116th Eastern Communication Association Annual Convention
Call for Submissions
“Contemporary Problems, Creative Solutions”
Hyatt Regency, Buffalo, NY
March 26-March 30, 2025
Eastern Communication Association (ECA)
Voices of Diversity Interest Group
Call for Paper, Panels, and Innovative Submissions
Submission Deadline: October 16, 2024, 11:59pm PST
The Voices of Diversity Interest Group invites submissions for the 2025 Eastern Communication Association (ECA) 116th Annual Conference. Known as the “City of Good Neighbors” for its welcoming and supportive community, Buffalo will be the site for the 2025 annual convention of the Eastern Communication Association. The conference will be held in Buffalo, NY from March 26-30, 2025, at The Hyatt Regency Buffalo.
The 2025 convention theme is Contemporary Problems, Creative Solutions. In our ever-changing world, contemporary problems and issues need to be addressed with creative solutions. Communication Studies scholars and practitioners are well-positioned to offer theoretical and practical insights to address contemporary problems. The First Vice President’s Special Programming will focus on the communication surrounding contemporary problems and potential solutions in various areas including social justice, Artificial Intelligence, higher education enrollment, undergraduate and graduate program development, curriculum changes, current political climate, health disparities, and workplace communication issues, among other areas.
In the spirit of creating communicative solutions and the work required to forge and form new insights to impact our lives and our relationships, communities and world, the Voices of Diversity Interest Group of ECA invites you to submit your communication related work enveloping the concept of “Contemporary Problems, Creative Solutions”. With so many problems surrounding diversity, inclusivity, and social change, our voices as communication scholars become more imperative in our actions, relationships, cultures, and communities.
Yet, it is not only our own voices that matter. Are you addressing issues of inclusivity, diversity, identity, social activism, muted voices, unjust power structures, and/or changes in the current of our discipline? Are you working towards innovative ideas and adding to a revolution of attitudes and perspectives in your scholarship, teaching, and community? Is your work offering voice to others? If you answered yes to these questions, we welcome you to submit your works of to our interest group.
The Voices of Diversity Interest Group invites completed papers, panels, round table discussions, symposiums, and community programs across communication contexts that explore the pivotal role exchanging ideas plays in creating, maintaining, and changing what we communicate and how we communicate it. We encourage scholarship that embodies innovative ideas and creative solutions within the communication discipline. Submissions that provide an opportunity for voices of various scholars, community members, audience members and the public to engage one another are strongly encouraged. All submissions will be reviewed and evaluated through an anonymous, peer-review process.
Submissions:
All submissions should be uploaded and processed through Attendee Interactive at the following site: https://ww4.aievolution.com/eca2501/
Individual submissions of complete papers should include the following elements:
1. The word “Debut” marked on all papers written by authors who have not presented previously at a regional or national convention.
2. A one-page abstract on the second page.
3. A statement of professional responsibility on the second page.
4. If the paper has multiple authors, submitter should indicate who will be presenting at the convention.
Submission of program/panel proposals should include the following elements:
Statement of Professional Responsibility:
The following statement MUST be included with every submission of a paper or panel in order for it to be eligible for review. If it is not attached with a submitted document, the chair is responsible for obtaining a completed copy of this form prior to the paper/panel being officially programmed for presentation at the convention.
In submitting the attached paper or proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this panel or paper if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
Types of Potential Submissions:
Individual Paper: A completed paper reporting original research, an extensive literature review, or other form of scholarship. Interest group planners thematically group papers to create panels and appoint a chair to introduce each paper and moderate the discussion, and a respondent to provide feedback and expert insight on the papers after they are presented.
Panel: A program where 3-4 speakers present individual papers on a specific topic area. The individual submitting the panel should identify a chair who has agreed to introduce each paper and moderate the presentation of papers and any discussion. Respondents are optional at the discretion of the panelists.
Workshop Session: a program led by 2-3 experts on a particular topic, with audience involvement and participation.
Round Table Discussion: a program featuring 5-8 presenters who briefly share a position paper or summary of recent research on a focused topic moderated by a chair with “on-the-spot” interaction and discussion by participants and audience.
Symposium: a program where 3-5 invited speakers present a predetermined section of specific topic introduced by a chair who initiates audience participation through questions and answers or in an open forum.
Debate: a traditional debate on an announced topic, with pro and con statements and rebuttals.
Open Forum: a semi-structured public discussion of a predetermined topic of interest introduced and moderated by a chair. The goal of such a program is to share information, ideas, concerns, and special interests.
Convention Acceptance Notification: January 2024
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the conference. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I will answer them to the best of my ability of find someone who can.
Take care,
Dan
Dan Strasser, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair
Department of Communication Studies
Rowan University
strasser@rowan.edu