Mass Communication Division - National Communication Association

Mass Communication Division
National Communication Association
November 2007
Published three times annually by the Mass Communication Division of NCA.
Publications Editor - Adam Earnheardt, Youngstown State University

Greetings! I hope your Fall semester is going well and that you are enjoying all of your teaching and research duties. In just a few days we will all be gathering in Chicago for our annual meetings at NCA. Vice Chair, Lance Holbert (University of Delaware) and Research Chair, Heather Hundley (California State University, San Bernardino) have planned a wonderful program of panels for the Mass Communication Division. I hope that you will be able to attend all of them. I especially encourage you to attend the Mass Communication Business Meeting, Saturday, November 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. in the Chicago Hilton’s Waldorf Room. The Division Reception follows right after the Business Meeting in the same place, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.

I believe this is my last “Note from the Chair” article for our fine newsletter, The Gatekeeper. I want to take this opportunity to thank our top-notch Publications/Web Editor, Dr. Adam Earnheardt. Dr. Earnheardt’s tireless work keeps all of our members up to date on the news of the division. Thanks Adam, you make us all look good.

I also wish to thank all of the MCD officers for their hard work and support during my time as Vice Chair-Elect, Vice Chair, and Chair; with a special thanks to Drs. Kristen Harrison and Mehdi Semati. Their valuable advice made my job easy.

Finally, thanks to all of you, the members of the Mass Communication Division for your excellent teaching and research activities!

Agenda for Business Meeting
J. Emmett Winn, Auburn University, MCD Chair
Tentative Agenda for MCD Business Meeting (Chicago, 2007)

Please stay after the business meeting and enjoy socializing with your MCD colleagues.

Top papers will be presented during the "Top Competitive Papers in Mass Communication" panel, Saturday, November 17, 2007, 12:30pm to 1:45pm in the Chicago Hilton / Boulevard A.

Media Involvement
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4M

The Stars in the Heavens: Worshiping at the Church of Celebrity
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4D

Against Communication: On the Deleuzoguattarian Ethics of Refusal (to communicate)
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4K

Cultivation & Naturalization in the Media
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 5G

Blogging, Banking, Browsing, & Ethics: Research on Internet Users' Activities
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 5G

The “Other” Among Us: Post 9-11 News Coverage and Images of Muslims and Arabs
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 5F

Advances in Research on Entertainment
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 2:00pm - 3:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard C

Television and Viewer Behaviors
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 2:00pm - 3:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard B

Active and Passive Consumption of Media Content, Revisited: Gratifications, Habits, and Audience Productions
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4M

Sports Fandom Revisited: Fan Faith in Athletes, Teams, and Mediated Sports
Time: Thu, Nov 15 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Northwest 5

Reality Television and Content
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, PDR 3

Digital Production and Consumption: From Camera to Podcast to DVD
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard A

Changing World Views: Roles and Challenges of Mass Media in Revolutions
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4G

Representations in the Media
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard B

News Coverage: Ideology, Bias and Citizen Journalism
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Lake Erie

Sex, Violence, and Influence in Video Games and Fiction
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Joliet Room

Unexplored Issues in Media Violence Research
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4M

From Sorenstam to Sharapova: Gender, Sexuality and Fandom in Sports Media
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 2:00pm - 3:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4D

Parasocial Interaction & Audience Responses
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 2:00pm - 3:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Joliet Room

Audience Agency: Choices, Preferences, and Influences
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 5J

Children’s Television and the Powers that Be: Industry, Advertising, and the FCC
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 5F

Ethics and the Media
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 5:00pm - 6:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard B

Gender, Sport, and the Media: Portraying Power and Patriarchy
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 5:00pm - 6:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4D

Humor and Popular Culture
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 6:30pm - 7:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4B

Media Models and Theories
Time: Fri, Nov 16 - 6:30pm - 7:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4A

Journalism, Sourcing, and Credibility
Time: Sat, Nov 17 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4D

Web Site and Blog Content
Time: Sat, Nov 17 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard B

Reality Television and Audiences
Time: Sat, Nov 17 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, PDR 1

