AEJMC 2004 Convention
Panel Sessions
Wednesday, August 4
10 to 11:30 A.M.
"How to Help Students Find the Best Ideas and Fresh Angles for Feature
Stories" -- Students need encouragement and careful guidance to find
the best ideas to pursue. Long-time magazine researchers and former magazine
writers, Carol Zuegner, Creighton; Ted Spiker, Florida; and Brian Thornton,
Northern Illinois, discuss some brain-storming techniques they have found
useful during the years. (MAG)
"Media Polarization of the Masses" -- This panel discusses the
impact of conservative and liberal media commentators such as Rush Limbaugh
and Al Franken on our society. (MCS, RTVJ, CJIG)
1:30 to 3 p.m.
"Referencing the Past in Documentaries" -- The dynamic narrative
qualities of visual media notwithstanding, are they too superficial to
communicate history’s depth? A panel of historians/documentarians
explore this question (HIST, RTVJ)
Quark vs. InDesign: Frustration, Confusion and Tentative Hope in the World
of Layout" -- It may not sound sexy, but it’s real: finding
an industry-standard layout program that is also easy to teach and learn.
Instructors have complained of Quark's unresponsiveness to problems --
in particular its incompatibility with OS 10. Many have fled Quark and
are testing Adobe's InDesign. What are the results? (NWSP, MAG)
"Making Diversity Come Alive in the Journalism Classroom" --
A former journalist, professor Venise Wagner shows how she helped her
students better understand race relations through a reporting project.
Leonard Witt, Kennesaw State, tells of a student-run, multi-media project
centered on the complexity and diversity of community life, and "Buzz"
Hoon, Western Illinois, provides ideas for introducing diversity and multiculturalism
on a daily basis. (CJIG, MAC)
"Sob Sisters — The Image of the Female Journalist in Popular
Culture" -- Experts discuss the ways female journalists have been
presented in the media. The panel will include a short film on women journalists
in film and television from 1929 through today. (ESIG, CSW)
3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
"Convergence Comes to Canada" — As U.S. media, regulators
and educators struggle to successfully resolve new technological, regulatory,
ownership and educational issues, our counterparts in Canada are engaging
in many of the same debates. What can Americans learn from Canada’s
progress? How do Canadian media practitioners and scholars evaluate the
evolution of their nation’s new digital marketplace? Panelists from
both the profession and the academy examine these questions. (MME, CTP,
INTL, RTVJ)
"Great Ideas for Teachers" -- Get free GIFTs as convention souvenirs
by attending the annual Great Ideas For Teachers session. Learn several
practical, innovative and creative teaching tips — just in time
for the new academic year -- and win door prizes at this poster fair.
This session is the ultimate gift for all AEJMC members! GIFT is now in
its fifth year. (CCJA, SCHJ, SPIG)
Thursday, August 5
11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
"The First Amendment and College Speech Codes" -- explores the
growing campus controversy over speech codes aimed at regulating so-called
harmful expression, and features, among others, Mark Hiestand of the Student
Press Law Center. (LAW)
"Get Commodified: The Academic Job Hunt from Application Through
Interview" -- The academic job hunt can appear to be a maze of letters,
vitas, airline trips, meetings, presentations, and then agonizing waiting.
This panel examines ways to secure the materials the applicant needs in
advance of the interview and what to expect before, during, and after
the on-campus interviews and meetings. (RTVJ)
"Innovative Outreach to Scholastic Journalism" -- Three winning
entries describe an innovative program offered by a college or university
targeted to high school, middle school or elementary school students or
teachers. (SCHJ, CoA)
"Use and Abuse of Polls" -- This panel explores both the theoretical
and normative implications of news coverage of poll and survey results,
featuring leading journalists, academic scholars and pollsters. (NWSP,
CTM)
"Picturing Class: The Role of News Imagery in Reinforcing or Challenging
Perceptions of Social Class" -- As part of established societal institutions,
mainstream media play a role in reinforcing or challenging viewers' and
readers' perceptions and opinions about social groups. This panel explores
newspaper news imagery as a form of artifactual evidence that can stored
in subconscious memory. What kinds of artifacts do news images provide
about social class? What is the potential for such "remembered image
evidence," to affect the ways people view and behave toward others?
