Conference FAQs

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Attendees acknowledge that by participating in AEJMC sessions, they are consenting to the possible use of their images in association materials that may be distributed for AEJMC promotional use. Attendees are waiving any right to royalties or compensation for the use of these images, but do retain all other rights to their images, for any other potential uses.

Yes, a limited number of printed programs will be available on demand at registration. All programming information is also available on the conference mobile app and website.

Yes! We have a conference app through Guidebook. Download the Guidebook app and search “AEJMC2026” – information will be sent to registered attendees before the conference.

Sessions will be live, in-person at the conference.

Monday, August 3rd, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 4th, from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pre-conference day)
Wednesday, August 5th, from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 6th, from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, August 7th, from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 8th, from 7:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The conference will run for four days with a pre-conference day.

Pre-conference is on Tuesday, August 4th.

Each meeting room will be equipped with a screen and projector. Microphones are not provided in all meeting rooms. Presenters are responsible for bringing personal devices for digital presentations.

Yes. The AEJMC staff and leadership who oversee events and conferences will continue to prioritize safe, diverse and
creative, intellectual gatherings that support individual needs while also promoting professional advancement for all members. Please view the AEJMC Conference Code of Conduct.

Yes. Please use our AEJMC 2026 Conference promo to share information about our conference. The flyer may be used in a digital format or printed.

The 2026 AEJMC Conference logo was designed by Jack Eckert, Student, Central Michigan University (Courtesy of the AEJMC Visual Communication Division; Professor: Sean Baker, Central Michigan University).

Please credit the designer with use.

Download the logo (PNG)

• Early Bird Registration (April 22 through July 15)
  $295.00 (Regular, Associate)
  $185.00 (Student, Retiree)
  
  
• General Registration (Begins July 16th)
  $355.00 (Regular, Associate)
  $210.00 (Student, Retiree)
  
  Membership can be purchased at time of registration if you are not a current member.

>>Login to the AEJMC Community at www.AEJMC.org
>>Go to "Membership" then click on "Member Portal"
>>Click on the Events menu
>>Click on "Browse Events"
>>Select the 2026 AEJMC Conference Image
>>Click View Event Registration Details
>>Click on the down arrow to right of the 2026 Conference Line
>>Scroll down to the bottom of page
>>Click Change Sessions
>>Navigate through the adding sessions portion
>>Pay for any additional sessions

Yes, onsite registration is in the New Orleans Marriott in the Preservation Hall Foyer located on the 2nd Floor. You may also register online any time before or during the conference by using your personal device. We encourage all conference attendees to register in advance to ensure a smooth check-in process.

New Orleans Marriott, Preservation Hall Foyer located on the 2nd Floor

Conference registration DOES NOT include AEJMC membership. Membership can be purchased at time of registration if you are not a current member. AEJMC membership shall be by individuals and by educational or professional journalism and mass communication organizations. Eligible individuals and organizations are those concerned principally with teaching, research or public service in journalism or mass communication and those concerned principally with practicing in the various fields of journalism and mass communication.

• Refund Policy:
  • ONLY conference registration fees are available for refunds. Membership fees, workshops, luncheons, and tours are non-refundable. Contact Saviela Thorne at saviela@aejmc.org with refund requests.
  • Written cancellation requests reaching the Central Office
    • Before July 16, 2026, are eligible for a FULL REFUND minus $75 service fee.
    • Between July 16, 2026, through July 31, 2026, are eligible for a FULL REFUND minus $100 service fee.
    • Between August 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026, ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A SUDDEN ILLNESS OR DEATH, are eligible for a FULL REFUND minus $100 service fee.
    • After August 31, 2026, NO REFUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ANY REASON.

Yes, the official hotel of the AEJMC 2026 conference is the New Orleans Marriott, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, USA. Phone: 504-581-1000 (Phone number is not for AEJMC room block reservations.)

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/msyla-new-orleans-marriott/overview/ (This is not the attendee reservation link).

• The AEJMC conference hotel attendee reservation link opens: May 22, 2026.
• The reservation block cutoff date is July 13, 2026.

