’s dissertation will compare the narratives and justifications of two journalism antitrust exemption acts in the United States, one from 1970 and one proposed in 2021, in order to explore who those policies really benefit, and if they will really save the failing journalism industry.
Her wide-ranging research interests include critical policy studies, economic philosophy and studying the political economy of media industries. Forde’s research explores contradictions in the values and promises people uphold as essential to democracy, and the reality of how dominating economic structures often do not serve those ideals.
In addition, Forde has gained valuable teaching experience during her time at Penn State and hopes to find an eventual position in academia that will allow her to combine research and teaching.
SSHRC is one of Canada’s three federal research funding agencies (alongside medical- and natural science-focused agencies) that promotes and supports research and research training in the humanities and social sciences. Through its research training and talent development, insight research and research partnerships programs, and through partnerships and collaborations, SSHRC strategically supports world-leading initiatives that reflect a commitment to ensuring a better future for Canada and the world.