The Gatekeeper

MASS COMMUNICATION DIVISION

NATIONAL COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION

January 2003

Published four times annually by the Mass Communication Division of NCA

Editor: Glenda R. Balas, University of New Mexico (gbalas@unm.edu)

Newsletter Contents:

Welcome from the Chair

Call for Papers, 2003

Call for Reviewers

Paper Reviewers Sign Up Form

Research Committee Chair Report

Top Papers, NCA 2002

Call for Nominations of Officers, 2003

Teaching and Service Awards

Addresses of New Division Officers

Announcing New Electronic Journal

News of Members

Deadline for Newsletter

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Welcome From the Division Chair

Hello to all members of the Mass Communication Division. And, a special welcome to new members and to student members. It was wonderful to see so many familiar and new faces at the Division’s panels and Business meeting. The feedback about the New Orleans conference was so positive. Thanks for all of you for helping to make the convention a success. The officers deserve special recognition for their work. Personal thanks to Shing-Ling Chen and Mary Beth Oliver for their work and advice. We all owe Research Chair Mehdi Semati appreciation for handling the paper competition. We are a fortunate division to have such capable and generous members.

The New Orleans program offered 18 panels that focused on a variety of perspective and topics. We were fortunate to have so many members participating this year. And, we welcomed our graduate student presenters, many of whom were showcased in a special panel highlighting graduate student papers.

The 2003 convention in Miami offers our members opportunities to show their abilities, talent, and creativity. The convention theme is “Reaching Out/Reaching In.” I’d like to see even more submissions than last year. So, take a look at the Call For Papers in the Newsletter. I encourage our members to submit papers and thematic panels. Contact Jim Walker if you have any ideas or questions about paper or panel submissions. The Division officers look forward to a busy and productive year. Please offer us your suggestions and ideas of ways to make our 2003 Miami convention a success.

Thanks for all your help.

Betsy Perse, Chair

Mass Communication Division, NCA

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Mass Communication Division Call for Papers

The Mass Communication Division invites competitive papers and thematic panel proposals for program sessions addressing theory, research, or methodological issues in mass communication.

Copies of Papers: 5

Deadline: February 1, 2003

Specify student papers: yes

Maximum length: 25 pages (excluding tables and references)

All competitive papers must be registered online at www.natcom.org.

Please follow the online directions for registering your paper. Once you have registered the paper online, you must send 5 copies of papers for review to: Douglas Ferguson, College of Charleston, Department of Communication,5 College Way, Charleston, SC 29401; Phone: 843-953-7854; Email: fergusond@cofc.edu.

Copies of complete papers for review should be submitted in hard copy form. Fax and E-mail attachments will not be accepted. The Division Research Committee will evaluate competitive papers anonymously and those selected will be critiqued by a respondent. Paper length is limited to 25 pages excluding tables and references, double-spaced. Longer papers will not be considered. Paper submissions must include the following: (1) a title page showing author(s) name(s), complete mailing address, telephone number, email address, and any A/V requirements; (2) a separate 100-150 word abstract. Student papers (whose author(s) must all be students) should be prominently marked (Student) on the title page, the abstract page, and the first page of the text. Please note that identifying information should be included only on the title page. Fax and email submissions cannot be accepted. A/V requests must be made at the time of submission; we regret that late requests cannot be accommodated.

All thematic panel proposals must be submitted online at www.natcom.org. Please follow the online directions for submitting your thematic panel.

James R. Walker

Professor and Chair, Department of Communication

Saint Xavier University

3700 W. 103rd St.

Chicago, Il 60655

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NCA Mass Communication Division Call for Paper Reviewers

and Volunteer Sign-Up Form

This is a call for help with the review process for our division. Please consider volunteering for this valuable service to our division, and to our community of NCA scholars. If you did not sign up during our last business meeting in New Orleans, please mail, email, or fax the following information to Douglas Ferguson (see his contact information below).

class=Section2>

NCA

Mass Communication Division

Paper Review Volunteer Sign-Up

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please fill out this form with the requested information

Name ____________________________________________________________

Institution ________________________________________________________

Mailing Address ___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Telephone #(s) ____________________________________________________

Email Address ____________________________________________________

Fax # _______________________________________________________

Areas of Interest or Expertise ________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Are you also willing to serve as a chair? _________ Respondent? ____________

____________________

Please email/fax/mail to:

Douglas Ferguson

Department of Communication

5 College Way

College of Charleston

Charleston, SC 29401

FAX: (760) 875-8102

Telephone: (843) 953-7854

Email: fergusond@cofc.edu

class=Section3>

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Research Committee Chair Report

Summary of Results: Mass Communication Division Paper Review 2002

The division received a total of 60 competitive paper submissions, as shown below.

