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| July 2025 Dear MEA Community,As we move into the second half of the year, we’re reflecting on the extraordinary success of the 2025 MEA Convention in Mexico City and looking ahead to new opportunities to connect, contribute, and collaborate. This issue includes a full convention recap, award announcements, calls for nominations, upcoming conference opportunities, and the official launch of the MEA Book Club. Whether you’re joining us for the first time or have been part of MEA for years, we’re glad you’re here, and we hope you’ll find something in this issue that invites your continued engagement.–Tiffany Petricini  |
| 2025 MEA Convention Recap: A Celebration in Mexico CityFrom the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacán to the mariachi music echoing through the halls of the Soumaya Museum, the 2025 Media Ecology Association Convention in Mexico City was a celebration of culture, scholarship, and community. Hosted by Universidad Panamericana, this year’s gathering was truly one for the ages.“Congratulations to MEA VP Laura Trujillo and all of the wonderful folks at Universidad Panamericana for hosting an outstanding MEA meeting. From the trips to the pyramids and the Frida Kahlo museum, to the keynotes by Deborah Tannen and Lera Boroditsky, to the film screenings with talkbacks with Teri McLuhan and Bob Albrecht, to the sensational banquet at the Soumaya museum complete with surprise mariachi band, this was truly one of the most memorable MEAs in our quarter century history!” — Lance Strate“Every detail was thoughtfully curated and deeply meaningful. It was a privilege to be part of this incredible convention.” — Dr. Fernando I. Gutiérrez C.“All 26 of our conventions have been unique moments in our history. With this one, however, all of the stars aligned. Or, rather, Laura lined them all up in the sky for us… Thank you, Laura, for making the 2025 convention one for the ages.” — Thom GencarelliA huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible — especially Laura Trujillo-Liñán and the team at Universidad Panamericana. |
2025 MEA Awards Reca p   As part of this year’s unforgettable convention, we were honored to recognize the achievements of scholars, educators, and creators who continue to shape the field of media ecology. Congratulations to all of our 2025 MEA Award winners!2025 MEA Award WinnersMarshall McLuhan Award (Outstanding Book): Richard Cavell, The Explorations of Edmund Snow Carpenter: Anthropology Upside DownWalter Benjamin Award (Outstanding Article): Eleni TimplalexiErving Goffman Award: Michael Serazio, The Authenticity IndustriesSusanne K. Langer Award: Mason Kamana Allred, Seeing ThingsDorothy Lee Award: Robert Rosenberger, DistractedLewis Mumford Award: Jason Puskar, The SwitchHarold A. Innis Award (Thesis/Dissertation): Shiv IssarMary Shelley Award (Fiction): William JeffersonJohn Culkin Award (Praxis): Dina Bruno Ciborowski & Robert AlbrechtLouis Forsdale Award (Educator): Laura Trujillo-LiñánJacques Ellul Award (Activism): Claudia SheinbaumJames W. Carey Award (Journalism): Charlie WarzelCareer Achievement Awards:Christine L. Nystrom Award (Service): Matt ThomasEdmund S. Carpenter Award (Editing): Peggy CassidyWalter J. Ong Award (Scholarship): Lera BoroditskyNeil Postman Award (Public Intellectual Activity): Deborah TannenConvention Paper Awards:Top Student Paper: Néstor Jaimen LamasTop Paper: Omar Velázquez López, Lizeth Tzontecomani Flores, and Luis Avelino Sánchez Graillet  We are deeply grateful to all contributors and judges — and we invite your participation for the year ahead. |
| Call for Nominations: 2026 MEA AwardsDo you know a book, article, creative project, or individual that deserves recognition? The 2026 MEA Awards are now open for nominations in a wide range of categories, including scholarship, fiction, activism, education, journalism, and praxis.Deadline: November 1, 2025 Submit nominations to: strate@fordham.edu Visit the MEA website for details and a full list of award categories. |
| Call for Executive Board NominationsLooking to get more involved in MEA leadership? We are now accepting nominations for four open positions on the Executive Board:Vice President Elect (4-year leadership trajectory)Recording Secretary (1-year term)Newsletter Editor (1-year term)Member-at-Large (3-year term)Nomination deadline: September 15, 2025 Send nominations or self-nominations to: robertalbrecht15@yahoo.com Nominees will be asked to submit a short statement (100–150 words) for the ballot. Voting will take place in October, with results announced by the end of the month.All members are welcome to apply. |