(VISC, MAC)
"Nurturing Diversity in Journalism and Mass Communications: Results
of Minority Internship and Scholarship Programs" -- Successes and
failures of diversity programs in Journalism and Mass Communications are
shared by Tiffany Warren, director of the Minority Advertising Internship
Program for the AAAA’s; a representative of Diversity Hiring Initiatives
at Edelman PR Worldwide; and Manny Lopez, an alumni representing the Chips
Quinn Journalism Scholarship Program. (ICIG)
3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
"Culture Clash: Challenge for Converging Newsrooms" -- One of
the biggest challenges facing converged newsrooms is overcoming culture
clashes, but not just between word and visual journalists. Among the distinct
cultures represented in the new mix are broadcast, online, photography
and print. Within those categories are still more: those who value new
technology, those who don’t; reporters; editors; publishers. This
panel examines these clashes and what can be done to better integrate
divergent cultures. (MME)
"Thoroughly Modern Assessment: An Overview of Creative Approaches
to
Evaluating Student Interns" -- This panel, featuring an outstanding
selection of faculty and staff from representative universities throughout
the U.S., examine ways to enhance
assessment so that student interns are evaluated both for their ability
to
meet academic demands of an internship as well as demonstrated emerging
professionalism. (ICIG, PR)
"File Sharing and the Music Industry: Examining Current Legal and
Policy Issues and Dispelling the Myths" -- Internet Service Providers
fight Recording Industry Association of America subpoenas to disclose
names of those suspected of high-volume downloading of copyrighted music.
Underground networks form to create untraceable file-sharing networks.
And the Apple Music Store sells millions of songs. Join Constance Davis,
Purdue, and her panel of experts. Download knowledge. Free. (CTP, LAW)
"Women Redefining Leadership" -- explores the challenges women
face in advancing to leadership positions in business and the academy.
What fresh perspectives do women bring to leadership? Are women really
that different from men when it comes to leadership qualities and potential?
This panel will open up the discussion on this important issue. (CSW,
MAC, CTM)
"International Network for Cultural Diversity: A Global NGO"
-- The INCD is a global network of cultural groups, from over 60 nations,
dedicated to countering the homogenizing effects of globalization on cultures
and languages. This PF&R panel focuses on its strategies to limit
and/or defuse multinational media/entertainment corporations’ ability
to commercialize, homogenize global culture. (INTL, MCS)
"Choosing Why and How We Die: A Primer on Covering Assisted Suicide"
-- Panelists -- including Patricia Anstett, medical writer for the Detroit
Free Press, and assisted suicide researchers Elizabeth Atwood-Gailey and
Kimberly Lauffer -- will discuss how the news media do and should report
on assisted suicide. They will provide guidelines for providing balanced
yet insightful coverage of controversial issues such as assisted suicide
and discuss the myriad challenges that reporters covering these issues
face. (MDIG, RMIG)
"The Covert Award Anniversary: Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence
in Media History Scholarship" -- Award-winning senior scholars discuss
the future of media history research and celebrate the legacy of Catherine
Covert, the first woman History Division head. (HIST, GEIG)
"A Nationwide Endeavor: Tackling Media Literacy in Canada" --
Canada is a leader in the media literacy movement. The panel presents
major players in Canadian media literacy discussing the contributions
and challenges of their organizations and the future of media literacy
endeavors. (MED, CCS)
5 to 6:30 p.m.
"Media Literacy: Exploring Connections Between Media Literacy and
Media Ethics" -- This paper session continues an earlier discussion
of Canada’s media literacy with winners of the Media Ethics Division’s
special paper competition. The papers examine relevant links between media
literacy initiatives and media ethics scholarship. (MED)
8:30 to 10 p.m.
"Honors Lecture" -- H. L. Hall, executive director of the Middle
Tennessee School Press Association, presents the annual Scholastic Journalism
Division’s Honor Lecture. Hall, immediate past president of the
Journalism Education Association, was selected Honors Lecturer by the
division membership. (SCHJ)
Friday, August 6
8:15 to 9:45 a.m.
"Journalistic Standards v. Market Demand: The Future of Celebritude"
-- It can be argued that the recent journalistic focus has changed the
fundamental nature of the profession. What journalistic standards are
being adhered to, undermined and/or redefined? David Abrahamson, Northwestern;
Janice Hume, Georgia; and Dick Stolley, founding editor of People magazine,
explain. (MAG) "Journalism on the Edge: Can Minidailies Grab Hip
Young Readers AND Provide Public Service? " -- As the newspaper industry
seeks to remain relevant to young (read: tomorrow’s) readers, several
have produced sleeker products targeted at the younger cool crowd. What
are the trade-offs? What are the choices? Are these young readers getting
what they need to become informed citizens? (NWSP)
"You May Be Intellectual, and Your Students May Come from the General
Public; but You're Probably Not a Public Intellectual: Perspectives by
and for JMC Educators" -- Can/may/should/must journalism and mass
communication educators be public intellectuals? This panel tries to deliver
an answer. (CCS, MCS)
"Small Towns with Big Time P.R. Action: Creating Experiential Learning
Opportunities" -- This panel considers creative solutions for providing
applied learning experiences for undergraduate public relations students
enrolled in programs located in rural communities that have limited access
to metropolitan areas. (PR, ICIG)
"Techniques for Effective Health Communication with Minorities"
-- This panel examines the challenges and importance of targeting minority
populations with health messages. Strategies and tactics for communicating
with these audiences will be discussed. One panelist will discuss communicating
with African American women about breast cancer screening, and another
will focus on targeting Hispanic groups. The concept of the multicultural
marketing maven and how one-to-one marketing can be used in health communication
will also be discussed. (SCIG, MAC)
1:30 to 3 p.m.
