2012 Election-Toth’s Platform

Vice Presidential Candidate

In its first 100 years, AEJMC has met the demands for change in our discipline, with its mission “to promote the highest possible standards for journalism and mass communication education, to cultivate the widest possible range of communication research, to encourage the implementation of a multi-cultural society in the classroom and curriculum, and to defend and maintain freedom of communication in an effort to achieve better professional practice and a better informed public.”

In 2009, we approved a new strategic plan that, while honoring AEJMC’s mission, also prepares our association for the rapidly changing and global world in which it moves. Already implementing this strategic plan, AEJMC has developed research opportunities through its Emerging Scholars Program; it has partnered to fund Knight news challenge grants to enhance the new media education of future journalists; and it has improved member services through a conference mobile app, a Twitter feed and Facebook page, and the soon-to-be-offered online publication of AEJMC’s three research journals.

If elected your 2012-13 vice president, I would like to contribute to AEJMC’s strategic plan goals in four ways:
• Strengthen AEJMC’s overall financial base.
• Expand and raise the volume of AEJMC’s voice in debating and discussing the journalism and mass communication issues that confront our global world.
• Expand the networks for journalism and mass communication scholars to work together.
• Expand AEJMC membership internationally.

First, I would work toward strengthening AEJMC’s overall financial base, building on the work of the Centennial Fund-Raising Committee. This committee is working on endowments for AJEMC awards and programs, but likely will continue its efforts beyond our 100th year celebration. I’d like to see AEJMC take the next steps to create an endowment for the overall association. By creating an ongoing development strategy and investing the contributions received, we will prepare to take AEJMC into the future and achieve long-term goals.

Second, I would expand and raise the volume of AEJMC’s voice in debating and discussing the journalism and mass communication issues that confront our global world. AEJMC can contribute solutions to help maintain the freedom of communication in democracy. Already, AJEMC is extending its voice by distributing its publications and conference papers through Internet channels. AEJMC can expand its voice thru an organized bureau of members who are willing to speak out on issues of media and society that will better inform the public.

Third, I would expand the networks for journalism and mass communication scholars to work together to provide knowledge and solutions to ethical and responsible communication practice issues raised by journalism and mass communication academics and practitioners. AEJMC should take the lead in the exchange of research training, teaching and other professional development needs through the 2009 strategic plan’s suggested Innovative Scholarship Center.

While AEJMC provides an annual idea exchange through its national and regional conferences, this Center — perhaps initially created and networked through technology — would make available constant exchange, dialogue and thought leadership to keep pace with our rapidly changing environments. This Center should eventually become known as the place to find the most up-to-date thinking about journalism and mass communication.

Fourth, I would expand AEJMC membership internationally to respond to the growth and challenges of journalism and mass communication practices and education abroad. We are all beginning to see through our own international academic interactions and travel the richness and variety of journalism and mass communication education and practices. We are recognizing that other nations and cultures have created their own inspiring communication practices.

As a means of reaching, sharing and learning from more international members, AEJMC should seek further partnerships with the professional and academic associations rapidly developing abroad. We have the expertise of AEJMC research, teaching and professional freedom and responsibility to offer. We gain exchanges with journalism and mass communication associations across the globe to the benefit of journalism and mass communication education and practice in a multi-cultural world.

We should take the next steps of exchange and dialogue with the associations of scholars and practitioners throughout the world by inviting them to participate in a global Internet exchange center.

AEJMC is my home for life-long learning about the journalism and mass communication discipline. Since joining AEJMC in 1982, I have experienced — with everyone else — dramatic changes to journalism and mass communication education. I have been part of the recent discussions on how we prepare students for journalism and mass communication careers and how we understand the role of journalism and mass communication in society.

Because of AEJMC’s research publications, we have new knowledge about how mass communication and the new global economic and political forces are re-shaping the communication industries — from print and electronic to social and mobile media. Our communication industries are now made up of 24/7 news cycles, citizen journalists, viral advertising and an emphasis on branding, but AEJMC has helped us stay ahead of this technological revolution. Because of AEJMC, we have received advice on how to do more with less because of an economic crisis that shook public and private university budgets and caused hiring freezes and furloughs. AEJMC’s leadership network reassured us that we have solutions to the issues and problems that will always confront our field.

Because of AEJMC, I have life-long friends and colleagues across the U.S. and abroad. I have been given many professional development opportunities. I have learned how to be a better researcher and scholar, and I have learned about the professional values of journalism and mass communication through AEJMCled activities. With the leadership opportunities I’ve experienced because of AEJMC, I have been encouraged to accept leadership roles in my career. With your vote, I would like to continue to make these opportunities available to others and expand them throughout as part of the Association’s strategic plan. Thank you for your consideration.

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