SSCA Mass Communication Division

Business Meeting

March 29, 2007 in Louisville, KY

2006-2007 Officers

Chair: Tony DeMars,University of North Carolina, Pembroke

Vice Chair: Melissa M. Smith, Mississippi State University

Secretary: Justin Young, Tougaloo College

Web Editor: Tony DeMars, Sam Houston State University

Signed in: Tony DeMars, Melissa Smith, Dennis Robertson, Myleea D. Hill, Mary Jackson Pitts, Darrell Roe, Karyn Brown, Wendy Hajjar, Barry P. Smith, Gerald-Mark Breen and Ibrahem Bani Abdo.

DeMars called the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m. The minutes from the 2006 meeting were unanimously accepted as posted on the SSCA and division Web site.

Melissa Smith reported that the division had eight panels accepted for the 2007 conference, plus the business meeting slot. She said that the division received 15 faculty paper submissions and seven graduate student submissions. From those submissions, eight faculty papers and four graduate student papers were accepted. There were three submissions for the Production Showcase, all of which were accepted. Smith said that the division received four panel submissions, all of which were slated to be presented at the conference. Smith thanked the 17 reviewers who worked to review papers submitted for the conference, and especially thanked them for making additional comments that could be of use to the authors as they revise papers.

DeMars gave a brief report on items discussed at the Executive Council meeting held earlier that day. He reported that the organization is considering launching another academic journal, but that the proposal is still under discussion. He said there was no particular focus yet for the new potential journal, but that several ideas had been discussed. He also reported that there was discussion about changing the name of the conference’s existing publication, the Southern Communication Journal, because it gives the impression that it only publishes regional work. The journal, however, has a much larger focus and was noted as having a 10 percent acceptance rate.

DeMars also discussed the survey taken by SSCA prior to the conference regarding electronic submissions. He said that the discussions regarding using a paid service to manage submissions were still ongoing and that no decision had been made. He also noted that an ad hoc committee had been established to solicit endorsements and possible sponsorship of conference sessions. In addition, DeMars said that discussions were underway regarding the Clevenger Undergraduate Honors Conference and monies allotted to the yearly event. DeMars also stressed that there are no cash awards for papers, but that plaques are given to top-paper award winners. He also announced that site chosen for the 2011 conference is Little Rock, Arkansas.

In new business, DeMars recommended an update of the division’s bylaws regarding a clarification of the election process. He noted prior situations in which the bylaws may have been violated, and suggested that the division might want to clarify or change the existing rules. He suggested that a committee of three people be appointed to review the existing bylaws and make recommendations for review by the division members. After much discussion, Karyn Brown suggested that one person be responsible for reviewing the bylaws and then providing a report to the division. Barry P. Smith was charged with this duty. He will review the bylaws regarding the division’s election process, send a report and then solicit feedback from division members.

DeMars also noted that the person chosen as secretary for the division the previous year, Justin Young, was not present at the meeting. DeMars said he had not heard from Young about not attending and asked the membership if they thought Young’s absence from the meeting and uncertainty of his availability meant it would be unlikely that he would be able to fulfill the duties of the vice chair, which included attendance at a planning session for the next year’s conference. That session was slated for Saturday, and the assumption by his absence from the MCD business meeting was that Young would not be able to attend. Mary Jackson Pitts made a motion Young be removed from the vice chair position because he would be unable to fulfill the duties. Dennis Robertson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Robertson then moved that Wendy Hajjar be the program planner for 2008 and attend the meeting on Saturday. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

There were several recommendations regarding paper submissions for the division. Melissa Smith recommended limiting the number of papers that can be submitted by one author, as multiple submissions from one author were received for the 2007 conference. After much discussion, the division voted that only one first-author submission will be accepted by the division. Smith also recommended setting a page limit on papers submitted to the division, as several papers of more than 40 pages were received in the 2007 submissions. The members present voted to set a limit of 25 pages on submissions, including tables and references. It was also noted that the division call for papers should include instructions for authors to remove personal information from the “properties” menu in Microsoft Word. Smith noted that several submissions for the 2007 conference included the author’s name in the properties file, and she had to remove all of the information.

DeMars asked for suggestions to improve the Production Showcase, which highlights creative productions by both faculty and students. Melissa Smith noted that all of the submissions for 2007 were done by students, and she suggested that efforts be made to get information regarding the showcase to people who teach broadcasting in schools in our region. Other suggestions included having the showcase after hours or off site. DeMars and Hajjar said they would work together to try to improve the showcase for the 2008 conference.

Karyn Brown noted that Jean DeHart, the Advertising Manager for SSCA, wanted feedback about what SSCA officers can do to encourage membership in the Mass Communication Division. She urged members to send their suggestions to DeHart.

DeMars stated that a topic for future discussion might be changing the name of the division. He noted that other divisions have a more specific emphasis, and that some people aren’t sure what types of research would be acceptable in the Mass Communication Division. Melissa Smith noted that the fragmentation of SSCA divisions had also eroded membership in Mass Communication, as divisions such as Public Relations and Political Communication had taken away some of our previously active members.

Karyn Brown was re-elected as the division’s nominating committee representative. Myleea D. Hill was nominated and accepted as Secretary by acclamation. Barry P. Smith was nominated and accepted by acclamation as the division’s Web site editor.

Pitts commended DeMars and thanked him for his service to the division. DeMars expressed thanks to Melissa Smith and acknowledged her work in planning the conference.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:58 p.m.

Recorded by Melissa Smith, vice chair.