Chair and Immediate Past Chair Report
Mass Communication Division Awards
Election Results
Call for Self-Nomination and Paper Reviewers
 

Chair and Immediate Past Chair Report
 

Mary Larson (Northern Illinois University) and William G. Christ (Trinity University)

Normally, the Immediate Past Chair gives a convention report at this time. However, we felt it was more appropriate for both of us to report to you. As we move into 1998 there are three main MCD projects:

1. The Division has instituted two new awards: A Teaching Award and a Service Award. Details about these awards will be in the February Spectra.

    

2. The Division's By-Laws are being updated. In order to change the by-laws, there has to be a vote. This vote will take place at next year's convention. Members should look for a special mailing prior to the election explaining the changes.

    

3. The Media Literacy Task Force is working on revising the Association's K-12 Standards and developing competencies for those standards. This summer, the Task force will move to create "Activities" that will help teachers demonstrate the competencies. Anyone who would like to work on this project should contact either Mary Larson at mlarson@niu.edu or William Christ at WCHRIST@Trinity.edu.

1997 was a very productive year for the Division and we both look forward to working with you in 1998.

Awards
 

Congratulations to the winners of competitive paper awards for the 1997 Convention!

Top Three Competitive Papers (in alphabetical order):

• Ted Coopman (San Jose State University), "Free Radio vs. the FCC: A Case Study of Micro Broadcasting" (Top Poster Session Paper)

   

• Garth E. Pauley (Penn State University), "Documentary Desegregation: A Rhetorical analysis of Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment" (Top Student Paper)

   

• Lawrence C. Soley (Marquette University), "Bullying Broadcasters: Advertisers' Influence on Local Television News"

Election Results

The following members were elected as Division officers for 1998.

• Vice Chair-Elect
  Rebecca Lind, University of Illinois, Chicago

   

• Secretary-Elect
  Donald Taylor, California State University, Sacramento

   

• Research Committee
  Shing-Ling Chen, University of Northern Iowa

   

• Publications Committee
  Douglas Ferguson, Bowling Green State University

   

• Nominations Committee
   
  • Nancy Signorielli, University of Delaware (Chair)
  • Rob Bellamy, Duquesne University
  • Bill Christ,Trinity University
  • James Weaver, Auburn University
  • Larry Mullen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Division Officers

The Mass Communication Division Nominations Committee is seeking self nominations for division officer positions for 1997-98. Nominations are sought for the offices of division chair, as well as for research committee and nominations committee membership. If you or someone you know is interested in serving, please contact Nancy Signorielli at the following address:
 

Nancy Signorielli
Department of Communication
241 Pearson Hall
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19176
302/831-8022
 

nancys@udel.edu

Paper Reviewers

If you are interested in being a paper reviewer for our division, please contact Robbin Crabtree. The division officers are particularly interested in serving the wide range of intellectual perspectives represented in our division, so let us know of your specific scholarly interests. Please send your name, address and phone number, along with information on your research interests and methodological preferences, to:
 

Robbin Crabtree
Department of Communication Studies
Dept. 3W
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003-0001
505/646-3907
rcrabtre@nmusvm1.nmsu.edu