Erin Clark, an undergraduate Communication and Rhetoric major, is the recipient of the 2026 Jennifer and Eric Spiegel Award.
The award recognizes the paper which best exemplifies the intersection between technology and communication. Erin’s submission, “Generative AI as a Tool of Voter Suppression: The Biden Deepfake Robocall Case Study,” examined the AI-generated phone call impersonating former president Joe Biden that thousands of residents received in New Hampshire prior to the 2024 election. Her project also investigated the effect of generative AI on public trust and its potential impact on the democratic process.
Reflecting on the recognition, Erin said: “When I found out I won the Spiegel award, I was shocked and truly honored. I believe writing is such an important skill that can be overlooked nowadays, so it is very special that the Spiegels give this opportunity to Communication students at Pitt.”
Dr. Meredith Guthrie, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, shared her gratitude, "We are so thankful to the Spiegels for their continued support of our students' work. Support like this from alumni is a vital contribution to our student's success."
Written by Giulia Siegfried for COMMRC Connect