Colleagues,
If you did not get an opportunity to read my article in the MAC News
summer e-newsletter, I'm posting it below. I look forward to seeing
you in Chicago!
Camilla
A Time for Historical, Critical Reflection & Advocacy
Camilla Gant, Head
I'm excited about seeing each of you in Chicago in a few weeks. As
I'm sure you know by now, the conference is slated for Wednesday, August
6th through Saturday,
5th. While MAC has a history of offering progressive programming
that transcends the foci of AEJMC divisions and interest groups, this
year's programming is particularly special. Our emphasis this year
is historical and critical reflection to inform and encourage spirited
advocacy for LANA, journalism, and mass communication programs,
initiatives, and scholarship. Below are three convention sessions
that I ask you to consider attending during the convention.
Tuesday, August 5, 1 to 5 p.m.
40 Years After Kerner - No Fee, No Registration Required
Presented by AEJMC, this workshop will focus on developing an action plan
to improve diversity within the academy and industry. Discussion
will center on ways to strengthen initiatives for news media to hire and
promote journalists of color, and ways to renew the commitment to the
fundamental, core mission of journalism -- public service.
Wednesday, August 6, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Lessons from the Past and Fodder for the Future: 40 Years After
the Kerner Report & Lee Barrow's Vision of an Inclusive AEJMC
(MAC & AEJMC Council of Affiliates, Co-Sponsors)
Friday, 1:45 pm to 3:15 pm
State of the Division & Discipline: Rethinking and
Repositioning MAC (MAC Sole Sponsor)
The strength of these programs is our intellectual capital, so I extend a
special invitation to you to be a part of the dialogue, which will inform
and shape AEJMC and MAC's
strategic plan to be launched following the convention. Also, I ask
that you make plans to attend the MAC business meeting on Thursday,
August 7th, from 8:30 p.m. to
10:00 p.m. In addition to the procession and election of new
leadership, the agenda will include consideration of two critical
proposals-- a proposal to amend MAC leadership succession; and a
proposal to adopt recommendations that evolve from the Kerner
Commission workshop to be forwarded to AEJMC, journalism educators,
administrators, news organizations, etc.
Indeed this has been a great year for MAC. We have an awesome
convention line-up thanks in large part to our vice head/program chair,
Sharon Stringer, who did the lion's share of the work (with scant
opportunity for training) in collaboration with our second vice-head,
Jennifer Woodard; PF&R chair, Frances Ward-Johnson; and teaching
chair, Bradley Gorham. Our research competition was vigorous, and
our research chairs, Petra Guerra (faculty research) and Brenda Edgerton
Webster (student research), ably navigated year two of the electronic
submission process. We also launched our website and electronic
newsletter, thanks to the diligence of Darlene Lee, newsletter editor;
and we strengthened our out-of convention programming. Kudos to
Yuiki Fujioka and Jerry Domatob midwinter conference coordinators; E.K.
Daufin, Ida B. Wells lecture coordinator and listserv manager; and Diana
Rios, Ethnic American Press exhibition coordinator.
Please join me in thanking our colleagues for their sacrificial
leadership, and raising the bar of excellence for our division. I
also extend special thanks to each of you for your commitment to MAC, and
I look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
Camilla Gant, Ph.D.
Director/Associate Professor
Mass Communications
University of West Georgia
678.839.4933
Office
678.839.4926 Fax