Abstract
AEJMC 2014 General Business Meeting, Friday, August 8, 2014 • Le Centre Sheraton, Montreal
The meeting was called to order by AEJMC (Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication) President Paula Poindexter of Texas at Austin at 10:10 a.m. She welcomed everyone to Montreal. Members put business cards into baskets to participate in our special News Engagement Day Gift Give-Away to receive one of 10 media-related coffee mugs.
Poindexter provided an update for the AEJMC International Regional Meeting being planned for October 2015. She introduced Dean Silvia Pellegrini of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, which is the host university for that International Regional Conference in Santiago, Chile. Pellegrini encouraged members to attend and said everyone looks forward to welcoming delegates to Chile.
There was no old business to consider.
The membership considered the creation of a new membership category for adjunct faculty. The proposal comes as a motion from the AEJMC Board of Directors and so does not require a second.
Classifications of membership, with their respective qualifications, are the following: Regular members, who shall be university or college faculty members engaged in education for journalism and mass communication; Retired Regular members; Associate members, who shall be other persons engaged in journalism and mass communication education or shall be persons with professional interests, whose qualifications are acceptable to the Committee on Membership of AEJMC; Student members, who shall be students in journalism and mass communication and who are not eligible for Regular membership; International members, who shall be persons in journalism and mass communication education at institutions above the preparatory level outside the United States and Canada;
Membership is on a continuing basis from year to year. A member in good standing is one whose dues of any year are paid in advance. The membership year for each new member of the corporation shall extend for 12 months from the date payment of dues is received by the central office. Dues notices shall be sent annually from the central office at least 30 days before membership expires. If, after being sent an appropriate second notice, members fail to pay dues within 2 months after they are due, the members are no longer in good standing and lose all membership privileges, including voting, publications, and the right to hold office. All paid-up members,
Jane Singer of City University London, chair of the PF&R Committee, presented one resolution for the membership to consider. It comes as a motion from the committee and does not require a second.
Resolution 1:
In recognition of the close kinship between the people of Canada and of the United States, during which time we have shared our North American continent, the world’s longest undefended border; economic partnerships; and to a great extent, our cultural histories, but most importantly in which we have shared our commitment to human values that include democracy and the vital role of a free press,
And
In recognition of the manifold kindnesses and support that have been demonstrated by the City of Montreal, the Province of Quebec, and the Government of Canada as site hosts to the AEJMC’s 97th Annual Conference in August 2014,
And
In appreciation for the rich history and cosmopolitan heritage of the City of Montreal and the Province of Quebec and their collective contribution to French culture in North America,
The AEJMC thank and commend the City of Montreal, the Province of Quebec, and the Government of Canada for their hospitality and support of AEJMC as site hosts for its 97th Annual Conference.
There were no resolutions from the floor.
Poindexter presented the President’s report. She thanked all the committee members for their service this year. She asked all committee members to stand and be recognized. She also recognized the 15 members of the AEJMC Board of Directors.
She summarized the work on several of her initiatives this year in a PowerPoint presentation. These included the following:
The international regional conference is being planned for Santiago, Chile, in October 2015.
A Grad Student Info Expo was held last year, which featured master’s and doctoral programs where students were able to learn about different graduate programs. Another Expo is planned for 2015.
A National News Engagement Day (NED) on October 7 that will encourage students to engage with news. A press conference is planned in September at the National Press Club to release the latest data on news engagement and to announce NED.
Poindexter showed a video clip of the AEJMC Oral History Project that began last year. It is headed up by Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez of Texas at Austin.
She recognized Don Shaw of North Carolina Chapel Hill who has attended 51 consecutive AEJMC conferences. She presented him with a certificate of appreciation. Shaw made short remarks about the changes he has seen in AEJMC through the years.
Poindexter recognized Jennifer McGill for 30 years of service to AEJMC and presented her with a box of candy and a certificate of appreciation. She received a standing ovation from the attendees.
Poindexter shared information with the members about a new book proposal project with Peter Lang Publishing. It will involve review by AEJMC members in a “scholarsourcing” process. The call for the proposals will be issued in September.
She also encouraged members to pledge to participate in the October NED. The goal is to have a news engagement activity in all 50 states this fall. AEJMC has opened a new website for NED. Pledge cards were included in conference packets and can be returned in exhibits.
Singer reported for the Professional Freedom & Responsibility Committee. The First Amendment Award was presented to Joel Simon of the Reporters Committee to Protect Journalists during a session yesterday. The committee continues to work with the AEJMC president to release presidential statements. The committee also worked with the association’s Equity & Diversity Award, which received a record number of 15 applications for the award this year. Deb Aikat of North Carolina chaired the committee for that award. Lee Hood of Loyola Chicago is the incoming PF&R Committee chair.