Theoretical, Practical, and Ethical Implications of Online Social Networking: Fleshing Out the Interface of Mass and Interpersonal Communication in Online Settings
Time: Sat, Nov 17 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard B

Top Competitive Papers in Mass Communication
Time: Sat, Nov 17 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Boulevard A

News, Fraud, Tragedy, and Theory
Time: Sat, Nov 17 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, PDR 1

Research on Magazines, Journalism and TV Talk
Time: Sat, Nov 17 - 12:30pm - 1:45pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4A

Content Analyses and Critical Reviews of Media
Time: Sun, Nov 18 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4C

Papers on Appeals, Pursuits, and Journalism
Time: Sun, Nov 18 - 8:00am - 9:15am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4B

Media Ownership and Regulation
Time: Sun, Nov 18 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4D

Military Coverage and Journalism
Time: Sun, Nov 18 - 9:30am - 10:45am Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4C

Advertising Strategies and Effectiveness
Time: Sun, Nov 18 - 11:00am - 12:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4B

Media Framing
Time: Sun, Nov 18 - 11:00am - 12:15pm Place: Chicago Hilton, Conference Room 4D

Of Interest...
Justice Talking Live from NCA - NCA "Spotlight" Event
Friday November 16, 2007, 9:30-10:45 am, 11-12:15 pm
Lake Michigan Room, Chicago Hilton

Don't miss this opportunity to participate in the taping-for-broadcast of a conversation about protections for reporters and a debate about issue advertising in the race for president. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (Special Prosecutor in the "Scooter" Libby case) and Northwestern journalism professor Jack Doppelt will talk about a proposed federal shield law for journalists. Fitzgerald is against such a law but Doppelt says he's for it. The debate pits dueling campaign finance lawyers on the question of whether issue advocacy advertising should be protected as political speech in electoral campaigns. Cutting through both interviews: what counts as political free speech in the age of YouTube and blogs. Included will be Q&A from the NCA convention audience. All this will be produced by NPR's Justice Talking, the award-winning weekly radio show about law and American life, to air on 99 public radio stations around the country, with podcasting available through its website, www.justicetalking.org. In Session II, Justice Talking host Margot Adler and producer Ingrid Lakey will discuss with the audience the content, process, and pedagogical possibilities of Justice Talking. Sponsor: NCA Forum (NCA-F) and NCA First Vice-President.

Call for Reviewers - Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media
Susan Brinson, Auburn University

If you are interested in reviewing manuscripts for the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, please send an email indicating such to Susan Brinson, brinssl@auburn.edu.

Best Regards,
Susan Brinson, Editor-Select
Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media

If you have students interested in popular culture, marketing, or the media industries, please encourage them to visit www.powerofcomics.com for information about a field study program at next summer's Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA.

The one-week program (July 25-30, 2008) engages students as participant-observers of Comic-Con International, studying the intersection between mass marketing and fan cultural practices through ethnographic research. Comic-Con is the perfect backdrop to delve into this crossroad as hundreds of vendors and over 100,000 fans gather there to exchange symbolic meaning—and currency! And while Comic-Con features comic books, manga, and graphic novels, students interested in all manner of popular culture can find something of interest to study at the Con, including anime, sci-fi, gaming, film, television, and much, much more. You can see more information about the Con itself at http://www.comic-con.org/cci/.

Students will also have the rather unique opportunity to make a public presentation of their observations and tentative conclusions at the end of the week as a part of the Comic Arts Conference (http://fac.hsu.edu/duncanr/cac_page.htm) held in conjunction with Comic-Con. The field study is sponsored by Wittenberg University and taught by Matthew J. Smith, Associate Professor of Communication.

Call for Manuscripts: Journal of Film and Video
Special Double Issue on Animated Sitcoms

The Journal of Film and Video invites the submission of manuscripts for a special double issue of the journal to be published in Volume 61 (Summer 2009/Fall 2009). Guest Editors for the issue, Mary M. Dalton and Laura R. Linder, seek essays from a variety of critical perspectives examining animated sitcoms. Topics may include studies of particular animated series, the role of cable networks in advancing the form, common themes across programs, audiences and reception, and marketing and product tie-ins. Submissions are due February 15, 2008. A final decision on submissions will be made by May 15, 2008 with revisions due August 1, 2008.

