Interest Group Lists:

AEJMC interest groups are approved by the Board of Directors for one-year, two-year or three-year terms. These terms are renewable by the AEJMC Board of Directors. Petitions for renewal must be filed in a timely manner.

Interest groups are allowed programming rights during the AEJMC Conference but the number of “chips” allowed is smaller than for a division. Normally interest groups have half as many “chips” as a division. The number allowed is set by the Council of Divisions’ chair. The number for 2007-08 is 3-and-a-half chips. A chip roughly equates to one convention time slot. However, co-sponsored sessions count only a half chip to each sponsoring group.

All interest group programming is done through the annual Council of Divisions session during the AEJMC Winter Meeting. An elected representative of each interest group must attend that session. Interest groups may sponsor their own sessions and co-sponsor sessions with other interest groups or divisions. The interest groups follow the Council of Divisions Policies and Procedures, and the Policies for Reimbursement.

Interest groups are also required to file an annual report with the three elected standing committees. The format for the report ^[1] will be provided by the AEJMC Central Office.

AEJMC Interest Groups
Civic Journalism (2011) — established in 1994
Community Journalism (2013) — established 2004
Entertainment Studies (2013) — established in 2000
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (2009) — established in 2003
Graduate Education (2012) — established in 1993
Internships and Careers (2013) — established in 1994
Political Communication (2013) — established in 2010
Religion and Media (2011) — established in 1996
Small Programs (2011) — established in 1994
Sports Communication (2013) — established in 2010

(updated 06/11)

Guidelines:

1. Your group must be represented at the December meeting of the Council of Divisions by an elected officer. All convention programming is done at this meeting. If you are not represented by an elected officer then your group will not be allowed to program. This is a Council of Divisions’ policy. Your group must also be represented at both of the Council of Divisions’ meetings at the convention.
2. Meet all deadlines for filing information for convention programs.
3. Meet all deadlines for filing official interest group reports with the AEJMC Central Office. There are two reports, one major report in June and one supplemental report in early September. Formats for these reports will be mailed to you by the Central Office.
4. Mail some type of newsletter to your members at least twice each year.

Interest Group Renewal Process:

I. Interest groups are granted AEJMC status for a finite period of time, from one to three years. Groups seeking a renewal of interest group status must formally petition the AEJMC Board of Directors for renewal. These renewals must include the following:
* A formal statement of the mission and goals of the group;
* A list of current and incoming officers;
* What this group has accomplished thus far (include specifics);
* Why this group fills a unique niche within AEJMC; and
* Copies of the annual reports for the past two years.

II. Interest group renewal petitions will be considered at the second AEJMC Board of Directors meeting during the convention. One set of all the paperwork for the renewal must be filed with the Executive Director (or left at the AEJMC registration desk) by the end of the AEJMC plenary session, which occurs on the second morning of the AEJMC Convention. Petitions may also be filed with the Executive Director before the convention, but make sure it arrives in the Central Office by early July.

If a renewal petition is filed late, it will not be considered by the Board of Directors on Saturday and might result in a loss of interest group status. Failure to file a renewal petition at all will result in loss of interest group status.

Creation of New Interest Groups:

All requests for new interest groups must petition with a formal statement of the mission and goals of the group, and how this group would fill a unique niche within AEJMC. New interest group requests may be filed with the Executive Director by November 1 each year. Petitioners must also submit signatures (must be real signatures; email support not accepted) from at least 25 regular AEJMC members who support creation of the new group. New petitions will not be voted on until the Board of Directors’ Winter meeting. If approval is granted, the new group will only be allowed to conduct a business meeting at the following conference in order to establish itself and elect officers. It will officially become an interest group the next October 1. However, if there are timeslots remaining after all other groups have programmed, then the Council of Divisions’ chair may grant incoming interest groups an available timeslot for a program. For example, if a new group petitions for interest group status by November 1, 2011, then the Board of Directors will consider it at its 2011 Winter meeting. If approved, the new group will have a business meeting at the August 2012 Conference, and will formally become an interest group on October 1, 2012, with full interest group programming rights for the 2013 Conference.

<<AEJMC Officer Resources ^[2]