Global Communication and Social Change

Preconference for Chicago.
At its business meeting in Montreal,, 2008,  the Division for Global Communication and Social Change approved a proposal for a one-day divisional preconference in Chicago, 2009. This takes its title from the name of the division, Global Communication and Social Change: Research Agendas and Directions. The membership considered that it was desirable and timely for divisional as well as interested members of other ICA divisions to explore the evolving and diverse meanings of the  key words of the division's own nomenclature, and what these may suggest for future research agendas and for the division's articulation of its identity(ies) and goals. The preconference is a one-day affair, starting at 8:00 a.m., starting with two plenary sessions (Rethinking the Global, and Rethinking Social Change), followed by a number of parallel sessions (Communication and Social Change; Development, Progress and Modernity; Globalization Analysis, Language and Soft Power; Comparative Method, Media and Social Change). The preconference closes with a plenary panel on Global Communication and Social Change: Questions of Identity(ies. Hot beverages will be served. Attendees will make their own lunch arrangements.

Oliver Boyd-Barrett, Chair
oboydb@bgsu.edu

Intercultural Communication

The Intercultural Communication Division (ICD) has an exciting slate of programs for the conference in Chicago. This year the division received sixty-six paper submissions and two panel proposals. Slightly over a quarter of the submissions came from outside of USA. Thirty-nine papers were programmed in paper or poster sessions along with one proposed panel. Besides, the ICD sponsors a cross-unit keyword session with 4 other divisions and co-sponsors a panel with the Ethnicity and Race Division.

Many thanks to the many members who expressed willingness to serve the division. Eighteen contributed as this year’s reviewers, and the ICD recognizes their hard work and dedication: Che Baysinger (Kaplan U), Douglas Boyd (U of Kentucky), Mary Bresnahan (Michigan State U), Aaron Cargile (California State U – Long Beach), Hui-Ching Chang (U of Illinois – Chicago), Pi-Chun Chang (Nan Hua U), Michael Hazen (Wake Forest U), Michael Hinner (TU Bergakademie Freiberg), Cecilia Ikeguchi (Tsukuba Gakuin U), Fei Jiang (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Yang-Soo Kim, II (Middle Tennessee State U), Rebecca Merkin (Baruch College – CUNY), Yoko Nadamitsu (Seikei U), Margaret Pitts (Old Dominion U), Diana Rios (U of Connecticut), Silvio Waisbord (George Washingon U), Jason Wrench (SUNY – New Paltz), Ming-Yi Wu (Western Illinois U).

For those of you who submitted papers and panel proposals, reviews and comments by Division readers will be available from February 15, 2009, by accessing the submission website available through the ICA homepage. All accepted paper/panel submitters will be able to upload revised versions of your work from April 1 to April 30, 2009. You may take advantage of this period so that attendees have access to your most up-to-date work at the conference.

James Neuliep, Chair
jim.neuliep@snc.edu

Mass Communication

Now that the paper competition for the May conference is complete, it is time to turn our attention to the biannual Kyoon Hur Dissertation Award Competition. Dissertations completed (i.e., dissertation defense has been held and passed) between November 1, 2006, and October 31, 2008 (inclusive), are eligible for consideration, and the nomination materials are due March 1, 2009. A detailed call has been distributed via the Mass Communication Division listserv and the information is also available on the Mass Communication Division’s information page on the ICA website. We’ve had excellent work submitted in the past, and we look forward to a very competitive process this year as well.

In terms of new business, we have a few exciting issues on the table. I am in the process of preparing bylaws for the Division as well as the parameters for a new Division award for excellence in research (that is, a distinguished article award for Mass Communication Division members.) I will be distributing these materials in the coming months for members’ consideration, and we will vote to adopt both at the Business Meeting in May, so please be sure to plan to attend that meeting! Until then, I hope you have a productive 2009!

Robin Nabi, Chair
nabi@comm.ucsb.edu

Philosophy of  Communication

We welcome Laurie Ouellette, U of Minnesota, as Vice Chair elect. Laurie will take up her role as Vice Chair in Chicago.

You might be pleased to hear that over the last years, the number of members of our division have almost doubled. We had 267 members in 2005 and have 487 today. However, international diversity will remain a key issue for the next years. Half of our members are from the US, the second largest group is from UK, followed by Canada and Australia. One of the reasons for this membership increase is the stronger visibility of Phil Comm within the ICA over the last years, such as through preconferences.

Of course we will continue the tradition of organizing preconferences on new emerging issues in Chicago. Nick Couldry (Vice Chair) and Amit Pinchevski (Hebrew University) have finalized the plans of an exciting one-day- preconference on ‘Media Ethics’ for Chicago. The event will be co-sponsored by the divisions Journalism Studies and Mass Communication. The precon is also supported by the Department of Culture and Communication, NYU. Please check the ICA website for further information.

The planning for Chicago has been finalized. Phil Comm made a substantial contribution to proposals for cross-divisional mini-plenaries. In addition, it received a good level of paper submissions (76), although this was down 10% from submissions for ICA 08, of which 34 were accepted for panels. The level of panel submissions was again high (25), and, because the quality of panel submissions - often from senior colleagues - was very high, panel choices were difficult. Thanks to Nick Couldry for organizing another interesting Phil Comm event !
 
Phil Comm is also involved in a regional ICA conference in Australia on ‘Journalism in the 21.Century: Between Globalization and National Identity’ (University of Melbourne), organized by Ingrid Volkmer. The conference call has attracted around one hundred international speakers from a great number of world regions which will allow a truly international debate of these crucial issues. Please see link below for further information:
(http://www.culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au/journalism21st/index.html)

Ingrid Volkmer, Chair
ivolkmer@unimelb.au.edu