Number of Papers submitted 60

Number of Papers Accepted 40

Average Score Across All Papers 5.98 (0=Lowest; 10=Highest)

Average Score Across Accepted papers 6.92

Average Score of Top 3 Papers 8.30

Ten programs were created and proposed from the accepted papers, and NCA accepted all of the proposed programs for presentation in New Orleans. These programs reflect a wide variety of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to mass communication research. Student participation was very impressive this year: 43% of papers submitted were (co)authored by students. Congratulations to them and to all of our presenters!

I thank all of the people who volunteered to serve as reviewers for the competitive papers this year. In alphabetical order, they are: Charles Aust, Robert Avery, Cristina Azocar, Jane Banks, Lisa Barry, Geoffrey Baym, Joe Blaney, Derek Buescher, Rebecca Chory-Assad, Robin Crabtree, Bethami Dobkin, Mark Goodman, Paul Haridakis, Kristen Harrison, Cynthia Hoffner, Cary Horvath, Sriram Kalyanaraman, Barbara Kaye, Cynthia King, Rebecca Lind, Dana Mastro, Sharon Mazzarella, Matt McAllister, Norm Medoff, Robert Mendenhall, Shane Miller, Peter Miraldi, Norbert Mundorf, Mary Beth Oliver, Ron Ostman, Zizi Papachariss, Betsy Perse

Narissra Punyanunt, Tom Reichert, Robin Riley, David Roskos-Ewoldsen, Kyra Rothenberg, Michelle Seelig, Radhika Seth, Karen Smith, Mary Step, Jennifer Stromer-Galley, Judith Thorpe, Stan Tickton, James Walker, Emmett Winn,

We were very lucky to have such a large group of people who agreed to review papers -- it served to distribute the workload, and it also allowed for each submitted paper to receive reviews from three separate readers. Thanks to everyone for their careful reviews, and particularly to those readers who provided extensive feedback and suggestions for revision and improvement. It is because of the hard work of our members that we continue to thrive as a division. Thank you again.

Mehdi Semati, Chair

Mass Communication Division Research Committee

***************************************************************************** Top Papers, NCA 2002

Once again, the Mass Communication Division was a showcase for exceptional research and writing, as seen by the top papers listed below:

FIRST PLACE:

"Sport, Culture, and Identity: A Fantasy Theme Analysis of Sport's Talk"

Kenneth S. Zagacki, North Carolina State University, Dan Grano, Louisiana State University

SECOND PLACE:

"Psychological Reactions to the Race of Perpetrators and Officers on Television News"

Travis L. Dixon, University of Michigan

THIRD PLACE (SHARED BY TWO PAPERS)

"Girls in Crisis: Newspaper Coverage of Adolescent Girls"

Sharon R. Mazzarella, Ithaca College, Norma Pecora, Ohio State University

"Responses to the Events of September 11th: News Diffusion, Emotion, and Coping"

Cynthia Hoffner, Georgia State University, Yuki Fujioka, Georgia State University, Amal Ibrahim, Georgia State University, Jiali Ye, Georgia State University

TOP STUDENT PAPER (SHARED BY TWO PAPERS)

"What is the Message: News Perceptions of Sensationalism and Medium"

Jennifer M. Proffitt, Pennsylvania State University, Hyeseung Yang, Pennsylvania State University, Joonho Hwang, Pennsylvania State University

"Indications of the Digital Development Divide: A Meta-Analytic Framework for Assessing the Global Digital Divide"

Toby J. Arquette, Northwestern Univesity

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NCA's Mass Communication Division Invites Nominations for

Teaching and Service Awards

The MCD Teaching Award is designed to recognize excellence in teaching, using the term "teacher" in a broad sense. In order to be considered, the nominee must be a member of NCA and MCD, have taught for over ten years, and have been recognized for their teaching excellence by their department, unit, college/university, or other group or association. This includes, but is not limited to, awards, merit evaluations, student recognition, etc. Self-nomination is encouraged in addition to nominations by others. The nomination packet may not exceed 25 pages and should include (1) a single, detailed letter of nomination addressing the qualifications of the nominee; (2) the teacher's curriculum vitae; (3) three letters of recommendation; and (4) representative publications or presentations dealing with teaching and/or curriculum, course outlines/syllabuses, innovative teaching ideas or tools, teaching evaluations and citations, evidence of mentoring and/or advising, or other forms of recognition pertaining to the nominee.