Manuscripts of 12-35 typewritten pages intended for review for this issue should be sent in triplicate to Stephen Tropiano, Editor, Journal of Film and Video, Ithaca College Los Angeles Program, 3800 Barham Blvd. Suite 305, Los Angeles, California 90068; UFVAjournal@aol.com.

Manuscripts and reviews should be prepared following the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing by Joseph Gibaldi (Fifth Edition, 1999). Submit one original and two hard copies of the manuscript for consideration. It is important that the name(s) of the author(s) not appear anywhere on the two copies of the manuscript submitted to Stephen Tropiano to ensure blind review by the guest editors of this issue. Notes and list of works cited are to appear on pages at the conclusion of the article. The Journal is committed to a policy of nonsexist language; authors are urged to keep this in mind. The editors reserve the right to alter phrasing and punctuation in articles accepted for publication.

Call for Papers
Exploring New Media Worlds: Changing Technologies, Industries, Cultures, and Audiences in Global and Historical Context

An international conference hosted by Texas A&M University, February 29 to March 2, 2008

Integrating fields of study in a time of change; setting a new agenda for media studies.

Papers and proposals are invited on any aspect of the conference themes, offering reports of new research, position-taking conceptual essays, discussions of media and telecommunication policy, and both international and historical comparisons on changing technologies, industries, cultures, and audiences.

The program will include keynote speakers, roundtable discussions, thematic panels, prominent scholars as respondents, and time for interaction. A wide selection of papers from the conference will be published. Travel grants are available for student members of the National Communication Association (see our webpage for more information)

Send papers or proposals (abstracts or annotated outlines) with a 50 word professional biography by email attachment to mediaworlds@tamu.edu. Panel proposals are also acceptable. Deadline: November 20, 2007.

For more information see http://comm.tamu.edu/mediaworlds email mediaworlds@libarts.tamu.edu or Rothenbuhler@tamu.edu.

Keynote speakers:
Larry Grossberg; Steve Jones; Vinny Mosco; and Ellen Seiter.

Confirmed participants:
Carole Blair, Sandra Braman, Celeste Condit, Bruce Gronbeck, Andrea Press, Ronald Rice, Paddy Scannell, Joseph Turow, Angharad Valdivia.

And the Texas A&M faculty:
Patrick Burkart, Heidi Campbell, Antonio La Pastina, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Eric Rothenbuhler, Michael Stephenson, Randy Sumpter, and Ian Weber plus strong faculty groups in Rhetoric and Public Affairs, Health Communication, and Organizational Communication.

The Exploring New Media Worlds conference is hosted and co-sponsored by the Department of Communication, the College of Liberal Arts, the Glasscock Center for Humanities Research, and the Program in Presidential Rhetoric, Texas A&M University, with support from the National Communication Association.

Announcing the 4th biennial William A. Kern Communications Conference
Call for Papers
Visual Communication: Rhetorics and Technology
April 10-13, 2008
Rochester Institute of Technology
Strathallan Hotel, Rochester New York

Call for Papers: The first Kern conference on Visual Communication took place in 2001 and provided a wide-ranging forum for scholars and practitioners to share their work. Since then, the interdisciplinary study of visual communication has continued to grow, generating a variety of projects, books, journals, studies, and methodological approaches to research and critical studies. The fourth and final Kern conference on visual communication continues the conversation with a renewed commitment to interdisciplinary interests and scholarship. The 4th and final Kern conference on Visual Communication: Rhetorics and Technology (April 10-13, 2008, Rochester NY) focuses on the study of visuality as communication with special interest on the interconnections between visual rhetoric and visual media technologies.

We invite submissions that address this theme in the widest ways we can imagine. How does scholarship in visual communication interact with traditional approaches to the processes of human communication, inclusive of rhetoric and communication media technology? How do individual cases of visual communication, visual rhetoric, visual documentation and creativity enlarge our understanding of human communication? How does the history and practice of visuality inform our teaching of communication, media and rhetoric? Where are individual research projects taking us? Individual papers, presentations, experimental "work in progress," panel and workshop proposals are welcome.
Send complete papers or 500 word abstracts via email as a Word document attachment to Diane S. Hope, or by paper mail to Diane S. Hope, Kern Professor in Communications, 92 Lomb Memorial Drive; Rochester Institute of Technology; Rochester NY, 14623, by December 1, 2007.

