| In Media ResThe Official Newsletter for the Media Ecology AssociationMay 2026 |
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| Editor’s Notes May sits in an in-between space for our association. Classes conclude. The formal structures of the semester wind down. What has been taught, presented, and discussed begins to settle. At the same time, attention turns forward. For the Media Ecology Association, May is something like a convention-eve month. It is a moment of transition between forms of work. The classroom gives way to the convention. What has been developing across the year moves into a different environment–one where ideas circulate differently and where connections are made in passing as much as in panels when our members finally convene. If media ecology is concerned with environments, then this shift matters. The conditions under which we think, speak, and listen are changing again as we gather together in physical presence. We look forward to seeing you soon, and please enjoy in this issue the many moments in which members gathered together at the most recent Eastern Communication Association gathering. — Tiffany A. Petricini Editor, In Medias Res |
| From the AssociationConvention Schedule Coming Soon If you are planning to attend the MEA Conference in June, a draft “Schedule at a Glance” and a draft version of the full program will be posted on May 15, 2026. This is a good moment to begin planning your conference experience. Updated information will continue to be added as the event approaches: Visit the MEA website for more information Below is the schedule at a glance in image form. Prefer a screen-reader-friendly version? View the full schedule in text format. .jpg) Notes From the Field MEA @ ECA 2026: Media Ecology in Motion The Media Ecology Association had a strong and visible presence at this year’s Eastern Communication Association conference in Pittsburgh, bringing together scholars from across institutions to engage questions at the heart of the field. Across multiple panels, a roundtable, and the MEA Business Meeting, sessions explored a wide range of topics, including media and public space, digital resistance, artificial intelligence, spirituality, rhetoric, phenomenology, and the conditions of thought in contemporary media environments. What emerged across these conversations was not a single theme, but a shared commitment to examining how media shape perception, culture, and human experience. The conference provided a space for ongoing dialogue, connection, and intellectual exchange. Faculty, graduate students, and emerging scholars participated as presenters, chairs, respondents, and audience members, contributing to discussions that extended beyond individual sessions. We are also pleased to recognize that Joshua Clements (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College) received a Top Paper Award at ECA for his work “Shadows and Everything Between: What Is Lost in Digital Environments.” As Ryan McCullough, MEA’s liaison to ECA, reflected: “I want to thank everyone who presented, chaired, responded, reviewed submissions, and attended media ecology sessions at ECA in Pittsburgh. We had some great discussions and experiences. It was all possible thanks to the work of these individuals. I look forward to MEA at ECA in 2027 in Reston, VA. Please consider submitting next year.” MEA’s presence at ECA continues to demonstrate the field’s vitality within broader communication studies. We invite members to begin thinking ahead to MEA @ ECA 2027 in Reston, Virginia, and to consider submitting, participating, and helping to extend this momentum. Photos from MEA @ ECA 2026  Ryan McCullough, MEA’s liaison, stands to the left of the Top Paper Award for the Media Ecology Association  Each session grew strong attendance.  Attendees were unable to find seats for the roundtable, which was hosted by Ryan McCullough (not pictured). The participants included, from left to right, Lance Strate, Tiffany Petricini, Ryan Eisenhuth, Laura Trujillo-Linan, Thom Gencarelli, Brett Malin, Inci Ozum Sayrak and Erik Garrett.  Christina Knopf served as a respondent.  Presenters of The Medium is the Sandwich session engage a happy, and hungry, audience. Pictured are, left to right, Mary Kahl, Yaroub Al Obaidi, Susan Drucker and Laura Trujillo-Linan.  Pictured are the presenters for the Competitive Paper Panel Conflict, Resistance and Spirituality, which include (left to right) Brian Gilchrist, Joshua Clements and Ryan Eisenhuth.  Chaired by Heather Stassen (not pictured), a rich panel on the intersections of gender, culture, health and reason featured (left to right) Grace Foley, Noura Hajjaj,Laura Trujillo Linan, Susan Drucker and Peggy Cassidy. |
Opportunities |
| Call for 2026 IGS Prizes and Awards The Institute of General Semantics invites nominations and submissions for its 2026 prizes and awards. Deadlines for all submissions are June 30. S.I. Hayakawa Book Prize Awarded for the most outstanding work published within the past five years on topics directly related to general semantics. The prize includes a $1,000 award. Please send copies of the work along with a letter of nomination to the Institute of General Semantics, 401 Park Avenue South, Suite 873, New York, NY 10016. Inquiries may be directed to Lance Strate. Sanford I. Berman Award for Excellence in Teaching General Semantics Recognizes individuals for outstanding use of general semantics in educational settings at any level. Submit letters of nomination and supporting materials via email. Christine L. Nystrom Prize Awarded to a graduate student (master’s or doctoral level) for an outstanding scholarly paper on symbols and meaning. The winning paper will be published in ETC: A Review of General Semantics and receive a $500 prize. Submissions must include a letter from an advisor confirming student status and an unpublished scholarly paper. All electronic submissions and inquiries should be sent to: president@generalsemantics.org Meaning in Motion: How Words Become Worlds (IGS Summer Seminar, London) A reminder that the Institute of General Semantics will host its 2026 summer seminar, Meaning in Motion: How Words Become Worlds, from July 14–17 in London. This four-day, in-person seminar brings together theory, application, and experiential learning around core questions of language, meaning, and communication central to media ecology. Led by Institute trustees including Mary P. Lahman, Lance Strate, Nora Bateson, Dom Heffer, Peggy Cassidy, and Thom Gencarelli, the program includes lecture, discussion, and guided exercises across four full days of instruction. Registration includes course materials, breakfast, and lunch. More information and registration |
| More Ways to Get Involved with MEA |
| 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):May 4, 2026 – Walter Ong, Orality and LiteracyJune 1, 2026 – Walter Ong, An Ong Reader, (Thomas J. Farrell and Paul A. Soukup, eds.)Attendance is free, but Zoom registration is required to receive the meeting link.Visit the MEA Book Club webpage. 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 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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