The MCD Service Award is designed to recognize exemplary service in the field. In order to be considered, the nominee must be a member of NCA and MCD, have served the NCA and MCD in a number of capacities, and have evidence of exemplary service to several of the following: NCA, MCD, the profession, the community, the department, the college or university. The nomination packet may not exceed 25 pages and should include (1) a single detailed letter of nomination addressing the qualifications of the nominee; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) three letters of recommendation; and (4) evidence of service.

Send five copies of the packet to Mehdi Semati, Department of Speech Communication, Eastern Illinois University, 1825 Coleman Hall, Charleston, IL 61920. Faxed or electronic submissions will not be accepted.

Nominations should be received by May 15, 2003. Over the summer, an award committee will discuss the nominations. The award committee will consist of the immediate past chair, chair, vice-chair, vice-chair elect and secretary of the MCD. The final decision will be made by August 15. The award recipient will be contacted and asked to attend the MCD Business Meeting during the NCA annual convention to receive the award. The MCD reserves the right to not give any awards.

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The Mass Communication Division Nominations Committee is seeking nominations and self-nominations for division officer positions for 2002-2003. Nominations are sought for the offices of (1) Division Chair, (2) Secretary, (3) Research Committee Member, (4) Publications Editor, (5) Web Wizard, (6) Nominations Committee membership, (7) Resolution Representative, and (8) Graduate Student Representative. If you or someone you know is interested in serving, please contact Paul Haridakis, Kent State University (pharidak@kent.edu).

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Election Results—NCA 2002

Elections were conducted as part of the business meeting at NCA 2002. The following members have agreed to serve as Division Officers for 2002-2003.

Vice Chair Elect: Mehdi Semati (Eastern Illinois University)

Secretary Elect: J. Emmett Winn (Auburn University)

Publications Committee: Glenda Balas (University of New Mexico)

Web Wizard: Cary Horvath (Slippery Rock University)

Grad Student Representative: Chad Mahood (University of California, Santa Barbara)

Resolutions Committee Rep: Heather Hundley (California State University, San Bernardino)

Research Committee: Doug Ferguson, Chair (College of Charleston), Lisa Barry (Trinity College), David Roskos-Ewolsen (University of Alabama)

Nominations Committee: Paul Haridakis (Chair, Kent State University), Janellen Hill (Regis University), Leah Vande Berg (California State University, Sacramento), Dale Kunkle (University of California, Santa Barbara), Tom Reichert (University of Alabama)

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Addresses of Current MCD Officers

