COMJIG Panelists Needed

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is getting excited about our conference in Montreal in August. As you know, the Community Journalism Interest Group is sponsoring and/or co-sponsoring several interesting panels during the conference, including:

- First Nation Media in North America (Sat., Aug. 9, 12:45 p.m.)

- Hyperlocal Journalism on Both Sides of the Border: A Canada-U.S. Perspective (Friday, Aug. 8, 1:45 p.m.)

- Preparing Journalism Students for a Globalized World (Friday, Aug. 8, 5:15 p.m.)

- Defining emergent journalistic behaviors (Wed., Aug. 6, 3:15 p.m.) 

We are participating in two additional panels for which we still need panelists. Please email me by Feb. 17 if you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for the panel. You can email me at garyantes@rowan.edu.

The panels are:

1. Panel: Ethnic Media in North America: Political Rights and Community Participation (Thurs., Aug. 7, 8:15 a.m.)

(Research Panel)

Co-sponsored by MAC and COMJIG

The roles of ethnic media in the U.S. and Canada in the intersection of two realities -- political and gender issues that matter most to ethnic minority groups in question. Because of the growth in ethnic minority populations and the migration of foreign-born populations with different cultural identities, ethnic media industry is growing in both the U.S. and Canada. In multi-ethnic societies, mainstream media outlets struggle to ensure inclusive coverage. Therefore, ethnic and community media outlets are supposed to fill in the gap in a media environment by carrying out the community-oriented coverage of social and political issues. Consequentially, ethnic media can contribute community-oriented perspectives to policymaking processes and policy discourses.

In this context, panelists comprised of media diversity scholars and Montreal-based ethnic media publisher will share their investigations on how effectively the U.S. and Canadian ethnic media have performed their political roles. Along with the political roles of ethnic media, this panel will explore to what extent ethnic media included the perspectives of women/minority women in the discussion/coverage of politically important issues and also examine publications focused on gender.

Prospective Panelists (listed in alphabetical order):

Tracy Everbach, University of North Texas

George Guzmas, the-news.ca

Ralph Izard, Louisiana State University and Media Diversity Forum

Federico Subervi, Kent State University

COMJIG panelist TBA

2. Preparing Students for Community Journalism  (Thurs. Aug. 7, 8:15 a.m.)

(Teaching Panel)

Sponsored by ICIG

Two panelists needed

Community Journalism seems to fit very well in the new hyper-local and community driven journalism industry, both online and in print/broadcast formats. How can instructors better shape their class instruction and guide students into internships that help develop these skills?

A panel discussion focusing on:

a.     What “Best Practices” classroom instruction and experience motivates students’ interest in Community Journalism?

b.     What types of internship opportunities fit best into a Community Journalism experience?

Prospective Panelists (listed in alphabetical order):

Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky

Sue Porter, vice president/programs for the Scripps Howard Foundation

Also looking for academics from co-sponsoring Interest Groups who have taught courses and administered internships focused on Community Journalism.

Thanks,

Dianne Garyantes

Vice Chair/ Program Head, COMJIG

Call for Panels for 2014 AEJMC Conference

The Community Journalism Interest Group (COMJIG) is seeking panel proposals for the AEJMC 2014 national conference Aug. 6-9 in Montreal, Canada. The panel proposals are due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 4, 2013. 

COMJIG’S goal is to identify and present original, meaningful research that advances the understanding of the role of journalists and news organizations as members of communities, geographic or digital. We emphasize that community need not just be defined as within traditional geographical or social boundaries, but that given technological advances it may also be applied to journalism and its relationship to communities of interest online. Potential panel proposals could address issues such as how “community'” is defined or how its meaning changes in an online world. International themes also are welcomed.

Panel proposals should include the following information:

• Summary of the panel session topic
• 100- to 150-word abstract from each panel participant

• Name and contact information for the panel chair

Please email proposals to COMJIG vice chair Dianne Garyantes. Special consideration will be given to panel proposals with suggested co-sponsoring divisions/interest groups. (A listing of other AEJMC groups can be found here.)

Wanted: Panel Proposals for the 2014 Conference

Hello COMJIG members!

We hope you had a wonderful conference in D.C. this year. It’s not too late to think about next year, is it?? Of course not! We need to start thinking about panels that we will sponsor or co-sponsor for the 2014 AEJMC conference in Montreal, Canada.

COMJIG is able to sponsor and/or co-sponsor six panels during a conference. We also have one refereed research paper slot and one scholar-to-scholar (poster session) slot. The paper and poster sessions will not be decided until next spring, but the panel proposals are due by Oct. 14. 

