CALL FOR PAPERS:
Convergence and Society: The Changing Media Landscape”

November 5-6, 2009

Reno, Nevada USA
Co-sponsored by: University of Nevada, Reno and University of South Carolina

Media Convergence is arguably the most powerful force underlying massive changes in media organizations, advertising revenues, and audience attention. The phenomenon has impacted virtually all areas of media, from ownership and regulation to the practice of journalism and the training of communication professionals. As this trend accelerates, there is an increasing need to examine the effects of convergence on journalism, media organizations, revenue models, and consumer behavior. The field needs to address a range of impacts from the training of journalists and the practice of journalism to theoretical conceptions of convergence, new organizational studies, and next-generation techniques for convergent media.

Now in its eighth year, the purpose of this annual conference is to provide a scholarly forum for the presentation of theory, research, and practice related to media convergence. Projects addressing virtually any area of media convergence may be submitted, with special consideration offered for theoretically-based submissions and studies of organizational issues related to media convergence. A showcase of convergent media practices will run concurrent with the academic conference.

Faculty and graduate students are invited to submit in one or more of three categories:

1. Completed papers
2. Proposals or abstracts of papers in progress
3. Proposals for panels

Submissions may address practical, theoretical, phenomenological, critical and/or empirical approaches to digital media and information technologies. All submissions will be reviewed by a jury that will consider: 1) relevance to the conference theme, 2) the quality of the contribution, and 3) overall contribution to the field.

Papers, proposals, abstracts, and panel proposals should be addressed to:

Augie Grant, Conference Co-Chair
Convergence Conference
College of Mass Communications and Information Studies
Carolina Coliseum
Columbia, SC 29208
e-mail: augie@sc.edu

The conference is co-sponsored by the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno; the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies at the University of South Carolina; and IFRA Newsplex, an advanced micro-newsroom training and research facility dedicated to news presentation techniques emerging from the convergence of print, broadcast and online media. Newsplex is a joint project of USC and IFRA. The conference will take place in Reno, Nevada, “the biggest little city in the world.”

Submission guidelines:

• Electronic submissions (Word or RTF attachments) are preferred (send to augie@sc.edu).
• A separate "cover page" file should be included with the title of the paper or panel and authors’ names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
• Submission deadline (postmark) is June 15, 2009. All submissions will be jury-reviewed with notification to authors and organizers on or before July 31, 2009.