AEJMC Communication Theory and Methodology

I'm conducting a survey that I hope will generate some discussion among Division members: Which mass communications theories would you suggest for inclusion on a list of the 10 most influential? Can you cite empirical evidence in support of your choice(s)?

The CT&M Division invites submissions of original research papers pertaining to the study of communication processes, institutions, and effects from a theoretical perspective. CT&M welcomes both conceptual and data-based papers and is open to all methodological approaches. Authors of the three top-scoring faculty or faculty/student papers will be recognized in the convention program and at the CT&M members’ meeting in Boston. We strongly encourage submissions by students. Winners of the Chaffee-McLeod Award for Top Student Paper will be awarded $250; two additional top student papers will also receive cash prices. Please limit papers to no more than 25 pages (double-spaced) in length, excluding tables and references. Please refer to the AEJMC general call’s for papers for this year’s online submission guidelines. If you have questions, please contact Hernando Rojas, CT&M research chair, at 608-262-7791 or by e-mail: hrojas@wisc.edu

Labels: 2009 Conference schedule, AEJMC

Computer-Mediated Communication in Personal Relationships

We invite submissions of chapter proposals for a forthcoming edited volume from Hampton Press featuring literature reviews and meta-analyses about how people employ computer-mediated communication (CMC) effectively to initiate, maintain, and end personal relationships. We are interested in proposals examining relational, task, or channel influences on interpersonal CMC, CMC in relationships among and between family members, friends, collaborators, colleagues, and other types of partners in personal relationships, as well as relational partners' use of various forms of CMC including but not limited to e-mail, www, virtual networks, and/or gaming. We anticipate that each final chapter will be theory-based and include a current, relevant literature review and/or meta-analysis. We invite reviews of research using conceptual or empirical (qualitative and/or quantitative) methods. Manuscripts written from all theoretical orientations are welcome.

Chapter Proposal Guidelines:

1. Provide an extended abstract of 1-3 pages describing the research. Within the abstract, (a) clearly identify the specific aspect of CMC your chapter will examine and (b) provide a summary or outline of your proposed chapter.

2. Provide a bibliography of sources that will be used in the chapter.

3. Your proposal should be accompanied by a published essay you authored, ideally on the subject matter discussed in the chapter proposal. If you are selecting among multiple essays you have published, please send an essay for which you are the lead or sole author.

4. Please send an updated vita that lists of your publications.

5. Complete proposals (parts 1-4 specified above) are due on or before midnight December 31, 2008. We will respond to submitted proposals by February 15, 2009.

6. Submissions should be electronic and sent simultaneously to BOTH coeditors at KBWright@ou.edu and LynneWebb320@cs.com.

We welcome your questions and inquiries about the edited volume or chapter proposals. Please address your concerns to one or both of the editors:

Kevin B. Wright, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Communication, University of Oklahoma, 610 Elm Avenue, Norman, OK 73019, KBWright@ou.edu, Telephone: 405-325-5946

Lynne M. Webb, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Communication, University of Arkansas, 417 Kimpel Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, LynneWebb320@cs.com, Telephone: 479-575-5956

Please click on the Fall 2008 link under the CT&M Concepts archive to view the latest newsletter.

The AEJMC Midwinter Conference is an annual forum for the presentation of research in areas relevant to the 12 AEJMC divisions, interest groups and commissions sponsoring the conference. The conference follows a rather informal structure that allows for presentations and extended discussions in a relaxed setting. This year, 12 AEJMC divisions, interest groups and commissions are participating in the conference, scheduled for March 6-8 at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication (University of Oklahoma) in Norman, Oklahoma. The location offers participants many winter diversions outside the conference activities, including world-class museums and art galleries.
Questions about paper proposal submissions to specific divisions, interest groups and commissions can be directed to the appropriate contacts below. General questions about the conference can be sent to Elanie Steyn, Conference Site Host (Elanie@ou.edu) and Homero Gil de Zuniga, Communication Technology Division Midwinter Chair (hgz@mail.utexas.edu).
Paper submissions: Authors should submit research paper proposals consisting of a 300- to 500-word abstract to the relevant division/interest group/commission contact person. Do not submit full papers. The abstracts should give a clear sense of the scope of the research and the method of inquiry used. Conclusions should be highlighted for works that have been completed by the submission deadline. Do not send full research papers for consideration. However, authors of proposals accepted for presentation at the conference must submit complete research papers, not exceeding 30 pages, to their discussant two weeks prior to the conference. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THIS CONFERENCE ALSO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PRESENTATION AT THE NATIONAL AEJMC CONVENTION. Accepted authors are encouraged to use feedback from reviewers at this conference as they improve and finalize works in progress for submission to the national conference.
Panel submissions: Panel organizers should submit proposals to the relevant division/interest group/commission contact person indicating the panel title, a description of the session’s focus, the issues to be discussed, and a list of panelists (potential and confirmed), including affiliation.
Format: Identify the paper’s author(s) or panel’s organizer(s) on the title page only and include the mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address of the person to whom inquiries should be addressed. The title should be on the first page of the text and on running heads on each page of text. Include your abstract or proposal as an attachment in a standard word-processing format (preferably Word or RTF). Also, please ensure that you remove any identifying information from your document (with the exception of the title page).
Deadline: All abstracts and panel proposals must be e-mailed to the appropriate division/interest group/commission’s midwinter paper chair (see below) by December 13, 2008. Please include an e-mail address so that the midwinter paper chairs can notify you by January 10, 2009.
Registration: Details on conference registration, hotel accommodation, and travel information will be available at http://www.ou.edu/gaylord.


