Call for Papers

Doin’ It With E’s: Extreme, Electoral, and Electronic Communication

Rocky Mountain Communication Association Conference
20 April 2013
Group Publishing in Loveland, CO

As another presidential election cycle concludes, we reflect on the possibilities, limitations and challenges presented by an ever-expanding range of communication processes. Effective communication enables us to negotiate relationships, tasks, and meanings in a variety of contexts, but for a variety of reasons communication is not always effective, and not always intended as such. Extreme, electoral, and electronic communication challenge both common and sophisticated notions about communication effectiveness and present rich possibilities for understanding communication processes.

The 2013 RMCA conference theme, Doin’ It With E’s, is intended to provide participants with an opportunity to interrogate communication processes, intentions and outcomes, by focusing our attention on the challenges and opportunities associated with extreme, electoral, and electronic communication. We invite the submission of papers and panels that provoke dialogue and thought about these issues; how they come to be, what they look like, how they’re overcome, and what role they play in life, culture, and politics. This is a wide-ranging conference theme, and thus we anticipate that papers deal with it from numerous intellectual and methodological perspectives. Submissions outside of this theme are also welcomed and will be given full consideration. Scholarship at all levels of higher-education, including undergraduate students are encouraged to submit papers or panel proposals.

All submissions must be received by 22 February 2013, in order to be considered for participation at RMCA’s 2013 conference. Authors of accepted papers and panels will be expected to register for the conference by the pre-registration deadline of 12 April 2013. Submit papers and proposals to: Rocky Mountain Communication Association submission manager.

Completed individual papers may be submitted electronically in MS Word or Adobe PDF format. Please remove all references to the author from the text and include the following in the cover letter/biography box of the submission form:

  • Name and affiliation of author or authors
  • Title of paper
  • 120 word (max) abstract
  • Indicate which if any of the authors are graduate or undergraduate students

    • Panel and performance proposals may also be submitted in the above formats and should include the following:

  • Proposed title of panel or performance
  • Names and affiliations of participants
  • 120 word (max) abstract for the entire presentation
  • 120 word (max) abstract for each paper (if applicable)

    In addition, for both panels and papers, please include any AV equipment requirements or special room considerations. Please understand, however, that while we will make every effort to accommodate requests, we cannot guarantee that they will be met. Please limit requests to those that are absolutely necessary for your presentation.

    Award Nominations

    Each year, RMCA presents a variety of awards at its annual luncheon, including certificates for an Outstanding Undergraduate Paper and an Outstanding Graduate Paper selected by the RMCA Leadership Council. This year, RMCA will be expanding these awards. The Outstanding Undergraduate Paper will henceforth be awarded as an Outstanding Four-Year Student Paper. A new award, Outstanding Two-Year Student Paper will also be awarded. In addition to those, please nominate outstanding individuals for the recognitions described below. Nominations can be submitted to Rocky Mountain Communication Association submission manager, and must include the nominee's name, affiliation, and a maximum one-page description of why they are deserving. The award categories are:

      Outstanding Teaching Assistant - given to an undergraduate or graduate teaching assistant who has demonstrated excellence inside and out of the classroom.
      Award for Communication Excellence (A.C.E.) - given to an individual in recognition of distinguished contributions to the Communication discipline.
      RMCA Lifetime Achievement Award - given only on rare occasions to a truly deserving and outstanding representative of our discipline.

    All communication regarding the conference should be sent to Mark Finney at markfinney@adams.edu.