• Standard Group Rate - Single: $189.00 plus tax (per night)
• Student Block Rate - $129.00 plus tax (per night)

The 2026 student rate is $129.00 plus taxes (per night), based on limited availability. (There are limited rooms available in the student block. They are open on a first-come, first-booked basis and will not accommodate all student members. All student members with an accepted paper will receive the student booking link.)

The hotel is a beautiful property, and we strongly encourage attendees to book rooms as quickly as possible under the AEJMC room block. Not only will you be close to conference activities and other attendees, but you will also help AEJMC to meet its contracted commitments, helping to keep overall conference costs low for the association and its members.

When considering your hotel stay in New Orleans, please note:
AEJMC's official hotel accommodations are only available through the information provided on our website. We do not work with any third-party housing companies and will never reach out to you via phone or email to make hotel reservations. Please disregard any communication you receive regarding hotel bookings that did not come directly from AEJMC. Make reservations through the information provided through the AEJMC Conference website ONLY.

• Unfortunately, we do not have complimentary parking at the hotel. On-site valet parking is $62.28 daily.
• Self-parking is available throughout the city located in the city run parking garages.

Yes, the M Club Concierge Lounge is on the lobby level.

• Breakfast Served:
  Monday-Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
  Saturday-Sunday: 6:30 a.m. to Noon
• Hors D’oeuvres Served:
  Monday-Friday: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  Saturday: Closed
  Sunday: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

There is currently no overflow hotel.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is located approximately 12 to 14 miles away from the New Orleans Marriott – typically a 20–30-minute drive depending on traffic.

Taxi, rideshare (Uber/Lyft), and airport shuttle services are readily available.

If your submission is accepted but you are unable to attend in person, you may withdraw your submission by June 30, with no penalty. Alternatively, you can have a proxy present your research on your behalf. The proxy must be a member of AEJMC, register for the conference, and be able to discuss the research and answer questions on your behalf. Please inform the research chair of the DIG that accepted your work by June 15 if you choose this option.

No, virtual paper presentations will not be permitted. It is not financially feasible to make the AEJMC Conference a fully hybrid event.

There are three types of sessions for paper presentation. Your Research Chair will tell you the type of session for your presentation. You will be informed of this sometime in May. You may be selected to present your paper in a REGULAR SESSION. Learn about the other two types of special sessions by clicking on the session names below:

• Traditional Research Paper Sessions
• Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster Session) Presentation Guidelines
  (Feat. "About Poster Sessions," by Sheri Broyles [3/17/2026])
• Poster Board Example 
• AEJMC High Density Sessions Presenter Guide

If your paper is accepted, you may withdraw by June 30 with no penalty, or have a proxy present your paper on your behalf. Virtual paper presentations will not be permitted.

All divisions, interest groups and commission members’ meetings will be held on-site, in-person, at the 2026 conference. Meetings will be held on Thursday, August 6, and Friday, August 7. Please check the conference schedule for meeting dates and times. We hope you can take advantage of this in-person networking opportunity with groups you are a member of as well as groups you are interested in learning more about.

Learn more about our DIGs on the AEJMC website. Many DIGs host socials during the conference and they welcome prospective members to attend. You may join or add a DIG to your AEJMC membership anytime.

Yes, please visit the Job Hub link under Opportunities on the conference website for additional information.

Yes, for a full list of exhibitors please see the conference website.

• Wednesday, August 5th, from Noon to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, August 6th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, August 7th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Yes, the Opening Reception will be on Wednesday, August 5th, immediately following the Keynote session.

Yes, gender-neutral restrooms are available in the conference hotel.

• Child/Family Friendly Statement
  AEJMC is a Caregiver and Child Friendly Culture. The AEJMC Commission on the Status of Women has created a policy supporting this practice. Read the statement. 
  
• Lactation Room
  The Lactation Room is a private space for parents/caregivers to be able to attend to their child’s immediate needs including feeding and changing. There will be private individual areas within the room.
  
• KiddieCorp
  This is a dedicated supervised space for children of all ages whose parents/caregivers are attending the AEJMC conference. KiddieCorp was established in 1986 and since then has become one of the largest on-site conference childcare companies in the country as well as internationally. We want all our parents to feel comfortable leaving their children in KiddieCorp’s capable hands. KiddieCorp programs are run by the highest quality team. Sign up is required. Details will be given to participating families.
  
