06/15/2011

ECA - 2012 Convention - Call for Papers - Political Communication Interest Group

Call for Papers 2012 

Political Communication Interest Group
103rd Annual Eastern Communication Association Convention
Cambridge, Massachusetts 

Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston
http://www.sonesta.com/boston/
April 26-29, 2012 

Submission Deadline: Friday October 14, 2011 

The Political Communication Interest Group invites submission of competitive papers, thematic panel proposals, and innovative programming alternatives (roundtables, symposia, debates, open forums, etc.) for the 103rd ECA Annual Meeting to be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts just outside historic Boston, Massachusetts.  

The convention theme, “Transitions,” was chosen to evoke a dialogue about change, movement, and expressions of shifts in thought or practice. These themes have particular resonance for political communication and the recent trends in international and domestic politics as well as coming elections. ECA convention programming will again include short courses, poster sessions, roundtables, and workshops. Additionally, the convention will host the Second Annual McCroskey and Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference. General information on it (as well as on short courses and poster sessions) may be found at http://www.ecasite.org/.   

The Political Communication Interest Group will also sponsor the annual viewing of the year’s most popular political advertisements at “Coffee and Spots”. We encourage you to schedule this event into your conference plans. 

Submissions to the Political Communication Interest Group should adhere to the following guidelines: 

COMPETITIVE PAPERS

Authors are invited to submit competitive papers on any aspect of political communication from any theoretical, methodological, or critical perspective. If papers have been presented in any form or version at a previous conference, accepted for publication, or delivered in another public setting, this fact should be made clear at the time of submission.  

Excluding title page, notes, and references, papers should be no longer than 25 pages. Papers longer than 25 pages may not be reviewed.  

Authors who have not presented a paper at a regional, national, or international convention should include the word “DEBUT” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page. Papers authored by current undergraduate or graduate students should include the word “STUDENT” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page. (All of the paper’s authors must meet the “debut” or “student” criterion for the paper to be so designated.)

Competitive papers should be submitted via e-mail as two MS Word files.  

File #1 must include:

1. A title page with the title of the paper, names of all authors, their institutional affiliations, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. In cases of multiple authorship, please indicate who will be presenting at the convention. (Please note that no information that identifies the author/s should appear anywhere in this submission beyond the title page.)
2. An abstract page including a 100-150 word abstract of the paper. The title of the paper should appear on the same page as this abstract.
3. A statement of professional responsibility, as follows: “In submitting the attached paper, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this paper if it is accepted. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.” Papers that do not include this statement will not be programmed.  

File #2 must include:

1. A title page with no author/s names (the second paper which will be sent out for review should include no information that identifies the author/s anywhere in this submission).
2. An abstract page (see above)
3. A statement of professional responsibility (see above).  

PANELS AND OTHER PROGRAMS

Panels should focus on a unifying theme relevant to research, theory, or criticism in the area of political communication. Panels consist of a chair, paper presenters, and a respondent (who should not be the same person as the panel chair); however, roundtable discussions, symposia, debates, community programs, or other unique formats are encouraged especially as they relate to the convention theme or location. In alternative formats, respondents may be included or omitted as appropriate. Panels and other programs that could be co-sponsored with other interest groups are also encouraged. 

Panel and other program proposals should include the following:

1. A thematic title for the convention program
2. A description of the program appropriate for the convention program of no more than 75 words
3. A detailed rationale for including the panel/program in the 2012 Political Communication convention program
4. Presenter names and associated paper or presentation titles and abstracts (of no more than 100 words per person) for all papers or presentations within the panel
5. Names, affiliations, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of all participants (note: chairs should not serve as respondents)
6. A single statement of professional responsibility (see above) that represents all presenters  

(A waiver of fees might be available for non-academic political communication practitioners. Proposers should contact the unit’s planner.)

Requests for Technology must be made at the time of submission and we will attempt to make arrangements as resources allow. Any requests made after that time cannot be honored. 

Conference Absenteeism: Attendees who do not present scheduled papers should not list presentations on academic vitas. Notices of inability to attend the conference after receiving presentation acceptance or last minute emergency issues preventing attendance should as soon as possible along with alternative presenting arrangements.

Electronic Filing Formats: Proposals must be submitted only in MS Word. Only electronic submissions will be reviewed. Submissions should be e-mailed to J. Kanan Sawyer, the Political Communication Interest Group program planner, at ksawyer@wcupa.edu.   

Submissions must be received no later than Friday October 14, 2011. Questions can be addressed to J. Kanan Sawyer at ksawyer@wcupa.edu or (610) 430-4414.