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Vol 27, No. 3 
Fall 2022
Published three times annually by the Mass Communication Division of NCA.
Publications/Web Editor - Rocky Dailey, South Dakota State University

Sponsored by:

In this issue:

Welcome from the Chair

De Pere, WI - Reflections on the upcoming Convention 

It’s almost time! In just two weeks we will gather in New Orleans for the NCA annual convention. There will be many exciting events, but before I spotlight some of those, I’d like to share some brief thoughts on what this gathering means to me. 

The first time I attended the NCA annual convention it was in New Orleans, so this location brings back memories of that experience. I had just completed my master’s degree, but having been a non-traditional student, I felt out of place and knew next to no one. I remember being awed by the vastness the program and feeling anxious about giving my first presentation. Fast forward to the present, and, wherever the location of the convention, attending feels like coming home. I always gain valuable insights, but connecting, especially with you in the Mass Communication Division, is what I find most valuable. Whether this is your first year attending or you’ve attended too many times to count, my hope is that you experience that sense of community within the division too. 

To that end, there are three opportunities for us to gather as an entire division on Friday, November 18th: 

Top Student Papers, 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. 

Business Meeting, 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. An agenda is forthcoming, but we’ll celebrate our award recipients, accept nominations for leadership roles, and discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives of the division. (See related announcements below.) 

Top Papers, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m  

I hope you’ll consider spending Friday afternoon with us in the Marriott Mardi Gras Ballroom!

See you soon 

Sincerely,

Valerie Kretz
Chair, Mass Communication Division
St. Norbert College
valerie.kretz@snc.edu  

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Brookings, SD       

It is closing in on one year since I became the publications and web editor for the NCA Mass Communication Division.  During the time I have come to appreciate the service work that those who chair and partcipate in the division take on, as it can be challenging when paired with our "day jobs." I am hoping to do some major upgrades to the division website in the coming year, with the approval of the members. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can at the upcoming convention and division business meeting.  It has been challenging to get a good sense of the division remotely, so I hope we can  share some ideas on how the division can improve its communication and outreach.                      

Rocky Dailey
Publications and Web Editor, The Gatekeeper
South Dakota State University
rocky.dailey@sdstate.edu

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Announcements

Nominations – Current Slate and Additional Call

Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague! To date, we have received no nominations for the following positions:

• Vice-Chair–elect (4-year commitment) 
• Secretary–elect (2-year commitment) 
• Second Vice-Chair–Elect of the Research Committee (4-year commitment) 
• Vice-Chair–Elect of the Nominating Committee (3-year commitment) 
• Representative to the NCA Legislative Assembly (1-year commitment) 
• Representative to NCA Nominating Committee (1-year commitment) 

We have received one nomination for Graduate Student Representative Elect: 

• Max Erdemandi, University of Maryland 

If you have questions about the open positions, or what is required for service, please see our website (https://ncamass.org/bylaws.shtml) or contact Colin Kearney (colin.kearney@cnu.edu) for clarification about the roles

Unless granted a leave request by the Chair, candidates for all positions except graduate student representative elect must be present at the business meeting to stand for election. If you choose to nominate a colleague, kindly ensure they are willing to serve in the position before submitting your nomination. 

The Mass Communication Division is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion amongst our leadership. As such, we encourage nomination of individuals who are part of traditionally underrepresented groups. 

Prior to the convention, please send nominations to Colin Kearney (colin.kearney@cnu.edu) and include a brief statement of interest (including your prior involvement with NCA and/or the Mass Communication Division, if applicable). Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the business meeting. Official ballots will be coordinated and sent to Division members by e-mail after the convention. 

Proposed Bylaws Changes – Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer

The Executive Committee of the Division proposes the following changes to our bylaws, which will be discussed and voted upon during our business meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to offer feedback, please contact Valerie Kretz (Valerie.Kretz@snc.edu).

ARTICLE IV 

Proposed revisions (in bold): 

Section 1. The Officers of the Division shall be: Immediate Past-Chair Officer, Chair Officer, Vice-Chair Officer, Vice-Chair Officer Elect, Secretary, Secretary Elect, DEI Officer, and Publications/Web Editor. All shall serve one-year terms, with the exception of the DEI Officer who shall serve a two-year term and the Publications/Web Editor who shall serve a three-year term.

