This course will provide students with a thorough understanding of the top emerging challenges that are redefining the communications function, and what it takes to succeed.  Among the challenges we will tackle: global communications and individual country differences; the decline of traditional media; the death of "command and control" communications; the collapse of institutional credibility; transparency and the "paparazzi" effect on privacy, disclosure.   Study of real-time examples and case studies will be supplemented by group presentation exercises focused on strategic thinking and creativity.