The election of Barack Obama, a black president, symbolizes to many of our students that the United States is now a fair and color blind society where there is no need to discuss issues of diversity and racial relations. Therefore, they do not see the need to be bothered with class assignments like creating a diverse source bank or ethical case studies on how to enter multicultural communities and report on them.

Our nation wants to be one that is finished with the problem of racism, but unfortunately we are not yet at this point in our history.  On the contrary, a cursory view of recent events offers ample evidence of the pressing need to address race and diversity issues in our teaching, research and advocacy.

Consider the implications of statements made by Rand Paul, the GOP?s and Tea Party-backed Senate candidate for Kentucky, when he recently said that a central piece of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was wrong.  He told MSNBC news show host Rachel Maddow that he agrees with most parts of the Civil Rights Act, except for the one (Title II) that made it a crime for private

businesses to discriminate against customers on the basis of race.  It is his opinion that private businesses be allowed to discriminate against whomever they want because it is their right as private entities.

In the ensuing, mediated debates on Paul’s position, Fox news

anchor John Stossel agreed with Paul and went on air declaring that the section of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 that applies to business should be repealed.  Stossel employed a twisted logic to explain his point:  “It’s time now to repeal that part of the law because private businesses ought to get to discriminate. And I won’t ever go to a place that’s racist and I will tell everybody else not to and I will speak against them. But it should be their right to be racist.”

Another case in point: Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070.  Since April 24, 2010, news coverage of the signing of SB 1070 into law has brought to center stage a debate on the legalization of racial profiling against Latinos.  As citizens and civil rights groups inside and outside Arizona have begun to protest, organize boycotts, and challenge the law in the court system, other reports indicate that 17 other states are filing their own versions of SB 1070.  And while SB 1070 has generated plenty of media attention, other recent decisions by Arizona state officials are signaling equally disturbing trends but remain relatively invisible on the national scene. Take, for example, recent decisions by the Arizona lawmakers to curb the teaching of ethnic studies courses in elementary or secondary schools (House Bill 2281) and the Department of Education’s move to exclude teachers with a “heavy accent” from teaching English classes.

These mediated debates on repealing the Civil Rights Act, using racial profiling as basis for law enforcement, or banning ethnic studies courses not only raise profound questions regarding our understanding of equity and civil rights in the 21st century, but also underscore the importance of interrogating the role of mass communication in the mediation of social relations in a culturally diverse and conflictive society.

Thanks to the collaboration of our MAC members–who submitted panel proposals and volunteered as panel coordinators, panelists, paper reviewers, moderators and discussants–we have designed great sessions with breadth and depth in the coverage of issues of relevance to the division. Now, as you make your travel plans to attend the conference in Denver, please save the dates for the following MAC and CSM sessions, luncheon, mini-plenary, business meetings and social:

Wednesday, Aug. 4

8:15 to 9:45 a.m.

MAC Refereed Research Panel:

Does “Tailored” Information Matter? Effects of Racial/Cultural Cues on Audiences

10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Minorities and Communication and International Communication:

Teaching Panel: Using Digital Resources in Ethnicity, Race and International Communication

Classes

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group and Minorities and

Communication:

Teaching Panel: A Minority is a Minority is a Minority

3:15 to 4:45 p.m.

Commission on the Status of Minorities:

Mini-plenary: History-Makers, Race, Politics and Media

5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Minorities and Communication Division and Communicating Science, Health,

Environment and Risks Interest Group:

Teaching Panel: Environmental Racism: Lost in the Green Storm of Media Coverage and Journalism Education?

Thursday, Aug. 5

7:00 to 8:00 a.m.

Minorities and Communication Division

Business Session:

Outgoing Executive Committee Meeting.

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Minorities and Communication and Cultural and Critical Studies

Research Panel:

Media Framing of a Possible Brown Menace to Whitestream: Gender, Class and Ethnicity in Sonia Sotomayor’s Journey to the Supreme Court.

1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Scholar-to-Scholar Poster Session featuring faculty and student papers.

3:15 to 4:45 p.m.