Please check the website: www.rit.edu/kern for updates, details and registration information.

Diane S. Hope (dshgpt@rit.edu)
William A. Kern Professor in Communications
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY 14623
585-475-605

Raúl Tovares (Trinity University) Received a Fulbright Award. Tovares will be teaching journalism at Ivan Franko National University in Lviv, Ukraine in the Spring 2008 semester.

Michael J. Beatty joins the University of Miami School of Communication - Communication Studies program as a Professor and will direct the School’s Ph.D. program.

Shannon B. Campbell joins the University of Miami School of Communication Public Relations program as an Assistant Professor.

Thom Gencarelli moved to Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York, where he began working this past June as the first Chair of the College's new Communications Department.

Lisa Gottlieb joins the University of Miami School of Communication Motion Picture program as an Associate Professor.

Bob Radziewicz joins the Journalism program as Director of On-line and Print Newspaper Operations. In addition to teaching, Radziewicz will provide executive management and mentorship for the print and online student-journalism media including the University’s newspaper, The Miami Hurricane.

Catherine Squires received tenure and was promoted to associate professor at the University of Minnesota. Squires is now the Cowles Chair of Journalism, Diversity and Equality in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Wan-Hsiu “Sunny” Tsai joins the University of Miami School of Communication Advertising program as an Assistant Professor.

Mina Tsay was recently appointed to Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at University of Kentucky.

David Domke (University of Washington) and Kevin Coe's (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) forthcoming The God Strategy: How Religion Became a Political Weapon in America. Oxford University Press, November 2007.

Mara Einstein's (Queens College, City University of New York) Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age will be published by Routledge (2008). The book is a critique which examines the proliferation of religious marketing and the cultural consequences thereof.

Linda K. Fuller's (Worcester State College) Community Media: International Perspectives was recently published by Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. Drawing on both theoretical and practical case studies, this collection moves from developing attempts at local media to case studies and on to cyber-examples. The contributors present a range of perspectives on the ever-burgeoning area of grassroots, local media.

Sharon Kleinman (Quinnipiac University), editor, and Peter Lang Publishing announcing a new book that addresses the far-reaching ways that mobile information and communication technologies (ICTs) are altering how we work, play, learn, and relate to one another: Displacing Place: Mobile Communication in the Twenty-first Century. Part of the Digital Formations book series: Steve Jones, series editor.

Rebecca C. Hains (Salem State College) "Inventing the Teenage Girl: The Construction of Female Identity in Nickelodeon's My Life as a Teenage Robot" in Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2007) of Popular Communication and "Pretty Smart: Subversive Intelligence in Girl Power Cartoons" in Geek Chic: Smart Women in Popular Culture (Ed. Sherrie A. Inness). Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

Donna L. Halper (Emerson College) completed a chapter to be included in the up-coming social history of radio, "Radio Cultures" by media historian Michael Keith of Boston College. The book will be published by Peter Lang (Spring 2008). Halper is also at work on her fourth book, to be published by Greenwood Press, a social history of talk shows.

Terry Lindvall's (Virginia Wesleyan College) Sanctuary Cinema: The Origins of the Christian Film Industry was recently published by NYU Press, 2007.

Jonathan Matusitz (University of Central Florida) and Gerald-Mark Breen (University of Central Florida) recently published the article entitled "Telemedicine: Its Effects on Health Communication" in the journal Health Communication and "An Interpersonal Examination of Telemedicine: Applying Relevant Communication Theories" in the eHealth International Journal. In early 2008, the duo will publish an article entitled "E-Health: A New Kind of Telemedicine" in the Journal of Health and Social Policy.

Bob McChesney's (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) book Communication Revolution: Critical Junctures and the Future of Media will be published by New Press (2007).

K.E. Supriya's (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee) book chapter, "Bending it Like Beckham: Sex, Soccer, and Traveling Indians" will appear in the forthcoming edited book on the Aftermaths: Exiles, Migraitons, Disapora conference proceedings, sponsored by Center for International Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Rutgers University: New Brunsiwck, 2008.

