The Rod Serling Award “honors a contemporary media industry professional who shines light on prejudice, inequality, and evolving social norms” through their work. This award is presented in honor of writer, producer, teacher, and humanitarian Rod Serling. Serling is best known for his TV series “The Twilight Zone” and taught at Ithaca College from 1967-75.
The Rod Serling Award for Advancing Social Justice Through Popular Media
This award is presented annually by the Park School of Communications in honor of writer, producer, teacher, and humanitarian Rod Serling.
Rod Serling teaching at Ithaca College with then student, Bill D'Elia '69 (One of the 2017-2018 Serling Award Recipients)
Rod Serling teaching at Ithaca College with then student, Bill D'Elia '69 (One of the 2017-2018 Serling Award Recipients)
The Award
Rod Serling and IC
This award has been presented annually by the Park School of Communications in honor of writer, producer, teacher, and humanitarian Rod Serling.
From his pioneering efforts for the small screen to his work on Hollywood blockbusters, Rod Serling became one of the industry’s most respected writers. In his ground-breaking series The Twilight Zone -- still broadcast around the world more than 50 years after its premiere -- he proved that commercial television could tackle serious, controversial subjects through a captivating sci-fi/fantasy genre.
Rod Serling was a guest professor at Ithaca College from 1967-1975 and many alumni vividly remember and were influenced by his teaching. The college is proud to host the Rod Serling Archives and to display his collection of Emmy awards.
Prior to the launch of the Serling Awards, Ithaca College hosted five interdisciplinary academic conferences between 2006-2013 dedicated to the works of Rod Serling. The conferences were focused on the creative work of Serling, offering research, anecdotes, and an opportunity to view some of the classics of early television.