Minorities and Communication & Mass Communication and Society

PF&R Panel:

Contemporary Native American Cultures and the Ethics of Addressing Indian Country in the News Media

5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Minorities and Communication and Media Ethics

Teaching Panel:

Working Diversity into the Curriculum: One School’s Experience

8:30-10:00 p.m.

MAC’s members’ meeting. Current, new and prospective members welcome!

Friday, Aug. 6

12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

MAC/Scholastic Luncheon. Pre-registration is required.

Speaker: Nadia Gedeon, President, Colorado Association of Black Journalists and assignment editor for Denver’s KUSA television station.  Location TBA.

1:45 to 3:15 p.m.

Minorities and Communication and International Communication

PF&R Panel:

The Tenure Process from the Perspective of Minority, Women and International Faculty: Strategies for Success

5:15 to 6:45 p.m.

Minorities and Communication and Public Relations

PF&R Panel:

Health Promotion, Minority Populations and Health Reporting: Challenges for 2010 and Beyond

7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Commission on the Status of Minorities

Business Session: Members’ Meeting

8:45 p.m.

MAC social (details TBA on listserve).

Saturday, Aug. 7

8:15 to 9:45 a.m.

Minorities and Communication and Communication Theory and Methodology

Research Panel:

Political Communication Focused on Ethnic Minority Populations and Media: Teaching and Research Tips for the 2010 and 2012 Electoral Campaigns.

11:45 to 1:15 p.m.

MAC Refereed Research Session TOP Papers Session:

Media Constructions of Multicultural Realities Top faculty and student paper will be presented.

1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Minorities and Communication and Newspaper Divisions PF&R Panel:

Media Ownership and Control by People of Color

3:15 to 4:45 p.m.

MAC Refereed Research Session:

Current Issues and Challenges for Ethnic and Mainstream News Media

5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

MAC Refereed Research Session:

Ethnic/Racial Identity Formation & Mediated Messages.

Certain stars shape folks destiny

Like guardian angels who crush infamy

Rising to unique platforms

Where they pilot in myriad forms

Professor Callahan towers

Like a gem that powers

Assisting as a builder

Who excels as a luminary trader

Marvelous lady of notable competence

She excels for eloquence

Articulate like great orators

Callahan outshines as ace communicators

Teacher, mentor and facilitator

Callahan sparkles as an administrator

Architect of victory

Callahan outsmarts with success story

Protective and generous tree

Friends and foes shelter free

Ever ready to assist

Like kind angels that persist

Fair and firm leader

Like tap root, she serves as feeder

Sharing, giving and caring

Like winners, she’s daring

Gorgeous lady of startling exquisiteness

She radiates gorgeousness

Like flowers of loveliness

Callahan promotes attractiveness

Cherished daughter, aunt and sister

She anchors as solid family rock

Respected mother and arbitrator

Many honor her as a negotiator.

Journalism and Mass Communication education

Attracts professionals of distinction

Who tower like celebrated teachers

Excelling as eminent preachers

Glittering in that galaxy

Inspiring as fame’s fantasy

Shines Dr. Sharon Stringer

Who magnetizes as phone ringer

Tall and majestic in bearing

Like stars who are endearing

Her noble demeanor and charisma

Charms like Paradise’s aroma

Careful, responsible and thoughtful

Like achievers who are dutiful

Scharon displays excellence

Like genius of affluence

Admired and respected professor

She is thorough as an assessor

Faithfully famous for fairness

Like architects of evenhandedness

Kind, considerate and generous

She supports many as the illustrious

Exuding love and kindness

Like marvelous angels of goodness

Revered family anchor and rock

She motivates as progress clock

Always assisting with optimism

Like victors who crush pessimism

Reputed lady of character and cheerfulness

Scharon fosters happiness

Respected educator, facilitator and mentor

Admired leader, coach and ace communicator.