Gary C. Woodward's (The College of New Jersey) Center Stage: Media and the Performance of American Politics was recently published by Roman and Littlefield (2007).

Cindy Lont, George Mason University, and GMU-TV, have produced a new series, "Media Researchers" with interviews of some of the founders of the mass communication field. One-on-one interviews with James Carey, Steve Chaffee, George Gerbner and Everett Rogers give a wonderful description of the field, their contribution and the future of mass communication. The series is a great way to introduce students to mass communication theorists and theories. "Media Researchers" is distributed through First Light Videos.

Shannon O'Rourke's "In the Name of Love," an award-winning documentary film about modern day Russian mail-order brides, is available for purchase at http://www.newday.com/films/IntheNameofLove.html for $250. (58 minutes, DVD/VHS.). What's motivating the thousands of Russian women who sign up with agencies to meet and marry American men? From the gray skies of St. Petersburg to sunny California ranches, we see the financial and emotional pros and cons of exporting one's heart. The film grapples with the tremendous economic challenges and difficult decisions facing Russian women today. Recommended for viewing in Russian Studies, Women's Studies, Gender Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology.

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Sport Communication, Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio. Candidate should have a Ph.D. in Communication or related field with a background in sport communication, along with strength in public relations, journalism, media or speech communication. Duties include a 21-hour teaching load consisting of introductory and capstone courses, sport reporting, sport public relations and special topics classes, along with other courses in the candidate's area of study. Demonstrated excellence in and strong commitment to undergraduate teaching desired. Send cover letter, curriculum vita, evidence of teaching effectiveness and list of three references to Sport Communication Search Committee, Dept. of Communication Arts, 401 College Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805. Direct questions to Dr. Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Chair, at drandall@ashland.edu. Search begins immediately and continues until position is filled. www.ashland.edu. Ashland University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace.

Wake Forest University is seeking an advanced Assistant or early Associate Professor who will serve as Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, beginning August 2008. Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) at Wake Forest University is a vibrant interdisciplinary academic program that coordinates and stimulates a wide range of research, teaching and community service activities. The Director teaches in the Program, promotes faculty and student research as well as curriculum development, supervises the administrative office of the Program, and facilitates inter-disciplinary and cross-campus communication and scholarship among the faculty. The Director represents and advances the interests of the Program on campus and in the community. The Director will hold a full-time tenured or tenure-track appointment in the Program and/or appropriate disciplinary unit.

The successful candidate will possess a Ph.D. with training in feminist and/or gender studies. Specific disciplines are open but preference will be given to candidates with a Ph.D. in WGS, social science fields or the humanities. Qualified candidates will be committed to interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship, and will hold a record of both distinguished teaching and publication in WGS or the intersection of WGS and a related field. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to racial, ethnic and gender diversity as well as the ability to work closely with multiple interdisciplinary units on campus, including American Ethnic Studies and other area studies programs. Preference will be given to candidates who evidence administrative ability and experience, as well as commitment to service and community engagement.

Additional information about the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Wake Forest University can be found at: http://www.wfu.edu/wgs. Information about the University is located at: http://www.wfu.edu.

The initial deadline for applications is November 30, 2007 but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Send nominations, applications and inquiries to Professor Mary Foskett, c/o Ms. Linda Mecum, Women’s and Gender Studies Program, Wake Forest University, P.O. Box 7365, Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7365. Candidates should submit a letter of application, current curriculum vita, sample of scholarly writing, sample of recent teaching evaluations, and the names and addresses of three references. EEO/AA.

The interdisciplinary programs in Journalism Studies and Women’s Studies at Texas A&M University (TAMU) invite applications for a Fall 2008 appointment as ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN GENDER AND THE MASS MEDIA, entry level. The candidate must have a Ph.D. in Mass Communication, Communication, Media Studies, or related fields, as well as a demonstrated commitment to Women’s Studies as a discipline (a graduate certificate or advanced degree in Women’s Studies is a plus, but candidates might also fulfill this requirement through a track record of publications and/or dissertation work in the area of gender studies). Equally important is a disciplinary commitment to Journalism Studies demonstrated through research and/or previous teaching assignments. The best candidate also would have media experience.

