SC&I faculty and students will attend and present research at the 107th annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference (AEJMC) from August 8–11 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a pre-conference day on August 7.

AEJMC 2024 includes sessions, workshops, activities, and socials focusing on the theme, “Representation and Voice—The Future of Democracy.” AEJMC is a nonprofit, educational association of journalism and mass communication educators, students, and media professionals.

Wajahat Ali, recognized journalist, actor, comedian, and Daily Beast columnist, is the keynote speaker. Ali is author of the book, “Go Back to Where You Came From, and other helpful recommendations on becoming American,” and co-host of the Democracy-ish podcast.

Rutgers University, along with the University of Alabama, the University of Kentucky, and the University of South Carolina, will hold a reception from 8:30 to 10 p.m., Friday, August 9, in Marriott Meeting Room 401-403.

SC&I faculty and doctoral students are taking part in multiple sessions and workshops.

On Friday, August 9:

• Doctoral student Yingchun Xu: “Traditions as Events: Phenomenological Tlingit Clan Hats and Hani/Akha Sacred Swing Rebuilding”
• Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Regina Marchi: “Role of Media in Sugar Skull Face Painting as Day of the Dead ‘Tradition’”
• Doctoral student Alexandra Pucciarelli, panelist, Navigating Conflict on Campus: Universities, Educators, and Intersectional Discourse
• Post-doctoral Associate Alyvia Walters: “I’m Sick of Woke Indoctrination Masquerading as Education”: Race-Based “Indoctrination” in Education as Republican Campaign Strategy
• Professor of Journalism and Media Studies John Pavlik: panelist, AEJMC Elected Standing Committee on Research session
• AEJMC past president, Associate Dean for Programs and Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Susan Keith: panelist, Urban Communication Foundation award panel session
• Doctoral student Alexandra Pucciarelli: panelist, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Religion and Media Interest Groups

On Saturday, August 10:

• Susan Keith: “Nothing to See Here: What Newspapers ‘Say’ When They Publish Blank Front Pages”
• Alyvia Walters: research panel session moderator and panelist, My First Year as a Full-Time Faculty Member: Experiences and Lessons from the First Year on the Job
• Doctoral student Corinne Weinstein, top paper refereed research paper session: “Living the American Dream? Satirizing Neoliberal Capitalism in Killing It and Severance*”

On Sunday, August 11:

• Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Caitlin Petre: panelist, The New Normal: Affiliate Links in Journalism
• Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science Kiran Garimella, refereed research paper session: “WhatsApp Usage and Misinformation Belief: Surveying Cuban, Indian, and Mexican Diaspora Communities”

SC&I doctoral student Nikhila Natarajan will receive first place in the graduate student division of the AEJMC Mass Communication and Society Division's Promising Professor Award. Alumnus Christoph Mergerson, Ph.D.’22, an assistant professor in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, will receive first place in the faculty division of the AEJMC Mass Communication and Society Division's Promising Professor Award, given by AEJMC's largest division to honor graduate students who teach at least one course as teachers of record and full-time faculty members who are within their first five years of full-time teaching.

See the AEJMC conference program schedule for complete details and links.