Exploration of Outside Publishers for AEJMC Journals
What Happened at the Denver Conference:
After a year of exploration and analysis, the Publications Committee recommended that the AEJMC Board of Directors contract with Sage Publications to handle the production of the organization’s three journals: Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, and Journalism & Communication Monographs. During its Saturday, Aug. 7, meeting in Denver the AEJMC Board unanimously approved this recommendation. During the fall of 2010, AEJMC will work to develop a contract with Sage Publications. The contract will move AEJMC journal production from an in-house platform to a publisher platform as of the first issue of 2012.
Background:
Two reasons have served as a catalyst for this change.
One is that AEJMC central is not able to provide the full-text online services of our current issues. We will not abandon hard copy; in fact, we are insisting that the journals maintain print versions. But it is also clear that most of our younger AEJMC members support the movement to online products. The complexity of having a high quality web presence that would be available to the world at large while also privileging member access is something at which publishers excel, and we think there is no need to reinvent that wheel.
The second reason is that AEJMC simply cannot provide the global marketing needed to keep our journals among those in the top tier of communication journals. Outside publishers are in a strong position to help us build audiences in a global way, and that kind of internationalization will become increasingly important.
After issuing an RFP in February, the Publications Committee interviewed three publishers in June. All eight members of the committee were at that meeting and unanimously agreed that this was the appropriate next step for the journals. All three journal editors were also at that June meeting, and were able to ask questions of the publishers.
Key Issues:
- AEJMC will NOT stop providing hard copy versions of the journals. Members and paid subscribers will have BOTH hard copy and online access to current issues, beginning in 2012.
- Members will have the option to receive only online access, but that will be each individual member’s decision.
- Classroom use of our journal content will continue to be FREE.
- Outside subscription prices will increase, but these would still remain much lower than the prices for the divisional journals (which are almost all served by commercial publishers). Over time, AEJMC will be a full partner in negotiating future increases.
- Membership dues will NOT increase as a result of this change, but they will not go down.
- This contractual arrangement will begin in January 2012, giving editors and AEJMC Central ample time to plan and implement.
Resolution One 2010
Resolution One to the General AEJMC Membership: To Recognize and Honor Richard Burke, AEJMC Business Manager, for His 25 Years of Service to AEJMC.
Richard (Rich) Burke started work for AEJMC in March 1985.
Whereas, as Business Manger, Rich is responsible for processing all financial transactions, paying bills, handling investments and overseeing the building maintenance, and
Whereas, Rich is most visible to members as the Conference Registrar who helps register attendees.
Whereas, in recognition of the importance of Richard’s tireless service to the Association, and
Whereas, in recognition of the valuable contributions he has made to the members both formally and informally.
Therefore, be it resolved that:
The members of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
(AEJMC) formally recognize and commend Richard Burke for his extraordinary and dedicated service these past 25 years.
Resolution Two 2010
Resolution Two to the General AEJMC Membership: To Recognize and Honor Fred Williams, AEJMC Convention Manager, for His 25 Years of Service to AEJMC
Fred started work with AEJMC in February 1985.
Whereas, Fred is responsible for maintaining relationships with venues, handling audio/visual and catering requests for the convention and other AEJMC/ASJMC meetings, coordinating exhibits, and suggesting venues for future conventions.
Whereas, Fred also manages publication advertisements and printer relationships for the association, and
Whereas, in recognition of the importance of Fred’s tireless service to the Association, and
Whereas, in recognition of the valuable contributions he has made to the members both formally and informally.
Therefore, be it resolved that:
The members of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
(AEJMC) formally recognize and congratulate Fred Williams for his extraordinary and dedicated service these past 25 years.
Resolution Three 2010
Resolution Three: To Recognize and Honor Kappa Tau Alpha, the national college honor society for journalism and mass communication majors, which celebrated its 100th anniversary March 10, 2010
Kappa Tau Alpha, the national college honor society for journalism and mass communication majors, was chartered March 10, 1910. Founded at the University of Missouri, Kappa Tau Alpha is the seventh oldest national honor society.
Whereas, the Society is dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in scholarship, and
Whereas, journalism/mass communication students who are inducted must rank in the top 10 percent of their junior, senior or graduate classes, and
Whereas, more than 66,000 students have been inducted into KTA, and
Whereas, KTA has chapters at 93 colleges and universities.
Whereas, since 1944, KTA has conducted an annual competition for the best research-based book in the field, and,
Whereas, it also co-sponsors the AEJMC/Kappa Tau Alpha Awards Luncheon and presents awards ($1 for every year of KTA’s existence) to AEJMC division student research paper competition winners, among other activities.
Therefore, be it resolved that: the members of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) congratulate and express sincere appreciation to Kappa Tau Alpha as it commemorates its 100th anniversary during 2010.
Resolution Four 2010
Resolution Four: To Support Freedom of Speech and of Information in the United States and Internationally.
Freedom of speech and of information has come under increasing threat in the United States and internationally. Journalists and other media professionals have more frequently faced arrest, imprisonment, physical attack, torture and even death or threats of death for their communication efforts.
Whereas, in recognition of the importance of freedom of speech, of the press and of information to democracy and other forms of governance, and
Whereas, in recognition of the valuable contributions of journalists and other mass communication professionals in the United States and around the world,
Therefore, be it resolved that:
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) goes on record in support of freedom of speech and of information in the United States and internationally,
Be it further resolved that:
AEJMC formally requests that all heads of state and government officials in the United States and internationally actively take steps to ensure protections of free speech, of the press and of information including laws that formally protect freedom of speech and of information.