The candidate should have a primary interest in gender and the media; broadcast, print, and/or new media would all be acceptable focuses. Particularly desirable would be a focus on gender in any of the following areas: television news, the Internet, international media studies, ethnic media studies, media and sexuality, history of the press. The candidate must be prepared to teach on a regular basis Introduction to Women’s Studies and introductory and/or writing, editing, and design courses offered through Journalism Studies. The candidate would have an opportunity to develop new courses for both disciplines. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who will increase the
exposure of our students to a diverse culture.

If you have questions about this search, please direct e-mails to Randall Sumpter (Journalism Studies and chair of the search) at r-sumpter@tamu.edu or Claudia Nelson (Women’s Studies) at claudia_nelson@tamu.edu. Texas A&M University is an AA/EEO institution, is deeply committed to diversity, and responds to the needs of dual-career couples.

The Department of Communication at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, invites applications for a tenure-track position in Communication/Africana Studies. We are seeking an individual with expertise in African American Communication and Culture at the rank of assistant professor, starting September 1, 2008. This new colleague could work in rhetorical studies or media studies. Relevant topical foci include African American rhetoric and politics; rhetoric of civil rights; African American media and popular culture; media representations and racism; African American audiences and cultural identities; racial differences in media access; and relevant policy questions. Additionally, the new colleague will be expected to teach the introductory course in Africana Studies and develop courses that will bridge Africana Studies and Communication.

Minimum Criteria to be Qualified for the Position:
Ph.D. in Communication, Africana Studies, or related discipline (exceptional ABD candidates may be considered); successful teaching experience; a program of research and promise of significant contribution to Communication and Africana Studies; evidence of potential for graduate instruction.

For full consideration, applicants should send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of research and teaching interests, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation by November 1, 2007 to:

Eric Rothenbuhler, Ph.D.
Co-Chair, Search Committee
Department of Communication
Texas A&M University
102 Bolton Hall, 4234 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4234

Contact Dr. Rothenbuhler at Rothenbuhler@tamu.edu or (979) 845-2880 or Dr. Brown at Kimberly-n-brown@tamu.edu.

The department offers the Ph.D., M.A., and B.A degrees. It has 20 tenure-track faculty members, 50 graduate students, and 800 undergraduate majors. With an enrollment of over 45,000 students, Texas A&M is the fourth largest university in the United States. It ranks in the top ten nationally in number of national merit scholars, total research expenditures, and total endowment funds. Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, is deeply committed to diversity, and responds to the needs of dual-career couples.

University of Arkansas
Department of Communication
New Media and Communication Technology

The UA Department of Communication is seeking a tenure-track assistant professor with research interests in new media and communication technologies. Of particular interest are candidates who address one or more of the following areas: effects of communication technology on society or individuals; use of communication technology in interpersonal, health, group, or organizational settings; critical/cultural analysis of communication technology; or social/policy issues associated with communication technology.

The Department is looking for a scholar with a challenging research program that will engage both students and faculty colleagues. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in communication or mass communication and be able to teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses in their interest area as well as courses in research methods and media theory.

The University of Arkansas is the flagship, land-grant institution in our state. Our residential campus resides in one of the five fastest growing areas in the U.S. Half a million people reside in a metro area containing an extensive medical community and the international headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies.

Ours is one of 19 departments in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. We offer courses in three primary areas: Public Communication, Mass Communication, and Interpersonal/Small Group/Organizational Communication. We currently serve approximately 335 B.A. and 40 M.A. students. Faculty members are expected to publish regularly, teach required courses as well as those in their specialty areas, engage in service activities, and advise both graduate and undergraduate majors.

Please send cover letter, curriculum vitae, college transcripts, writing samples, and three letters of reference to Dr. Ron Warren, Search Committee Chair, Department of Communication, 417 Kimpel Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701. Review of applications will begin December 3, 2007.

In order to enhance educational diversity, the University of Arkansas and the Department of Communication seek to include and integrate individuals from varied backgrounds and with varied characteristics such as those defined by race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, socioeconomic background, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and intellectual perspective.

The University of Arkansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All applicants are subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and persons hired must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States.