We need your ideas! Here are the criteria:
- Think about community journalism-focused panels that we can co-sponsor with other divisions, interest groups or commissions
- Keep in mind that we will be in Canada next year so international themes will be important
- Please recommend potential panelists when you propose a panel
- Contact me with your ideas by September 30

Because the Council of Divisions wants to encourage divisions and interest groups to collaborate on panels, it sponsors a meeting where programming folks from all of the groups discuss potential panels ideas face-to-face. There was such a meeting in D.C., so I have a list of possible panels to co-sponsor with other groups but these are not set in stone. We want your ideas for panels.

Here is the list of potential panel ideas for 2014 AEJMC conference, Montreal, Canada: 

- Panel focusing on virtual communities and their impact on journalism
- Panel on open-access journals, since the Council of Divisions just approved the open-access journal “Community Journalism” as the official journal of COMJIG
- Panel on First Nation affairs journalists in Montreal 
- Panel on the monetization of journalism and its effects on community newspapers/journalism
- Panel on international communication and the development of community journalism across the globe
- Panel idea on hyperlocal journalism in the U.S. and Canada
- We also agreed to co-sponsor JLab Innovation luncheon for the 2014 conference

Again, please contact me with your ideas at garyantes@rowan.edu by September 30. 

All the best with the start of your fall semester.

Community Journalism Interest Group Call for Panel Proposals

The Community Journalism Interest Group is seeking panel proposals for the August 2013 AEJMC national conference in Washington, D.C. While the interest group will seek to offer a diverse program, we hope to receive some proposals that make a thematic connection to AEJMC’s continued centennial celebration in 2013. The panel proposals are due by Oct. 15, 2012. The proposals should include the following information: • Summary of what the session topic will be • Possible speakers, including names and/or organizations if possible • Suggested co-sponsoring divisions/interest groups (A listing of other AEJMC groups can be found here.) • Estimated cost, if any • Name of contact person for the session • Email proposals to COMJIG vice chair Eileen Gilligan (eileen.gilligan@oswego.edu) As the vice chair of the Community Journalism Interest Group, I'm here to facilitate ideas for panels and teaching sessions. This past August, Joe Marren and John Hatcher did a great job with our programming. You can see a summary of what we offered on the COMJIG blog. (http://comjig.blogspot.com/2012/06/sked-redux.html) Washington, D.C., is a city that is ripe for COMJIG-related panels; vibrant community media include ethnic media and online communities amid the political center of the U.S. We are eager to create panels that explore these areas. We also are hoping to consider panels that will look at issues related to diversity and to exploring community journalism’s history. We have already had some initial discussions with interest groups and divisions interested in partnering with us in these areas. I'm here to help you in this process as much as possible, but I need your ideas. Even if you do not have a formal panel proposal, please help us brainstorm a list of possible panels. Newly retired-Chair Joe Marren already started the brainstorming with one blog entry here. (http://comjig.blogspot.com/2012/09/call-for-panelists.html) You can also “like” our Facebook page and share your ideas here.

Reminder: Deadline for panel proposals Oct. 21

Dear COMJIG members,
A reminder that the deadline to submit panel proposals is on Friday, Oct. 21. Please take a moment and reflect back on what we've presented in the past and on the direction you'd like to see this interest group go when we meet in Chicago in August of 2012.
If you've read the report from AEJMC on our self assessment, you know that they would like to see our interest group give greater emphasis to research and to diversity. I'm sure those are things many COMJIG members also want for our group.
Panel presentations offer a great vehicle for exploring these areas. We can have panels that focus on areas of research and theories we think are important to the understanding of the community-journalism relationship. We can explore these ideas in collaborative discussions with other AEJMC interest groups and panels.
Please consider submitting an idea -- either as a more formal panel proposal, or a simple email with your thoughts on a panel you'd like to see happen.
You can read the details of the call here.
Question? Contact program chair John Hatcher.

Community Journalism Interest Group Call for Panel Proposals

The Community Journalism Interest Group is seeking panel proposals for the AEJMC national conference in Chicago, Illinois. While the interest group will seek to offer a diverse program, we hope to receive some proposals that make a thematic connection to AEJMC’s centennial celebration in 2012. The panel proposals are due by Oct. 21, 2011. The proposals should include the following information:

• Summary of what the session topic will be
• Possible speakers, including names if possible
• Suggested co-sponsoring divisions/interest groups (A listing of other AEJMC groups can be found here.
• Estimated cost, if any
• Name of contact person for the session
• Email proposals to COMJIG vice chair John Hatcher.