Like great men and women

Woodard enjoys her day

Glowing in sunshine

Like resplendent flower

Through luck, hard work and destiny

Like larger than life figures

Woodard glitters

As professor, MAC Chair, and leader

Blessed with precious parents

Who motivated and encouraged

Woodard listened and learned

Acquired skills, and earned higher education

Dismissing sleeping on laurels

She constantly searches golden fleece

Exuding conscientiousness

Like go getters of history

Though comparatively young

She showcases achievements

Struggling night and day, like warriors

In quest of excellence

Woodard’s eloquence and expertise

Commitment and enthusiasm

Places her on heroine’s trace

Who bequeath legacies, for posterity

Ride on Jenny! Ride On

This is your day, minute and hour

Smell and enjoy the sunshine

Strive to leave milestones, for progeny

Though greater feats

Lie ahead

Like new battles for conquest

Enjoy the moment as victors

So stay the course

For like winners, you are on track

Desist from distractions

And keep your eyes on the prize.

Tools ‹ Minorities and Communication — WordPress.

Tools ‹ Minorities and Communication — WordPress.

Dear MAC members:

It is time to submit your panel proposals for the 2010 AEJMC convention in Denver.  Please send your proposals via e-mail (as a Word document attachment) by October 17 to MAC Vice-Head/Programming Chair Ilia Rodriguez at ilia@unm.edu.  We are seeking proposals for panels on research, teaching, and professional freedom and responsibility (PF&R).

All proposals should be one page in length and include the following:

(1)    Panel Title

(2)    Panel Type:  Indicate whether the proposal is for a TEACHING, PF&R, or RESEARCH panel.

(3)    Panel Sponsorship:  Indicate whether you are proposing a MAC-only panel or a co-sponsored panel.  For co-sponsored panels, list other AEJMC divisions or interest groups for which this proposal might prove relevant.  Please note: MAC sole-sponsored panel proposals will be considered.  However, the majority of AEJMC panels tend to be co-sponsored across divisions and interest groups.

(4)    Description of Panel:  Provide a succinct description in paragraph form of the key issues or subject matter to be addressed by the panelists.

(5)    Possible Panelists:  Indicate individuals who would be appropriate participants for this panel (may include academics, professionals, advocacy organizations). For those you list, indicate whether they have been contacted and have committed to participate.  If you plan to recruit a Denver-area professional for the panel, indicate this as well.  Please note: It is not necessary to have a full slate of four participants at the proposal stage.

Best to commit no more than 3 participant speakers at this point since other divisions may want to contribute one or more speakers once they agree to co-sponsor a panel.

(6)    Moderator:  This can be you or someone you nominate to moderate the panel.

(7)    Contact Person:  Include your name, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number as the contact person for this panel proposal.

I look forward to reading your proposals and ideas,

Ilia Rodriguez

MAC Programming Chair

Mark your calendars for the 2009 MAC/Scholastic Luncheon
Friday, Aug. 7, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. at the AEJMC Convention

With guest speaker Juan Gonzalez, New York Daily News
columnist and co-host of Democracy Now with Amy Goodman

“Race and News In America: What Can We Learn from the Past
in this Age of Media Upheaval?”

Juan Gonzalez has been a staff columnist at the New York
Daily News for more than 20 years and co-hosts with Amy
Goodman the nationally syndicated news show Democracy Now.
He is former president of the National Association of
Hispanic Journalists, for which he created the Parity
Project, a program designed to help news organizations
recruit and retain Hispanic reporters and managers and
improve coverage of the Latino community. He was the Belle
Zeller Visiting Professor in Public Policy at Brooklyn
College from 2000 to 2002, where he taught courses in both
media studies and Puerto Rican and Latino history. He
received the George Polk Award in 1998 for commentary.
Gonzalez was the first reporter in New York City to write
on the health effects arising from the September 11, 2001,
attacks. He has published three books: Fallout: The
Environmental Consequences of the World Trade Center
Collapse; Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in
America; and Roll Down Your Window: Stories of a Forgotten
America. Gonzalez’s forthcoming book, co-authored with
Joe Torres, offers a survey of the many battles that
erupted throughout U.S. history between the African
American, Latino, Asian American and Native American press
and the dominant white press, with discussion of how
federal communications policy has affected the news and
information needs of people of color. In the book, the
authors uncover a wealth of information about the role of
minorities in the media that has never been collected in
any single volume before.

Luncheon tickets can be purchased when registering for the
AEJMC Convention.