David Perlmutter of Texas Tech reported for the Research Committee. He thanked the committee members and AEJMC staff for their work this year. The committee worked closely with the division and interest group research chairs as they ran the conference paper competitions. They also oversaw the Blum Award, Nafziger-White-Salwen Dissertation Award, the Tankard Book Awards, and Graduate Student Travel Grants. Kim Bissell of Alabama will serve as Research Committee chair in the coming year.
Susan Keith of Rutgers reported for the Teaching Committee. She thanked the committee members for their service. The group conducted a Best Practices competition this year. The materials from that competition and the past ones are on the AEJMC website under “Resources.” The committee also held a very successful “Drs. Are In” session where members heard practical ideas on several teaching issues. Chris Roush of North Carolina Chapel Hill will be the chair for the coming year.
Julie Andsager of Tennessee reported for the Publications Committee. The committee met this morning and heard reports from the journal editors. New editor Louisa Ha is planning to do a membership survey. All journals will move to APA (American Psychological Association) style with the 2015 volume. However, Monographs will have flexibility with that, depending on the manuscript topic. The committee has issued editor calls for two of the journals. She encouraged everyone to share the calls for both J&MC Educator and J&C Monographs. The deadline to apply for the positions is October 15. Maria Len-Rios of Georgia is incoming committee chair.
Bob Trumpbour of Penn State Altoona presented the Council of Divisions’ Report. He reported that the conference programming was very strong this year and thanked the Council members for embracing the new programming process, which was a success. He also thanked Felicia Brown in the Central Office for all she does every year to pull everything together for the program.
Trumpbour reported that AEJMC received 1,734 submissions for the various paper competitions and 910 of them were accepted, which is a record number of acceptances. Six groups from the Council went through assessment this year, and it was a positive experience. Each AEJMC division and interest group is assessed every 5 years. He also thanked Vice Chair Chris Roberts of Alabama for all his work this year.
Sharon Stringer of Lock Haven presented the Commission on the Status of Minorities Report. The commission worked with the Minorities & Communication (MAC) Division to present the Barrow Award for Distinguished Achievement in Research and Teaching. She will continue as commission chair.
Spring-Serenity Duvall of Salem State presented the Commission on the Status of Women Report. She said the commission worked this year with the Kopenhaver Center for Leadership at Florida International University. The two groups had a very successful workshop earlier this week, and other activities will continue during the coming year. The commission also will continue its mentoring program. Katie Place of Quinnipiac will be the incoming chair.
Poindexter asked for a moment of silence for deceased members. McGill read a list of names. Other names were mentioned.
Poindexter presented Carolyn Stroman of Howard with the 2014 Presidential Award to recognize her service to journalism and mass communication education, and her dedication to students. She made brief remarks.
Poindexter presented a plaque to Daniel Riffe of North Carolina Chapel Hill in appreciation of his outstanding service as editor of Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly. Riffe made brief remarks.
The 2014 Hillier Krieghbaum Under-40 Award was presented to Yan Jin of Georgia. Jin made brief remarks. The Dorothy Bowles Public Service Award was presented to Don Stacks of Miami. The award recognizes his years of service to the association and to building bridges with the public relations industry.
Jennifer McGill presented the Inaugural AEJMC-Knudson Latin America Prize to the book Crisis of Governance in Maya Guatemala, which was edited by John P. Hawkins, James H. McDonald, and Walter Randolph Adams. Hawkins received the award, and praised the association and the late Jerry Knudson for seeing the need for such an award, and for making it happen.
Poindexter presented several News Audience Engagement Research Awards for papers addressing this topic. Four papers were selected for the awards and each received a check and a certificate.
Research Committee chair David Perlmutter of Texas Tech presented the Eleanor Blum Award for Promoting JMC (Journalism and Mass Communication) Research to Daniel Riffe of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He made brief remarks.
Perlmutter then presented the Nafziger-White-Salwen Dissertation Award to Scott Parrott of Alabama. He received his doctorate from North Carolina Chapel Hill.
The Commission on the Status of Minorities and the Minorities & Communication Division jointly presented Marilyn Kern Foxworth with the 2014 Lionel Barrow Award for Distinguished Achievement in Diversity Research and Education. Kern Foxworth made brief remarks.
The Communication Theory and Methodology Division presented the 2014 Lee Barrow Doctoral Scholarship to Jenny Korn of Harvard.
Gary Bumpert of the Urban Communication Association announced Sommer Mathis of CityLab as the 2014 Gene Burd Urban Journalism Award recipient. The award will be presented later today at a session and reception.