• Students’ Lounge
  This is a special space for our student members to relax, recharge, grab a snack/lunch and connect with other student members. Snacks and lunch will be provided on Day 1, 2, and 3 of the conference. Lunch service will be from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Charging stations will also be available. The location will be shared directly with student members.
  
• Quiet Room
  This room is a designated quiet and comforting space where attendees can relax, take a break and recharge. This room is not to be used for meetings, networking, conversations, phone calls or digital communication.
  
• Merch Store
  The AEJMC Merch Store supports the AEJMC Cares Program which is designed to aid our members with unique needs. The program helps with resources for conference support spaces, student member assistance and conference childcare. Purchase items online now and pickup at the conference or visit us near conference registration at the hotel.

AEJMC Accessibility Best Practices [PDF]

Purpose

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is committed to providing an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming conference experience for all participants. This guide outlines expectations, minimum accessibility standards, and recommended practices to support accessibility across regional and national conference programs, virtual webinars, and meetings. This guide applies to in-person, hybrid, and virtual sessions and is intended for presenters, moderators, and session organizers.

Statement

AEJMC strives to remove barriers to participation and encourages all presenters, moderators, and attendees to contribute to an environment that supports diverse needs, abilities, and perspectives. This includes reducing barriers related to vision, hearing, mobility, language, and technology access.

Accessibility is a shared responsibility and an essential component of ethical professional and scholarly engagement.

Presenter and Discussant Expectations

Presenters are expected to make reasonable efforts to incorporate accessible presentation practices, including:

• Designing slides with clear, readable fonts and high-contrast color combinations
  • Minimum 24pt font (32pt preferred for body text) for slideshow presentations, and for posters: 36pt font for body text, 56pt font for section title, and 158pt font for poster title
  • Sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri)
  • Avoid color-only meaning (e.g., where red = bad and green = good, but there are no labels, patterns, or text explanations)
• Verbally describing key visuals, charts, images, and data during presentations
• Limit animations and flashing content
• When possible, pause periodically to allow processing and note-taking
• Providing captions or transcripts for audio and video materials when possible
• Avoiding overly dense slides or small text and ensuring content is accessible to a broad audience
• To promote accessibility for all attendees, presenters should use clear verbal communication practices. This includes speaking at an appropriate volume for the room size, facing the audience, repeating audience questions or comments, and pacing delivery to support understanding.

Supplemental Materials

When possible, presenters are encouraged to provide materials that support a range of accessibility needs, such as:

• Slide decks or presentation summaries
• Handouts or brief outlines of key points
• Links to papers or additional resources
• Accessibility: Ensure WCAG Contrast Compliance

These materials can help attendees who may have difficulty hearing or processing information in real time.

Moderator Responsibilities

Session moderators play an important role in supporting accessibility and are encouraged to:

• Share a brief accessibility reminder at the beginning of each session:
  • “Before we begin, some quick accessibility reminders: please use the microphone while also speaking clearly and project your voice so everyone in the room can hear. We also ask that all audience questions be repeated before responses are given. Thank you for helping us create an inclusive and accessible session.”

Attendee Engagement

AEJMC encourages all attendees to share responsibility for maintaining an inclusive environment by:

• Speak loudly and clearly so all attendees can hear you; when available, the use of a microphone is strongly encouraged
• Allowing space for diverse perspectives and participation
• Engaging respectfully with presenters and fellow attendees
• When possible, try to avoid side conversations that may interfere with hearing accessibility

Continuous Improvement

AEJMC recognizes that accessibility is an ongoing and evolving effort. We welcome participant feedback to help improve accessibility practices for future conferences. Participants who require accommodations or have accessibility-related questions are encouraged to contact AEJMC headquarters in advance of the conference. (cassidy@aejmc.org or 803-798-0271)Shared Commitment

Together, we can create a conference experience that is engaging, respectful, and accessible to all members of our community.

Hotel accessibility information can be found on the hotel website’s overview page.

We encourage presenters to use closed or open captions in all video presentations.