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<TITLE>Re: [AEJMC Newspaper Division list] name change discussion</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Helvetica, Verdana, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>HI all,<BR>
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Well, it is a good discussion...but it is limited to probably less than 5 percent of the members of the division.<BR>
<BR>
A couple of points:<BR>
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1) As many of the members have noted, there is nothing wrong with having a Newspaper Division. Declining membership tends to be due to the following reasons: 1) increases in dues; and 2) an increase in the number of divisions and interest groups. For example, we lost more than 100 members when Ethics became a division. <BR>
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2) I repeat my earlier thought: I think a major strength of AEJMC is the number of divisions and interest groups that we have. It adds democratic process to the organization and invites participation from a diverse group of people. We should fight to maintain the current structure and resist efforts to "merge." Under the current structure, participation in conventions has expanded. I see no quantifiable data that indicates that AEJMC is in trouble or in need of structural changes. <BR>
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3) I think that if there is a need for a "News Division," then people should begin the process for starting a new division, It is quite easy. You need only 35 people to start an interest group. I'm sure some people from the Newspaper, RTV, Magazine and others might want to join. <BR>
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We are the Newspaper Division. If there were no newspaper division, there would be a need to begin a "Newspaper Division." <BR>
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Glen<BR>
<BR>
-- <BR>
Glen L. Bleske<BR>
Professor, Chair<BR>
Department of Journalism<BR>
CSU, Chico<BR>
Chico, CA 95929-0600<BR>
<BR>
(530) 898-4770<BR>
gbleske@csuchico.edu<BR>
<a href="http://www.csuchico.edu/jour">http://www.csuchico.edu/jour</a><BR>
<BR>
<HR ALIGN=CENTER SIZE="3" WIDTH="95%"><B>From: </B>Dorothy Bowles <bowles@utk.edu><BR>
<B>Date: </B>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:20:14 -0400<BR>
<B>To: </B>Members Newspaper Division <news-list@aejmc.net><BR>
<B>Subject: </B>[AEJMC Newspaper Division list] name change discussion<BR>
<BR>
During the past week or so, discussion has swung from "we need a name change and here are new name ideas" to "let's not be hasty about moving away from the name Newspaper Division." I'm torn on the issue and have enjoyed reading the thoughtful posts. <BR>
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One reason we've heard for not changing to News or some variation of News is concern about infringing on the turf of RTV and other divisions or interest groups. In light of the AEJMC strategic plan that is to be voted on in Chicago and talk of a "leaner" organization, is there any sentiment that we consider merging (converging) Newspaper and RTV divisions? I can think of some advantages in both divisions moving away from platform-based names, but an obvious disadvantage (other than all the reasons already stated for retaining Newspaper Division) would be fewer convention slots for combined programming. That alone might be reason not to even consider a merger. <BR>
<BR>
Dorothy <BR>
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Dorothy Bowles, Professor <BR>
School of Journalism & Electronic Media, Univ. of Tennessee, <BR>
333 Communications Bldg., Knoxville, TN 37996-0333 <BR>
PHONE: 865-974-4454 OR 865-974-5155; FAX: 865-974-5056 <BR>
HOMEPAGE: <a href="http://excellent.com.utk.edu/~bowles">http://excellent.com.utk.edu/~bowles</a> <BR>
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