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Assistant Professor of Communication

Assistant Professor of Communication: Position number #73343, UH Hilo (Hilo), College of Arts and Sciences, tenure-track, general funds, full-time, nine-month appointment, to begin August 2008, pending position clearance and funding. The University reserves the right to hire at another rank when the selected candidate is qualified for that rank.

Duties:
Teach three courses each semester. Serve as an academic advisor; maintain scholarly productivity; participate in university and community service.

Minimum qualifications:
Doctorate in Communication or related field from an accredited college or university (ABD candidates expected to receive doctorate by August 1, 2008 may apply); able to teach and/or develop courses in new media, public relations, organizational, health, conflict, mediation, and/or research methods; interest in Asian and/or Pacific cultures; teaching experience in multicultural settings. Experience or interest in distance learning.

Desirable qualifications:
Experience or interest in interdisciplinary education and/or grant writing.

Salary:
Competitive.

To apply:
Submit résumé; letter of application; evidence of teaching effectiveness; transcripts (copies are acceptable, however official transcripts will be required prior to employment); and copies or originals of at least three current letters of recommendation. All requested documents/information become the property of the University.

Application Address:
Send to Dr. Ron Gordon, Search Chair, Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kāwili St., Hilo, HI 96720-4091.

Inquiries:
Dr. Ron Gordon, ph. 808-974-7479, e-mail rgordon@hawaii.edu

Continuous recruitment:
Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2008, and will continue until the position is filled.

University of Hawaii at Hilo is an EEO/AA Employer D/M/V/W.

University of Maine
Assistant Professor of Communication and Journalism

The Department of Communication and Journalism invites applications for two tenure-track Assistant Professors to begin September, 2008. Ph.D. in Mass Communication or related discipline required by appointment date. The applicant must have demonstrated excellence in teaching, professional experience, and an ongoing program of research and scholarship.

RESPONSIBILITIES (for Advertising): Primary duties include teaching undergraduate courses in the journalism major's advertising sequence, such as a survey course, copy and graphics, campaigns, and advertising and society, as well as undergraduate and graduate courses in mass communication. In addition, the faculty member will conduct an active program of research, advise students, supervise student research, and perform department and professional service as appropriate.

RESPONSIBILITIES (for Broadcast Journalism): Primary duties include teaching undergraduate courses in video production and broadcast journalism, and undergraduate and graduate courses in mass communication. In addition, the faculty member will conduct an active program of research, advise students, supervise student research, and perform department and professional service as appropriate.

DEPARTMENT: The department of 12 full-time faculty offers B.A. degrees in Journalism (advertising, broadcast journalism, news editorial), Mass Communication, and Communication, and a minor in Public Relations. The department also offers an M.A. in Communication with Mass Communication and Communication sequences. There are approximately 400 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate students in department programs. The University of Maine enrolls 12,000 students and is the major graduate institution in the state.

APPLICATION: Review of applications will begin October 15, 2007, and continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application indicating interest in the advertising position, three letters of recommendation, samples of research and professional work, teaching evaluations, and course syllabi to:

Paul Grosswiler, (Advertising) Search Committee Chair Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine, 5724 Dunn Hall, Orono, Maine 04469-5724 Telephone: 207 581-1287; Fax: 207 581-1286; Email: paul_grosswiler@umit.maine.edu

APPLICATION: Review of applications will begin October 15, 2007, and continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application indicating interest in the broadcast position, three letters of recommendation, samples of research and professional work, teaching evaluations, and course syllabi to:

Michael Socolow, (Broadcast Journalism) Search Committee Chair Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine, 5724 Dunn Hall, Orono, Maine 04469-5724
Telephone: 207 581-1941; Fax: 207 581-1286; Email: michael.socolow@umit.maine.edu

Webpage: www.cmj.umaine.edu

The University of Maine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and encourages members of under represented groups to apply.