As the vice chair of the Community Journalism Interest Group I'm here to facilitate ideas for panels and teaching sessions. This past August, Andris Straumanis and Joe Marren did a great job with our programming. You can see a summary of what we offered on the COMJIG blog.
Chicago is a city that is ripe for COMJIG-related panels thanks to the rich tradition in community journalism research via the Chicago School and the vibrant community media that include ethnic media, online communities and a vibrant neighborhood press. We are eager to create panels that explore these areas.
We are also hoping to explore panels that will look at issues related to diversity and to exploring community journalism as an international phenomenon. We have already had some initial discussions with interest groups and divisions interested in partnering with us in these areas.

I'm here to help you in this process as much as possible, but I need your ideas. Even if you do not have a formal panel proposal, please help us brainstorm a list of possible panels. The easiest way to do this is to comment at the end of this post. I’ve already tried to start the brainstorming with one blog entry here. You can also “like” our Facebook page and share your ideas there.

Proposal Call for COMJIG conference in St. Louis

The Community Journalism Interest Group (COMJIG) is accepting panel proposals for the 2011 AEJMC Conference in St. Louis, Aug. 10-13.

Proposals should consider that COMJIG defines community as more than just geographically centered. Community may also refer to social characteristics such as interest, ethnicity, culture, religion and occupation. Also remember that community journalism includes print, broadcast, online, etc.

Proposals are due Friday, Oct. 22.

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. For ideas on co-sponsoring opportunities, there is a list of divisions and groups at www.aejmc.com/?page_id=190.
4. A statement of why the topic is important and a brief description of issues the panelists could discuss (no more than a few hundred words, please). NOTE: If your panel is chosen for presentation with a co-sponsoring division or interest group, you will work with a representative from the co-sponsor to make sure that the interests of both divisions/interest groups are represented on the panel.
5. Names and institutional affiliations of possible panelists.
6. Your name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address.
Send panel proposals by Oct. 22 to Joe Marren, COMJIG program chair, at marrenjj@buffalostate.edu



If you have questions, contact Joe Marren by e-mail or phone (716-878-3794).

Call for AEJMC panel proposals

The Community Journalism Interest Group (COMJIG) is accepting panel proposals for the 2010 AEJMC Conference, which is scheduled Aug. 4-7 in Denver.

Proposals should consider that COMJIG defines community as more than just geographically centered. Community may also refer to social characteristics such as interest, ethnicity, culture, religion and occupation. Keep in mind, too, that community journalism is practiced across media forms (print, broadcast, online, etc.).

Proposals are due Friday, Oct. 23.

In your panel proposal, please indicate the following:

• The type of panel (research, PF&R or teaching).
• Possible co-sponsor divisions or interest groups.
• A summary of the session.
• Possible panelists.
• Estimated costs for speakers.
• Contact information for yourself.

Send panel proposals by Oct. 23 to Andris Straumanis, COMJIG program chair, at andris.straumanis@uwrf.edu.

PF&R panel proposals may also be sent to Ralph Hanson, PF&R chair, at hansonre@unk.edu.

Teaching panel proposals may also be sent to Eileen Gilligan, Teaching Standards chair, at egilliga@oswego.edu.

If you have questions, contact Andris Straumanis at andris.straumanis@uwrf.edu or +1 (651) 235-2915.

Call for 2009 Panel Proposals

AEJMC and COMJIG move to Boston for next year's convention, which means we have to start thinking about panels and other programming.

This is our first call for ideas for panels.

We had a very successful 2008 meeting, with some fine panels and the mini-plenary on the state of the industry. For 2009 we'd like to put a special emphasis on panels dealing with the state of research in community journalism and with an international orientation, including ethnic media. But of course, all ideas are welcome.

So put your thinking caps on, drag out all those proposals you just wanted to make before but never got around to, and send them our way by Oct. 6.

Please use the form you can find at http://tinyurl.com/comjigpanels09a (or go to our Yahoo group site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/comjig, and you'll find the file in the Files area of the site).

Please return the form to Doug Fisher, vice head and program chair, at dfisher@sc.edu (if you'll be so kind as to put COMJIG Panels in the subject line, your e-mail will be zapped into the right folder for immediate attention).

Again, the deadline is Oct. 6.

We raised the bar with some great panels last year; let's see if we can raise it further for 2009.

Best,
Doug