MEA 2026 Convention Preview: Winnipeg, ManitobaThe 2026 Media Ecology Association Convention will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which is birthplace of Marshall McLuhan. The conference theme is «crossing[out] borders in our global village,» inviting exploration of media, meaning, culture, and communication across boundaries of geography, identity, discipline, and technology.Inspired by McLuhan’s observations on the collapse of walls, this theme encourages generative, open-ended inquiry. Whether you study media systems, symbolic form, intercultural interaction, or technological change, you are invited to contribute to a rich, multidisciplinary conversation about what it means to cross or redefine a border.Attendees will have the opportunity to visit important McLuhan landmarks, including his family home on Gertrude Avenue, the University of Manitoba where he earned his undergraduate degree, and the Red River where he sailed with his brother. Winnipeg also offers unique cultural attractions such as the Museum for Human Rights, The Forks Market, and Qaumajuq, the foremost Inuit art gallery.For more information, contact convention organizer Jacqueline McLeod Rogers at j.mcleod-rogers@uwinnipeg.ca. Updates and the official call for proposals will be posted at www.media-ecology.org/convention.We look forward to seeing you in Winnipeg. MEA at ICA 2025: Denver Panel Recap and Looking Ahead to Cape Town The Media Ecology Association participated in the 75th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), held June 12–16, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt Hotels in Denver, Colorado. This year’s conference theme was “ICA@75: Disrupting and Consolidating Communication Research.”The MEA-sponsored panel, titled “Disruptions, Consolidations, and Extensions in Media Ecology Theory and Research,” was held on Sunday, June 15 and chaired by Thom Gencarelli of Manhattan University. The panel featured the following presentations:Julia Hildebrand (Eckerd College), “What Camera Drones Do and Mean: Extensions, Disruptions, Consolidations”Lance Strate (Fordham University), “Media Ecology and the Meaning of Meaning”Laura Trujillo-Liñán (Universidad Panamericana), “The Paradox of Connectivity in the Digital Age”Thom Gencarelli (Manhattan University), “The Instability and Unsustainability of Our Planned Media Future”Each presentation engaged contemporary concerns in communication and technology, offering a wide-ranging discussion on the evolving role of media environments, infrastructure, and human connection.Looking ahead, ICA 2026 will take place June 4–8 in Cape Town, South Africa, at the Cape Town International Convention Center and the Westin Cape Town. The conference theme is “Communication and Inequalities in Context.”As an Association Member of ICA, the Media Ecology Association will again sponsor a panel at the 2026 conference. The proposal is due November 1, 2025. MEA at ECA 2026: Call for SubmissionsThe Media Ecology Association will participate in the Eastern Communication Association’s 117th Annual Conference, which will be held April 9–12, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The conference theme is “Emergence.”As an affiliate organization, MEA will sponsor a panel at the convention. Members are encouraged to consider how their work aligns with the theme and to submit individual papers or panel proposals once the submission portal opens.The deadline for submissions is October 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. The call for papers and submission portal will be available soon.For more information, please visit the ECA convention website. Inquiries may be directed to the MEA liaison and program planner: Ryan McCullough, West Liberty University rmccullough@westliberty.edu Reminder: July Media Ecology Book ClubThis month we will be officially kicking off the new MEA Book Club.Book: Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition by Lance Strate (2017) Date: Thursday, July 7, 2025 Time: 7:00–8:00 PM ET / 4:00–5:00 PM PT Location: Zoom (link provided upon RSVP)RSVP here: Register for July Book Club**Note** You must register to receive the Zoom link. Order the book here: Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human ConditionAugust PreviewIn August, we will be reading Dennis Cali’s Mapping Media Ecology: An Introduction to the Field. The MEA Book club is held on the first Monday of each month. In August, this will be on August 4th at 7:00 p.m. Please pre-register to receive the Zoom link. To purchase the book, you can visit the Peter Lang website. For questions or to suggest a title, email Tiffany Petricini at tzr106@psu.edu.We look forward to reading with you! |
| What Is Media Ecology? A Video Interview with Lance StrateIn a recent interview conducted by El Heraldo de México at Universidad Panamericana, Lance Strate offers an engaging introduction to the field of media ecology. This brief conversation is an excellent resource for those new to media ecology as well as those looking to reconnect with its foundational insights. More Ways to Get Involved with MEAAre you looking for opportunities to engage with the Media Ecology Association beyond the convention? Here are some exciting ways to participate:Virtual Coffee Meetings Do you have questions about media ecology, need advice on a study, or want to invite an expert to speak in your class? Schedule a virtual coffee meeting with an MEA scholar! To arrange a meeting, visit our websiteIf you’re an experienced media ecologist interested in volunteering for these meetings, we’d love to hear from you!Book Reviewers Wanted Have you read a great book related to media ecology? Consider writing a review for Explorations in Media Ecology! For more details and a format template, contact jbogaczyk@gmail.com.Join the Listserv Stay connected with the MEA community by joining the discussion group. The discussion group is open to all for sharing views, exchanging information, and learning about events related to media ecology.Follow MEA on Social Media Connect with us on social media to stay updated on news, events, and discussions. Follow us on Facebook and X to join the conversation! |
Blog de Octavio Islas 