"Tenure and Motherhood in the Academy: Challenges and Rewards"?
-- This panel discusses the challenges and rewards related to the dual
role that one may play by going through graduate school -- or being an
assistant professor -- as well as being a loving, dedicated, "not-too-frazzled
mom." (CSW, CCS, GEIG, GLBT)
"Will Weblogs Change Journalism and Are They Doing So Already?"
-- Jeff Jarvis, founding creative director of Entertainment Weekly and
a prolific blogger, helps "journalist" bloggers get started.
Jay Rosen, of public journalism fame, is a top speaker on the blog circuit.
Rebecca MacKinnon, CNN Tokyo Bureau Chief, started a weblog to help the
world learn more about North Korea. They will help answer the question:
What influence are webloggers having on journalism? (CJIG, CoA, CTP)
"U.S. and International Coverage of the Iraq War: How the Politics
of Fear, Cross-Cultural Biases and Religious Views Construct It"
-- New research on Iraq war coverage finds that different countries frame
stories according to their perceptions of Iraq, Iraqis, Islam, key events
proceeding the war and national/global insecurity. Experts review the
current state of Iraq war coverage and discuss how it can be improved.
(INTL, MED, NWSP, RMIG)
5 to 6:30 p.m.
"Secrets Revealed! Reinvigorating the Minority Journalism Workshop
for High School Students" -- How well is this approach working? Summer
Journalism Workshop directors from five states discuss a number of issues
surrounding the program. (MAC, SCHJ)
"Trauma, Tragedy, and Terror: A Pedagogy for Protecting Victims,
Journalists and Communities" -- This panel offers teaching tools
journalism educators can use to prepare their students for covering traumatic
incidents. It addresses how journalists can cover terrorism, violent crime,
and natural disasters without re-victimizing the victims. It also discusses
how journalists can cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other
possible results of exposure to violence. Panelists share innovative and
practical approaches. (RTVJ)
"Mini Me: Design and Research Issues Related to Miniaturized Media
Formats" -- This session may revolutionize your ideas about teaching
and research. Imagine ways you can leverage: newsgathering at a disaster
scene with a remote-controlled hobby helicopter fitted with a small-format
video camera; using PDAs as a teaching tool; and graphic design strategies
for mini-screen media such as PDAs and cell phones. (CTP, VISC)
"Collaborative Research: Responsibilities in Mentoring and Building
Collegial Relationships" -- This panel discusses the logistics and
ethical questions of conducting collaborative research with colleagues
and graduate students. Topics will include developing co-authorship relationships,
when it is appropriate to give and accept credit for co-authorship, and
the line between mentoring and collaboration: Where does one end and the
other begin? (ICIG, CTM, GEIG)
Saturday, August 7
10 to 11:30 a.m.
"Multiculturalism in Canadian and U.S. Media" -- Award-winning
Canadian journalist and accomplished U.S. researchers on ethnicity will
discuss media coverage in a multicultural society. (MAC, CSW)
"Countdown to Athens: Issues in Media Coverage of the Olympics and
Paralympics" -- Journalists and researchers discuss issues surrounding
media coverage of the 2004 Games in Athens, including those of production,
image-making and agenda-setting. (ESIG, MDIG)
"Coping Skills for Journalism Educators" -- Despite notable
contributions to higher education, journalism educators often are misunderstood,
overlooked and undervalued by administrators and even peers in other teaching
fields. Learn how to gain recognition and be valued for your contributions,
and how to manage time and minimize stress through this unique session.
(CCJA, SPIG)
11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"Polling as New-News Value: Making Claims on Methodologically Shaky
Ground" -- This panel examines "poll mania" in use of non-representative,
non-scientific survey research and other pseudo-scientific means for gathering
"statistics" for news stories. This trend will be examined within
the context of traditional "news values" (conflict, prominence,
timeliness, impact, proximity, disaster, and human interest). Furthermore,
polls often are used as an important ingredient in "entertainment
news." Also examined are implications of under-represented groups
in poll processes. (SCIG, MDIG, MAC, RTVJ)
1:30 to 3 p.m.
"The Politics of Research: Critical Scholars Face the Implications
of Their Choices of Methodology" -- features Robert Huesca, Trinity,
"The Role of Reciprocity in Action Ethnography;" Eleanor Novek,
Monmouth, "The Role of Dialogue in Research: Still Using the Master’s
Tools?;" Radhika Parameswaran, Indiana, "Taking on Textual Analysis:
An Ethnographic Approach to Intertextuality;" and Heidi Hatfield
Edwards, Penn State, "Before, During, and After: Using Multiple Qualitative
Methods to Build a Case Study." (CCS, MCS)
5 to 6:30 p.m.
"Libel Law and the Legacy of Sullivan" -- marks the fortieth
anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York Times v.
Sullivan with a panel that features constitutional law scholar Rodney
Smolla as well as prominent scholars from the division. (LAW, CoA)
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