Articles/Reports
What great timing! In my first conference as the chair of the Commission on the Status of Minorities (CSM), we’re meeting in my hometown. I hope most of you will be able to join us in Chicago this August for this historic meeting as AEJMC celebrates 100 years. In addition, CSM will be making sure it’s part of the AEJMC story – sharing its role in the struggle for inclusion and equality in academia and in the journalism profession.
Honoring one of our own
One of the highlights of this year was participating in the panel to choose the recipient of the 2012 Lionel C. Barrow Jr. Award for Distinguished Achievement in Diversity Research and Education. I was honored to serve on the selection committee with Immediate Past CSM Chair Linda Florence Callahan, CSM Vice-Chair Sharon Stringer, Minorities and Communications Chair Petra Guerra and CSM members Sharon Bramlett-Solomon and Calvin Hall.
Our 2011 recipient, Felix Gutierrez,
professor of journalism, communication
and American studies &
ethnicity at the University of Southern
California, had set the bar high. After
careful review, our committee selected Federico Subervi, full professor
and director of the Center for the Study of Latino Media
& Markets at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication,
Texas State University, San Marcos. We were
beyond impressed with his scholarly work on Latinos and
media as well as with his continued efforts to grow, develop
and sustain CSM and MAC. The fact that both groups
are well-represented within AEJMC is testament to Subervi’s
efforts. We are especially proud to claim him as a CSM
member. Please plan on attending the AEJMC Business
Meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11 to support Subervi as
he receives his award.
That said, there are many more qualified prospective
candidates who have worked in the tradition of Dr. Barrow
and who deserve recognition for their efforts. One of our
goals in the coming years will be to increase awareness
about the Barrow Award and to encourage more nominations.
CSM Panel
Another important event to put on your AEJMC conference
calendar is the CSM Panel: “Teaching Race, Gender
and Media; What’s New, What’s Needed.” The panel will
be moderated by our own Petra Guerra and will include
CSM member Sharon Bramlett-Solomon, Arizona State
University; Lisa Brock, Kalamazoo College; Janice Castro,
Northwestern University and Stan West, Columbia College
Chicago. The panelists will address what progress
has been made in this important field of study and discuss
what challenges await in the future. The panel will held at
from 12:15 - 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 11.
In addition, please note other panels in which CSM
members are participating and make every effort to support
them with your attendance.
A note of thanks
Lastly, I’d like to thank my CSM fellow officers for their
work during the past year. Vice-Chair Sharon Stringer, Secretary
George Daniels, Newsletter Editor Masudul Biswas
and Assistant Newsletter Editor Kyle Huckins also deserve
a round of applause. Additional thanks goes to George
Daniels for getting our CSM listserv up and running. Now
members can connect at AEJMC-CSM@LISTSERV.UA.EDU
I look forward to seeing everyone in Chicago!