Communication Theory and Methodology Division
Michel M. Haigh, The Pennsylvania State University (mmh25@psu.edu) 814.863.3850

Fred Williams of AEJMC asked each division to vote on a $20 increase in conference fees to pay for data projectors in each meeting room for the entire conference.

I sent a ballot to the CT&M listserv. 37 voted for the increase, 16 voted against.

I've pasted below the comments which were sent with the ballots.

Comment 1
It seems to me that this may cause more problems than it solves. At MAPOR, a single computer is left hooked up to the projector throughout the day because of the time and computer problems involved in swapping out computers with the projector after every presentation. And, some folks don't have a laptop to bring, but this suggests that there would be no overhead option for those folks. Personally, although I'd like to see the option of using a computer for presentations, I worry that this could end up being a technological nightmare that would hinder rather than help the quality of our sessions.

Then again, I haven't been to ICA in a number of years -- how do they do things, and does it work well?


Comment 2.
That's okay. I didn't mind changing it. I voted no because the conventions are getting so expensive that many people can no longer participate. I had some grant money to pay for Chicago, but because I couldn't stay in the host hotel the entire time and the expensive plane fare, I was over $1,700 in expenses. We usually only get to go if we've had a paper accepted. We didn't have many grad students go this year which hurts their chances for a job. I know a lot of people get $500 a year at best. I fear we are just pricing ourselves out of the market!

Comment 3
I like projectors, but $20 is a bit heavy for my snakeskin wallet. For that much I'm OK with using transparencies. Is it possible for research chairs to bring along a projector for some of the sessions, or do the hotels prohibit that?

They're getting so cheap now it's too bad AEJMC can't buy a batch and set them up themselves, negotiating that with the hotels (especially if the hotels aren't willing to provide the projectors free with the rooms). Shoot, a projector and Internet connection should come standard and free with every meeting room AEJMC pays for. In today's world hotels should acknowledge that projectors are standard equipment with meeting rooms, like chairs, a table, and air conditioning!

Comment 4
I oppose the increase in fees to cover projectors. The conference needs to be affordable; if people need LCD projectors, they can rent their own or have the divisions rent them.

Comment 5
I would oppose raising conference fees for such a purpose. The conference needs to be affordable, and a lot of people don't get their expenses reimbursed, especially students. The conference is already in expensive hotels; let people bring their own projectors if they really need them.

Comment 6
I have no problem with the increase in general but do not think students should be asked to pay more. It's a burden already.

Comment 7
I vote no. We already bought an LCD projector and several other divisions have them already too.

Comment 8
I hate to be a grouch, but if our valiant association staff aren't competent enough to negotiate this as a part of the conference hotel contract, heaven help us.

Comment 9
On the projectors:

Rental rates for these things are highway robbery. Assuming 2,000 attendees, that's $40,000 a year.

It would be cheaper to buy the things outright. Figure $1,000 (maybe $2000) a pop, no more than 15 rooms at a time, and we're set for the life of the projectors for $15,000-$30,000 (probably less if not all rooms and sessions are to have them). They are pretty portable these days, so storage considerations would be minimal.

A nominal increase (maybe $5 at the most) should be sufficient to maintain a stable of these things.