Oct. 15 deadline near for Denver panel ideas

The AEJMC Newspaper Division is accepting panel proposals for the 2010 convention in Denver, Aug. 7-10.

The deadline for panel proposals is Oct. 15. Panel proposals must include:

1. A working title and panel description.

2. A statement of whether the panel would be a Teaching, Research or Professional Freedom and Responsibility panel. PF&R panels focus on free expression, ethics, media criticism and accountability, racial/gender/cultural inclusiveness or public service.

3. Suggestions for divisions or interest groups that might be interested in co-sponsoring the panel.

As you think of panel ideas, think in terms of whether another AEJMC division or interest group would be interested in co-sponsoring.  On the one hand, you should submit your proposal to only one division, and we would invite you to submit it to the Newspaper Division.  However, proposals sponsored by more than one division or interest group have a better chance of being accepted.

For ideas on such co-sponsoring opportunities, you can find a list of divisions at www.aejmc.org/_about/divisions.php and a list of interest groups at www.aejmc.org/_about/groups.php.

4. A statement of why the topic is important.

5. A brief description of issues the panelists could discuss.

If your panel is chosen for presentation with a co-sponsoring division or interest group, you will need to work with a representative from the co-sponsor to make sure that the interests of both divisions/interest groups are represented on the panel.

6. Names or descriptions of possible panelists.  If you have specific people in mind, please identify them.  Firm commitments are not needed, but it helps to know if those people would be willing to serve.  If you don’t have names, say what type of panelist you are aiming for – a scholar with a particular expertise or someone from a particular media company.  AEJMC tracks diversity among panelists, moderators and discussants, so please keep that in mind when planning.

Limited funds for travel reimbursement are available for panel participants who are not AEJMC members.  The deadline for those requests is late January.  Whenever possible, please try to find local panelists or AEJMC members whom you expect will be attending the convention anyhow.

7. Your name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address.

Please send proposals as attachments to: John Carvalho <carvajp@auburn.edu>.  Mailing address: Department of Communication and Journalism, 232F Tichenor Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849-5206.  Telephone: 334-844-4454

Start thinking about panel ideas you can submit.  In a division such as ours, with all of the changes facing the industry, the ideas are many. Here are just a few, to spark your thinking:

• The future of investigative journalism
• Economic challenges facing newspapers
• Ethical issues (war photography, etc.)
• Evolving income models for Web content
• Public perceptions of journalists within a highly fractured news culture
• Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and news
• The threat from Google or other similar services
• Implications of staffing cuts, furloughs
• Diversity and fairness issues

– From John Carvarlho, Auburn University; division vice-chair