[AEJMC Newspaper Division list] Newspaper Division members, make your voices heard

[Susan Keith]

Dear Newspaper Division Member:

Your input on two important matters is being sought through an online poll conducted via Survey Monkey. Please use the link at the end of this e-mail to access the poll, which consists of two yes/no questions and will take you literally only seconds to complete (or a bit longer if you choose to add an optional comment to your response).

A response about the fee proposal (described in detail below) is due to AEJMC by Sept. 15, so the poll will remain available only through noon Friday Sept. 12.

One of the two questions relates to the ongoing discussion over a possible name change for the Newspaper Division. It is not -- repeat NOT -- a vote on changing the name. Rather, it is a straw poll to assess how important members think it is that we continue the name-change discussion vs. letting it drop. There is a place to add a comment about your feelings on the issue, but if you choose to leave such a comment we do ask that you keep it brief.

The other question is related to a proposal from the AEJMC administration to raise conference registration rates to cover the costs of having access to computerized projection equipment available for presentations at next year's convention in Boston. The registration fee would rise by about $20, and the Council of Divisions has asked all units to poll their members and report back with a "sense of the division" over whether this service should be offered and the corresponding fee should be implemented. 

Here is the description of the plan from Kim Bissell (Alabama), currently chair of the Council of Divisions:

"First, this would be an association-wide increase, so all people registering for the conference would pay this extra fee, if it were to be approved. Second, this proposal is to cover expenses for a screen and a LCD projector so that paper presenters could hook their computers up to the projects for their panel or research sessions. Third, this would not cover other types of A/V equipment such as overhead projectors or Internet access in the meeting rooms. Fourth, the LCD projectors would only be in the meeting rooms where traditional papers and/or panels are being presented. LCD projectors would not be in HD rooms, poster sessions or the S2S sessions."

An addendum that was distributed through the Community Journalism Interest Group listserv by COMJIG outgoing chair Bill Reader adds the following info: 

"Kim [Bissell] shared some info with me that is all very preliminary (negotiations with the hotel in Boston are ongoing). Even with negotiated discounts, the estimated $34,000 that would be raised by the additional $20/person charge would allow AEJMC to break even at minimum, but could simply defray the costs for the whole organization. The hotels charge more to rent a projector for a day than it would cost to buy one outright, but, of course, the hotels prohibit the organization from using its own equipment. There is no question that the hotel's tech rates are outrageous, but they are what they are. Fred Williams (AEJMC's conference manager) is doing his best to get the best deal possible."

To take the survey, click on the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=rang9h62o_2fp32V823GfxaQ_3d_3d

(You may need to cut and paste it into a browser if it does not appear as an active link)

Thank you for your attention to these issues. Remember that the polling will end Sept. 12. Please link over to Survey Monkey right now now to cast your votes before you forget and the deadline passes.

-- 

Susan Keith, Ph.D.

Assistant professor

Department of Journalism and Media Studies

School of Communication, Information and Library Studies

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

4 Huntington St.

CILS 106

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

(732) 932-7500, ext. 8235

susank at scils.rutgers.edu <mailto:susank at scils.rutgers.edu>

www.scils.rutgers.edu/~susank