| In Media ResThe Official Newsletter for the Media Ecology AssociationMarch 2026 |
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Editor’s NotesMarch begins with the letter M, and so, too does movement. The connection, though, is much stronger. March carries movement in its name.The month comes from Martius, dedicated to Mars, when military campaigns resumed after winter. Roads reopened. Organized motion began again. The English verb to march (to move in measured advance) followed its own path into the language, but it carries the same sense of deliberate forward motion.Academic life has its own campaign season. March is when deadlines close, programs solidify, panels take shape, and submissions move from intention to commitment. The field advances not abstractly, but through these structured forms of participation.This issue reflects that motion. Media ecology does not advance by reflection alone. It advances when we write, review, convene, renew, and contribute to the infrastructures that sustain inquiry.You will see many such movements in this issue: calls for papers, invitations to review, symposia, publications, renewals. None of these are peripheral. They are the mechanisms through which media ecology proceeds. March, then, is less a season than a signal that work is underway. — Tiffany A. Petricini Editor, In Medias Res |
From the AssociationMembership and Renewal SeasonWe are currently in the Media Ecology Association’s membership and renewal season, and this is a wonderful time to join or renew your membership.If you are interested in media ecology, communication, technology, culture, and the changing media environment, MEA offers a welcoming community for thoughtful dialogue, collaboration, and exchange. We warmly invite you to take advantage of this opportunity and be part of the conversations and initiatives shaping the field.If you know someone who may be interested in media ecology, we would greatly appreciate your help in extending this invitation.Join or renew your membership. Convention Page Updates: Lodging Information Now AvailableAs we move closer to this year’s convention, new information continues to be added to the Convention page on the MEA website. Most recently, a list of lodging options for attendees has been posted to assist with travel planning.We encourage members to check the page periodically for updates, as additional details will be added as they become available.Visit the Convention page for updated information. ![Promotional graphic for the 27th Annual Convention of the Media Ecology Association, held June 25–28, 2026, at the University of Winnipeg, Department of Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications. The theme reads “Crossing [Out] Borders in Our Global Village,”](https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/meips/ADKq_NZzNAFh6JyCY4rX98U-7TPozw0dQydL6Tcl5B4Jv8Mtv3St3M-lFb-8CKibD5Y4BGdUTJiEcMbOI19KwPYH741MrWxKzmc9zCNB1TtETpPlBW96CNLulnq9CIChl3OZaA=s0-d-e1-ft#https://media-ecology.org/resources/Pictures/2025_08_MEA_WebsiteHeader.jpg) Annual Convention UpdatesMEA @ ECA 2026 (April)The Media Ecology Association will have a strong presence at ECA 2026, including paper panels, a roundtable, and the Media Ecology Business Meeting. The draft program reflects the breadth of contemporary media ecology scholarship across numerous topics .A draft schedule of MEA-sponsored sessions is now available. Please note that session details remain subject to change.View MEA @ ECA 2026 information.Members attending ECA are encouraged to participate in MEA-sponsored sessions and to attend related programming hosted by our affiliate organizations, including the Institute for General Semantics (IGS) and the Urban Communication Foundation (UCF).MEA @ ICA 2026 (June)The Media Ecology Association will also be hosting a panel at ICA 2026. We invite members who will be attending ICA to join us and help extend media ecological inquiry within the broader communication discipline.Learn more about MEA @ ICA 2026.MEA Call for NCA 2026 (Submission Deadline: March 25)The call for submissions for MEA programming at NCA 2026 is now open. The submission deadline is March 25.Members are also invited to volunteer to serve as reviewers, chairs, and respondents. Contributing in these roles is an important way to support the scholarly rigor and vitality of our programming.View the NCA call for proposals. Sign up to review, chair, or respond. MEA in the FieldNew Book: General Semantics and Politics (2025)MEA Past Presidents Corey Anton and Thom Gencarelli have a new book out, General Semantics and Politics (Institute of General Semantics, 2025).The collection includes contributions from the editors as well as MEA Board members Susan Drucker and Lance Strate, and MEA members Eva Berger, Joshua Clements, and Ryan McCullough.Designed for both newcomers to general semantics and seasoned scholars, the book addresses a wide range of contemporary political concerns, including democracy, media bias, polarization, inequality, conspiracy theories, and the challenges of rational discourse. The volume asks whether a non-Aristotelian understanding of politics might help us recover the feedback mechanisms necessary for civic stability and meaningful public dialogue.Purchase General Semantics and Politics on Amazon .  OpportunitiesExplorations in Media Ecology (EME): Call for ContributionsWhile we often include a note seeking book reviewers, we want to extend a broader invitation to contribute to Explorations in Media Ecology (EME).There are many ways to participate:Peer-reviewed research articlesProbesPedagogy piecesPoetryBook reviews of books you are currently readingBook reviews of books we are seeking reviewers for (review copies available)If you are interested in contributing, please reach out either to the Editor or to the section editor that aligns with your interests. EME thrives because of the diverse voices and forms that make up our field. We encourage members to consider contributing in the format that best reflects their work.View contact information for EME section editors. IGS Discourse, Dialogue, and Democracy Symposium 2Online via Zoom | April 25The Institute of General Semantics invites submissions for its Discourse, Dialogue, and Democracy Symposium 2, to be held online via Zoom on Saturday, April 25.Building on previous international symposia, the event welcomes presentations on topics related to:General semantics (language, meaning, perception, evaluation)Media ecology (representation and reality, technology and environments, art and awareness)Cybernetics and systems theorySubmissions and queries should be sent to IGS President Lance Strate at president@generalsemantics.org by March 8, 2026.Visit the event page on the IGS website. MEA Book ClubThe MEA hosts a monthly reading group on language, technology, and the human condition via Zoom. Anchored in the tradition of media ecology, the group is open to seasoned scholars and curious newcomers alike, including both MEA members and nonmembers.Acquiring and reading the book is strongly encouraged but not required. Curiosity and thoughtful dialogue are always welcome.Upcoming Meetings (8–9 PM Eastern Time):March 2, 2026 – Harold Innis, Empire and CommunicationApril 6, 2026 – Walter Ong, The Presence of the WordMay 4, 2026 – Walter Ong, Orality and LiteracyAttendance is free, but Zoom registration is required to receive the meeting link.Visit the MEA Book Club webpage. Student Travel GrantsThe MEA is pleased, once again, to offer a limited number of travel grants to students — undergraduate and graduate — seeking financial assistance in attending the convention. Those interested in applying should complete this form. Student travel grant applications are due by March 15, 2026. |
| More Ways to Get Involved with MEAVirtual Coffee MeetingsDo 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 WantedHave 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 ListservStay 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 MediaConnect with us on social media to stay updated on news, events, and discussions. Follow us on Facebook and X to join the conversation! |
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