Proposed addition:

Section 9. The DEI Officer shall oversee all diversity equity and inclusion initiatives of the division. The DEI Officer shall represent the Division at any meetings held by the Association at which DEI issues are discussed and in which the general membership is invited to participate. When needed, the DEI Officer with the approval of the Chair will appoint an ad hoc committee to assist in these efforts.

Sections 9 and 10 will be renumbered 10 and 11 respectively.

Article VII 

Proposed revision (in bold): 

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Immediate Past-Chair Officer, the Chair Officer, the Vice-Chair Officer, the Vice-Chair Officer Elect, the Chair of the Research Committee, the Secretary, the Chair of the Nominating Committee, and the DEI Officer. 

Job Openings

The Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University invites applications for an open-rank tenure-system position. You can learn more at this link. 

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) School of Communication seeks an outstanding Emerging Media Studies tenure-track Assistant Professor to advance the School’s commitment preparing students for careers in the diverse and multi-platform media environment. A Ph.D. in media communication or related area is required. The appointment begins August 14, 2023. Application details can be found at this link.

California State University, Sacramento is hiring for a tenure-track assistant professor in public relations. The application deadline is November 14, 2022. Please see the details at this link. 

2022-2023 MCD Officers Chair Valerie Kretz  St. Norbert College Communication and Media Studies 100 Grant Street, Boyle Hall 352, De Pere, WI 54115     valerie.kretz@snc.edu Vice-Chair Veronica Hefner St. Mary's College - California  School of Liberal Arts - Communication 105J Sichel, Moraga, CA 94575 vh10@stmarys-ca.edu Vice Chair-Elect / Ad-Hoc Awards Matt Lapierre    University of Arizona Department of Communication  1103 East University Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85721 mlapierre@arizona.edu Past Chair Laramie Taylor   University of California-Davis Communication Department 396 Ker Hall, Davis, CA 95616   lartaylor@ucdavis.edu Secretary Kristin Drogos University of Michigan - Ann Arbor LSA Communication & Media 7415F North Quad, 105 South State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 kdro@umich.edu Secretary-Elect Ellie Yang  Northwestern Missouri State University 800 University Drive Maryville, MO 64468 eyang@nwmissouri.edu  Publications & Web Editor   Rocky Dailey South Dakota State University School of Communication and Journalism Yeager Hall 211, Box 2235 Brookings, SD 57007 rocky.dailey@sdstate.edu Graduate Student Rep. Lauren Taylor University of California - Davis School of Communication 469 Ker Hall Davis, CA 95616 lautaylor@ucdavis.edu Ad-Hoc Appointment - Group Parliamentarian Shane Tilton Ohio Northern University Department of Communication Freed PAC 137 Ada, OH 45810 s-tilton@onu.edu Graduate Student Rep. - Elect John J. Brooks Northwestern University School of Communication 710 N. Lakeshore Drive Chicago, IL 60611 johnjbrooks@u.northwestern.edu Research Committee Committee Chair Joseph Hoffswell  Western Kentucky University Department of Communication FAC 145 Bowling Green, KY 42101   joseph.hoffswell@wku.edu First Vice-Chair Arienne Ferchaud  Florida State University College of Communication & Information 4100 University Center, Building C Talahassee, FL 32306 aferchaud@fsu.edu Second Vice-Chair David Stamps Bentley University 175 Forest Street Waltham, MA 02452 dstamps@bentley.edu Second Vice-Chair - Elect Hillary Gamble   Auburn University - Montgomery Communication & Theatre 7430 East Drive Montgomery, AL 36117  hgamble@aum.edu Nominations Committee Committee Chair Colin Kearney   Christopher Newport University One Avenue of the Arts Newport News, VA 23606 colin.kearney@cnu.edu  Vice Chair Benjamin K. Smith  California State University - East Bay Department of Communication 3011 Meiklejohn Hall Hayward, CA 94542   benjamin.smith@csueastbay.edu  Vice Chair-Elect Cassandra Alexopoulos University of Massachusett- Boston   100 William T. Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 c.alexopoulos@umb.edu    Representatives to NCA General Assembly Legislative Assembly (2022 Convention)   Stan Tickton Norfolk State University Mass Communication/Journalism 700 Park Ave., Unit 3249 Norfolk, Virginia 23504 sdtickton@hotmail.com   <<back to top>>