Bringing Science to Story: How Developmental Insights Shape Kids’ Media Content

Dr. Colleen Russo Johnson will share insights from her work at Nickelodeon exploring how children’s media can support mental wellness and economic security—two pressing issues facing kids and families today. She will discuss what kids and parents want to see on screen—from proactive portrayals of emotional wellbeing to more relatable depictions of everyday life across economic backgrounds. She will also reflect on her professional journey from earning a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Vanderbilt University, to co-founding a kids’ tech startup, to Vice President of digital and cultural research at Paramount/Nickelodeon. The talk will highlight how developmental science can translate beyond academia to inform industry decisions that shape the stories kids see and the worlds they imagine.

After the talk, Dr. Russo Johnson will also field more general questions about conducting research in industry and making the transition from academia to industry. 

We encourage in-person attendance, but if you are unable to attend in person, please join us via this Zoom link.