AEJMC 2010 Resolutions
AEJMC Members approved four resolutions during the 2010 Convention in Denver, CO.
- Resolution One: To Recognize and Honor Richard Burke, AEJMC Business Manager, for His 25 Years of Service to AEJMC.
- Resolution Two: To Recognize and Honor Fred Williams, AEJMC Convention Manager, for His 25 Years of Service to AEJMC.
- Resolution Three: To Recognize and Honor Kappa Tau Alpha, the national college honor society for journalism and mass communication majors, which celebrated its 100th anniversary March 10, 2010.
- Resolution Four: To Support Freedom of Speech and of Information in the United States and Internationally.
Resolution Three 2003
Resolution Three: Civil Liberties
Whereas,
It is appropriate for AEJMC to voice its concerns for reasons that include:
- The USA PATRIOT Act was passed in haste in the fall of 2001 and signed by President Bush, within six weeks of the Sept. 11 tragedy. The checks and balance system failed the American public as the repressive nature of the Act was not fully recognized.
Whereas,
- Conventional wisdom and empirical scholarship attest to how civil liberties are put at risk during times of national crisis and war, and our national leaders have declared a war against terrorism in which thousands of persons have died.
Whereas,
- Appreciation and protection of First Amendment freedoms, including the freedom of expression, are inherent in the teaching and practice of journalism and mass communications. Leaders of the AEJMC have characterized First Amendment education as one of our most significant roles in higher education.
Whereas,
- The USA PATRIOT Act remains a controversy as government leaders seek to broaden their police powers on the one hand, and others seek to redress what they see as the Act’s threats to civil liberties, including those addressed by previous AEJMC resolutions.
Be it resolved that AEJMC
- Continue to monitor the impact of the USA PATRIOT Act on academic freedom and support measures designed to protect scholarly inquiry and free expression threatened by the Act.
Be it resolved that AEJMC and its members
- Oppose unwarranted broadening of police powers of the state under the Act and encourage legislative bodies to subject such proposals to far more debate and scrutiny than has been the case heretofore.
Be it resolved that AEJMC
- Support “Restore FOIA Act” legislation.
Be it resolved that AEJMC
- Explore joining a newly formed national coalition of organizations (see next page).
Be it resolved that AEJMC
- Recognize and respond in helpful ways to the impacts of the USA PATRIOT Act upon the academic careers and studies of our international colleagues and students.
Resolution Two 2003
Resolution Two: Gender Equity
Whereas recent research by the American Association of University Professors, reported in the April 18, 2003 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education indicates that there still is a pay gap between men and women professors.
And whereas, research reported by Ramona R. Rush and Carol E. Oukrop at the 2002 convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC) indicates that salary is the “major discrimination concern” of female faculty members in journalism and mass communications (j/mc) programs.
Be it resolved:
- That AEJMC appoint a committee or assign this task to an existing committee to request from the Becker Studies the relevant data on salaries and to ascertain what information is currently being gathered on salaries that can be used to ascertain if this gap also exists for journalism and mass communications professors; if no information is currently being gathered, to determine how best to obtain this information and to determine how best to reward those j/mc programs that are making active efforts to overcome this long lasting problem and/or that have succeeded in doing so.
- That this committee report on its efforts and/or findings to the mid-year meeting of the AEJMC executive committee and to the AEJMC executive committee and the membership as a whole at the 2004 AEJMC convention.
(Prepared by Lionel C. Barrow, Jr., Vice Chair, Commission on the Status of Minorities)
Approved at AEJMC 2003 Convention
Kansas City, Missouri
Resolution One 2003
Resolution One: Diversity
Whereas in 1968 the membership of the Association for Education in Journalism (AEJ), now the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC), passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a coordinated program to recruit, train and place an increasing number of minorities in the classroom and in the media.
And whereas in 1989 the AEJMC membership passed a resolution calling on the association and on the schools and departments of journalism and mass communications to make every effort to achieve 50 percent minority and/or female faculty and administrators by the year 2000. And whereas research reported by Ramona R. Rush and Carol E. Oukrop at AEJMC’s 2002 convention indicated that only 21 percent of the nation’s journalism and mass communications programs had achieved that goal.
Be it resolved:
1. That AEJMC again urge all journalism and mass communications (j/mc) programs to redouble their efforts to obtain and retain a faculty and administrator group that is 50 percent minority and/or female.
2. That the AEJMC appoint a committee to ascertain what the association can and should do to assist the j/mc schools and departments in their efforts to obtain this goal.
3. That the committee include, but need not be limited to, at least one member from the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on the Status of Minorities, the Minorities and Communication Division, the three elected standing committees, the Media and Disability Interest Group and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Interest Group.
4. That the committee study how best to publicize and/or reward those schools that have reached and maintained the 50 percent goal.
5. That the committee be empowered to seek expert advice, in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the Michigan affirmative action cases, about the impact those decisions might have on any program AEJMC may devise.
6. That the committee report its findings to the AEJMC Executive Committee at the next mid-year meeting and to the AEJMC Executive Committee and the membership at the 2004 convention.
(Prepared by L. C. Barrow, Jr., Vice Chair, Commission on the Status of Minorities)
Approved August 2003
Kansas City, Missouri
2003 AEJMC Resolutions
AEJMC members approved three resolutions during the 2003 Convention in Kansas City, MO.
Resolution One: Diversity
Resolution Two: Gender Equity
Resolution Three: Civil Liberties
