The International Center for Media and the Public Agenda was established by the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland in summer of 2006. ICMPA aims to create on campus a central place for media and public policy teaching and research. ICMPA takes as its focus the study of global media and public policy; its projects investigate media’s roles and responsibilities in public consideration of political issues. ICMPA research and other projects extend the College of Journalism’s teaching and research mission. ICMPA is also affiliated with the School of Public Policy.
ICMPA is engaged in major grant-seeking to underwrite its projects. Current in-house projects include Salzburg Academy for Media & Global Change, Covering the World, and Media Education and News Literacy. Other projects include Trauma Journalism Education, Web 2.0 and the Future of Journalism, News Media Transparency, and The ICMPA Forum.