Shing-Ling Chen, Immediate Past Chair

University of Northern Iowa

Communication Studies

LNG 312

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

319-273-6021

sarina.chen@uni.edu

Elizabeth Perse, Chair

University of Delaware

Department of Communication

Newark, DE 19715

302-831-8029; eperse@udel.edu

James R. Walker, Vice Chair

Saint Xavier University

Department of Communication

3700 W. 103^rd St.

Chicago, Il 60655

773-298-3370; walker@sxu.edu

Mehdi Semati, Vice Chair Elect

Eastern Illinois University

Department of Speech Communication

2070 Coleman Hall

600 Lincoln Avenue

Charleston, IL 61920-3099

217-581-6314; msemati@eiu.edu

Dwight Brooks, Secretary

University of Georgia

College of Journalism and Mass Communication

101J Journalism

Athens, GA 30602-3018

706-542-5951; debrooks@arches.uga.edu

J. Emmett Winn, Secretary Elect

Auburn University

Department of Communication & Journalism

217 Tichenor Hall

Auburn University, AL 36849

334-844-2761; winnjoh@auburn.edu

Research Committee

Doug Ferguson, Chair

College of Charleston

Department of Communication

66 George Street

Charleston, SC 29424-0001

843-953-7854; fergusond@cofc.edu

Lisa Barry

Trinity College

125 Michigan Ave.

Washington, DC 20017

202-884-9804; barryl@trinitydc.edu

David Roskos-Ewolsen

University of Alabama

College of Communication

Box 870172

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0172

droskos@ccom.ua.edu

Glenda Balas, Publications Committee

University of New Mexico

Communication and Journalism Department

Albuquerque, NM 87131

505-277-4422; gbalas@unm.edu

Cary Horvath, Web Wizard

Slippery Rock University

Department of Communication

Slippery Rock, PA 16057

724-738-2564; cary.horvath@sru.edu

Heather Hundley, Resolutions Committee

California State University, San Bernardino

Communication Studies

20114 University Hall

5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA

909-880-7377; hhundley@csusb.edu

Chad Mahood, Graduate Student Representative

University of California, Santa Barbara

Department of Communication

Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4020

805-893-4479; chadmahood@hotmail.com

Nominations Committee

Paul Haridakis, Chair

Kent State University

School of Communication Studies

P.O. Box 5190

Kent, OH 44242-0001

330-672-0174; pharidak@kent.edu

Janellen Hill

Regis University

Loyola Hall, Room 30

Denver, CO 80221-1099

303-458-4969; jhill@regis.edu

Leah Vande Berg

California State University, Sacramento

Department of Communication Studies

6000 J Street

Sacramento, CA 95819-2605

916-278-6168; vandeberglr@csus.edu

Dale Kunkle

University of Santa Barbara

Ellison Hall, Room 4840

University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106

kunkle@comm.ucsb.edu

Tom Reichert

University of Alabama

Department of Advertising and Public Relations

Box 870172

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0172

205-348-2652; reichert@apr.ua.edu

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Announcing New Electronic Journal

GLOBAL MEDIA JOURNAL

Yahya R. Kamalipour, Editor-in-Chief, Purdue University Calumet

Patrick Murphy, Guest Editor, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

GLOBAL MEDIA JOURNAL publishes works that assess existing media structures and practices, such as global media concentration, globalization of TV genres, global media and consumer culture, the role of media in democratic governance and global justice, media reception and cultural practice, the commercialization of news and new media technologies, and the formation of alternative media.

GLOBAL MEDIA JOURNAL:

* is advised by an editorial board of prominent international communication scholars from throughout the world

* publishes refereed papers, invited papers, book reviews, announcements, significant awards, IC news, conferences, and employment opportunities

* offers an opportunity to graduate students to publish their work online

* provides an “Open Forum” page to dialogue about issues pertaining to media and globalization.

The inaugural issue, Fall 2002, includes:

“Global Media Mayhem,” George Gerbner, Temple University

“Technological and Economic Challenges to State Control of Information in Southeast Asia,” Drew McDaniel, Ohio University

“Re-examining Civil Society in Emerging Sub-Sahara African Democracies: The State, the Media, and the Public in Ghana,” Isaac Blankson, Southern Illinois University

“Arab Satellite Television Between Regionalization and Globalization,” Marwan M. Kraidy, American University

“Impact of Media on Conflict Resolution and Education in the New Europe,” Noemi Marin, Florida Atlantic University & Laura Lengel, Bowling Green State University

“The Evolution of Public Service Radio Broadcasting in Greece: From Authoritarianism to Anarchy and Irrelevance,” Thimios Zaharopoulos, Washburn University

“Corruption & Calamity: Limiting Ethical Journalism in Mexico and Central America,” Rick Rockwell, American University

AND MORE…

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News of Members

Robert Musburger (School of Communication, University of Houston) has been awarded a $25,000 grant to produce a series of fourteen hour-long lectures on media production, using media production to illustrate the lectures. As the lecturer, Musburger will be visible on camera only briefly at the beginning and at the end of each lecture. The rest of the time all of the topics under discussion will be shown with close ups and moving images of what is important for the students to see and understand. The production crew is made up of advanced students from the School of Communication’s Media Production sequence.

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Don’t Forget! Deadline for Next Newsletter….

Please send news of interest and importance to MCD members to Publications Editor, Glenda Balas, University of New Mexico (gbalas@unm.edu). Deadline for the April newsletter is March 15, 2003.