Public Relations Division Call for Panels
2024 AEJMC Annual Conference
Philadelphia, PA – August 7-11, 2024
The Public Relations Division (PRDV) of AEJMC seeks submissions of proposals for panels for the 2024 AEJMC Annual Conference. Panel proposals should address one of the three areas of AEJMC: research, teaching, or professional freedom & responsibility (PF&R). Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. CST, October 1, 2023.
Guidelines for Panel Proposal Submissions
1. Panel proposals should be submitted to:
title for the proposed panel, panel type, description, rationale for why the proposed panel fits with the PRDV audience, potential co-sponsoring DIGs, names of suggested panelists and moderator with institutional/professional affiliations, and the panel submitter’s contact information.
2. Diversity should be an important consideration of your panel planning. Consider diverse topics and diverse panelists—including racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, as well as geographic locations of panel participants, types of institutions, and rank. For example, would the panel be strengthened by adding a graduate student, a term (non-tenure track) professor or a colleague who has expertise on the topic but doesn’t normally attend AEJMC? Drawing on a wide range of sources helps produce innovative and inclusive panels that share new ideas.
3. Panel submitters are encouraged to include practitioners who can speak to the practical application of the panel's topic. Also, remember that the conference is being planned as an in-person gathering in Philadelphia – so if you are including industry or professional experts, those who live in the city or nearby might be good choices.
4. Panel submitters should indicate whether they have contacted potential panelists about their willingness to participate, provided the panel is successfully programmed into the conference.
5. Innovative topics and methods are highly encouraged, including topic areas in which the division has not recently held panels. A list of the division’s most recently programmed panels is attached.
6. Panels that do not have a suggestion or clear indication of co-sponsorship with another division should be of significant interest to the Public Relations Division. (Note: We are rarely able to program panels without a co-sponsoring division.)
7. In accordance with AEJMC policy, panelists who have committed to the panel are required to attend and present at the 2024 conference.
Review Process and Timeline
Oct. 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST: Panel submission deadline.
Oct. 2 - 13: The PRDV Vice Head (Programming Chair) and a committee of PRDV executives representing all three areas (PF&R, research, and teaching) will review each panel proposal. Each panel proposal is evaluated and ranked by the team with regard to a) clarity and depth of proposal description, b) fit and alignment with the Public Relations Division, with consideration to having a diverse slate of panels representing all three areas (PF&R, research, and teaching) c) innovation or creativity d) if a proposed co-sponsor is listed–and if this is a new or innovative co-sponsorship match. Approximately 4-8 panels are selected for the next round of the process.
Oct. 16: The PRDV Vice Head uploads the selected panel proposals to the internal conference site.
Oct. 23 - 27: The PRDV Vice Head negotiates with peer Vice Heads (according to AEJMC Council of Divisions guidelines) to secure panel sponsorship matches with DIGs. Please note that it is rare for any division to secure sponsorship matches for ALL panels that are submitted for consideration. Other DIGs will be approaching the PRDV for sponsorship matches with their panel proposals, as well. This process requires negotiation skills and compromising to find co-sponsors for our panels. Strong panel proposals may not garner interest from other divisions. Or, other divisions might propose similar panels – and then we must combine panels in order to share a slot. In the end, we try to ensure that we have co-sponsored panels in all three areas (teaching, research, and PF&R) and make programming matches that will interest our members.
Mid-October-December: AEJMC headquarters reviews information and creates the conference grid.
January: AEJMC distributes the conference grid to the Vice Head, meaning the panel programming is official. Formal proposal notifications will be sent to all submitters at this time. Panels that have secured a sponsorship match with another DIG will be asked to work with that co-sponsoring DIG to confirm/update panel information. Please note that panels that secure a sponsorship may be asked to modify panel details and/or speakers as part of the sponsorship deal. Divisions may negotiate or edit the make-up of the panels. This is especially true for panels that had to combine in order to share a slot. Therefore, even though you proposed a strong panel with a diverse group of scholars, you may find the panel is edited to add new panelists or topics of discussion to meet the needs of the co-sponsoring division. Again, maintaining flexibility is a key part of the process.
February: Deadline for final program copy for panels.
*Note: The above listed dates are set by the AEJMC Council of Divisions. Dates may be subject to change.
Questions? Contact Chris McCollough at cmccollough@jsu.edu.
AEJMC Public Relations Division Panel Programming
2023 Conference
Research Panel: Strategic Communication and Critical Branding Research: Examining Issues of Race, Gender, and Culture (PRDV and CCSD)
Research Panel: Can Governments Recover from a Crisis in Trust? New Research on Local, State, National, and International Communications (PRDV and PCD)
PF&R Panel: Historical Moments in Public Relations: Gender and Race “Through the Years” (PRDV and CSW)
Teaching Panel: Let’s Go Team! Fostering Dynamic Teamwork for Career Readiness (PRDV and ICIG)
Research Panel: The Assumptions, Ethical Implications, and Unobserved Effects of PR Research (ETCH and PRDV)
2022 Conference
Teaching Panel: Building Business Acumen: Integrating Business Instruction into the Advertising and Public Relations Curriculum for Career Preparation (ADVD and PRDV)
PF&R Panel: Professors Pinch-Hitting as University Communicators, Public Health Strategists and Citizen Scientists: Navigating the Classroom and Politics at Universities in States Without Mask or Vaccine Mandates (SHER and PRDV)
Research Panel: The Future of Critical Research in Public Relations Practice and Pedagogy (LGBT and PRDV)
PF&R Panel: Secrets of Unbroken Chairs: How Women Leaders of Color Survive, Thrive, and Advance in the Academy. (CSW and PRDV)
PF&R Panel: Hot Topics, Wicked Problems and Polarizing Politics: The Expanding Social Role of Public Relations (MCSD and PRDV)
PF&R Panel: Does “Ungrading” Make the Grade? Alternative Writing Assessments to Improve Student Outcomes (ICIG and PRDV)
2021 Conference
Teaching Panel: Amplifying Voices and Building Connections: A Discussion with HBCU Public Relations Educators (PRDV)
Research Panel: Information Patrolling: The Why and How Questions and Answers to Counteract Pseudo Information for Social Institutions (MCSD and PRDV)
Teaching Panel: Small Program, Big Impact: Public Relations at Small Colleges and Universities (PRDV and SPIG)
PF&R Panel: Misinformation, Racism, and the Magnification of Health Inequities: Research Informing Publics and the Practice (and Vice Versa) (PRDV and SHER)
Research Panel: Why Should Public Relations Care About Moral Psychology and Ethics of Care? (PRDV and ETHC)