The following Commission on the Status of Women Awards were presented:
Donna Allen Award for Feminist Advocacy: Barbara Friedman and Anne Johnston of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Outstanding Woman in JMC Education: June Nicholson of Virginia Commonwealth
MaryAnn Yodelis Smith Award for Feminist Research: Stacey Hust and Kathleen Rodgers of Washington State
Mary Gardner Graduate Research Award: Shannon McGregor and Rachel Reis Mourao of Texas at Austin
Poindexter then installed Elizabeth Toth of Maryland as the 2014-2015 AEJMC president and presented her with the gavel of office and other tools of office, including the presidential “seal,” a crystal ball, and an “Easy” button.
Toth thanked Poindexter for her year of service and presented her with a special glass leadership award to commemorate her year as AEJMC president, and with a coffee mug.
Toth gave a brief report on plans for the coming year. The Council of Divisions and AEJMC Board have approved “Building Bridges” as the theme for the 2015 Conference in San Francisco. Work is beginning to redevelop a leadership program that will launch at the 2015 conference. Other projects include creation of new fundraising options and looking at ways to better invest our reserves.
There being no additional business, Toth adjourned the meeting at 12:48 p.m.
ASJMC 2014 General Business Meeting, Friday, August 8, 2014 • Le Centre Sheraton, Montreal
ASJMC (Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication) President Don Heider of Loyola Chicago called the meeting to order at 1:50 p.m. He welcomed everyone to Montreal and those present introduced themselves.
Heider introduced incoming President Ann Brill of Kansas. Brill was feeling ill and so reported first in the meeting. She reported that a new committee will be evaluating the databases that compile national metrics for the scholarship standard to see whether JMC programs are included and to work to get our information included if they are not. Many universities are using these national metric resources as they make decisions, so it is important that ours are included. Another new committee Brill will be appointing is a group to look at our membership categories and ways to increase the number of members.
Brill reported that work will continue this year on conducting, and funding, the JMC enrollment, placement, and salary surveys. There will be a year of hiatus during this time. The association will also be developing ideas for our centennial celebration in 2017. She is looking for volunteers to work on these topics.
Heider installed Brill as 2014-2015 ASJMC president and presented her with the gavel of office. Brill presented Heider with a special glass award recognizing his leadership and service as ASJMC president this year.
Heider continued to preside over the remainder of the meeting. He reported that the “Re-Imagining Accreditation” Committee will issue its report in late September. Members’ feedback on this topic from the February workshop and the session yesterday will be included in the report. It will also be released to the Accrediting Council members.
He encouraged members to use the new AEJMC program for NED in October as a way to get students and others on campus to get excited about the news. It is a great opportunity to reach out to local news media and get them involved. He reported that the incoming AEJMC President Elizabeth Toth will be working in the coming year to recreate a new leadership institute for women and people of color. ASJMC will be helping get that program going, including contributing some start-up funds to the program during its first 2 years.
Heider reported that the steering committee of the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) met this week and selected New Zealand as the location of the 2016 WJEC meeting. ASJMC has a vote on that committee. WJEC meets every three years. That meeting will again include several sessions for administrators.
Brad Rawlins reported on the 2015 ASJMC workshop, which will be held in Tampa, Florida, February 19 to 21. The workshop topic will be ways to develop leadership within your unit and empowering your faculty. The workshop will feature author David Marquet, who wrote the best-selling book Turn the Ship Around: How to Create Leadership at Every Level. More information on the meeting will be mailed out in early November.
The membership observed a moment of silence for deceased members.
The membership considered one item of new business. The motion comes from the ASJMC Executive Committee and does not need a second.
These revisions are necessary due to changes made in the ACEJMC (Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications) Bylaws two years ago. ACEJMC Bylaws now require that all representatives from academic organizations to the Accrediting Council be from accredited programs. Discussion followed.
There shall be one Elected Standing Committee: the Committee on Program Standards, Evaluation and Accreditation.
The Committee on Program Standards, Evaluation and Accreditation shall consist of elected representatives to the ACEJMC. Due to the bylaws of ACEJMC, representatives to the Council from academic organizations must be from accredited programs. As a result, only accredited ASJMC representatives will be nominated to run for these seats.
Terms shall be for three years, on a rotating basis. Members may be elected to no more than two consecutive terms. Incomplete terms shall be filled for the duration of the current year by the Executive Committee. The person selected must not be a member of the Executive Committee.
Paul Parsons of Elon reported on accreditation issues. ASJMC has four elected representatives to the Council. There are two Council meetings they attend each year. This was the first year that each accredited program was required to post on its website its enrollment figures, retention rate, and graduation rate. This posting is now required by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for all disciplines. Each school is required to update that information each year. However, there was no overall consistency to these numbers from one school to the next. This was discussed at the ASJMC Executive Committee meeting earlier this week. Parsons answered several questions.
Heider said the association was pleased to honor Frank Ovaitt of the Institute for Public Relations with the Gerald Sass Award session yesterday. Heider encouraged members to nominate people for this award when the announcement goes out early next year.
There being no additional business, Heider adjourned the meeting at 2:20 p.m.