Chair - J. Emmett Winn Dept. of Communication & Journalism 217 Tichenor Hall Auburn University Auburn, Alabama 36849 winnjoh@auburn.edu (334) 844-2761	Vice Chair - R. Lance Holbert Department of Communication 250 Pearson Hall Newark, DE 19716 University of Delaware holbert@udel.edu (302) 831-8041
Vice Chair Elect - Travis L. Dixon Dept. of Speech Comm. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 702 S. Wright St. #244 Lincoln Urbana, IL 61801 tldixon@uiuc.edu (217) 244-0104 (phone) (217) 244-1598 (fax)	Past Chair - Kristen Harrison Dept of Speech Communication University of Illinois 131 Lincoln Hall, 702 S. Wright St. Urbana IL 61801 krishar@uiuc.edu (217) 244-7536 (phone) (217) 244-1598 (fax)
Secretary - Dana E. Mastro Department of Communication University of Arizona Building 25, Room 317 Tucson, AZ 85721 mastro@email.arizona.edu (520) 307-0697	Secretary Elect - Jae-Hwa Shin University of Southern Mississippi School of Mass Communication and Journalism Box 5121 Hattiesburg, MS 39406 jaehwashin@yahoo.com (601) 266-4282
Publications/Web Editor - Adam Earnheardt (term expires November 2009) Youngstown State University Dept. of Communication 1 University Plaza Youngstown, OH 44555 acearnheardt@ysu.edu (330) 941-1845	Graduate Student Rep - Cortney Moriarty Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Dept. of Speech Comm. 702 S. Wright St. #244 Lincoln Urbana, IL 61801 cmoriart@uiuc.edu (217) 333-9106
Research Committee
Research Committee Chair - Heather Hundley Dept of Communication Studies California State University, San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92704 hhundley@csusb.edu (909) 880-7377	Research Committee Vice Chair - Sharon R. Mazzarella Communication Studies Dept Clemson University 410 Strode Tower Clemson, SC 29634-0533 smazzar@clemson.edu (864) 656-4399
Research Committee Vice Chair Elect - Rebecca M. Chory Department of Communication Studies 108 Armstrong Hall, P.O. Box 6293 Morgantown, WV 26506-6293 West Virginia University rchoryas@wvu.edu (304) 293-3905
Nominations Committee
Chair - Mary Beth Earnheardt Youngstown State University Department of English 1 University Plaza Youngstown, OH 44555 mearnheardt@ysu.edu (330) 941-1655	Meghan Sanders Louisiana State University Manship School of Mass Communication Louisiana State University 211 Journalism Bldg. Baton Rouge, LA 70803 msand@lsu.edu (225) 578-7380
Sahara Byrne Dept of Communication Cornell University 314 Kennedy Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 seb272@cornell.edu (607) 255-8058	Janellen Hill Department of Communication Arts Regis University 3333 Regis Blvd, E-8 Denver, CO 80221 jhill@regis.edu (303) 458-4969
Rebecca M. Verser New Mexico St. Univ. Dept of Comm. Studies MSC 3W; P. O. Box 30001 Las Cruces, NM 88003 rmverser@nmsu.edu (505) 646-1603	Glenda Balas Vice Chair University of New Mexico Communication & Journalism C & J Bldg Room 228 Albuquerque, NM 87131 gbalas@UNM.EDU (505) 277-4422
NCA
Legislative Assembly - Stan Tickton (term expires November 2008) Mass Communication/Journalism 700 Park Ave., Unit 3249 Norfolk State University Norfolk, Virginia 23504 stickton@nsu.edu (757) 823-2383	Legislative Assembly - Jeff Tyus (term expires November 2007) Sinclair Community College Communication Dept 444 W 3rd St Dayton, OH 45402-1421 jeffrey.tyus@sinclair.edu (937) 512-3119
Resolutions Committee - Andrew Billings Dept. of Communication Studies Clemson University 409 Strode Tower Clemson, SC 29634 acbilng@clemson.edu (864) 656-1477	Nominating Committee - Dana E. Mastro Department of Communication University of Arizona Building 25, Room 317 Tucson, AZ 85721 mastro@email.arizona.edu (520) 307-0697

The next issue of the Gatekeeper (newsletter for the NCA Mass Communication Division) will be published in early-2008. We need your news. Please provide content you would like considered for publication in the newsletter (position announcements, new books, appointments, etc.). Send your news by January 7, 2008. Send updates to Adam Earnheardt at acearnheardt@ysu.edu or call 330-941-1845 and leave a message.