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August 4-8 | Washington, D.C.
Annual Meeting of the AEJMC
Public Relations Division
This updated version was posted June 25, 2001, and includes changes from the earlier version posted here on May 20.
Convention Schedule Quick Links
Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday
| Top Teaching Papers | Scholar-to-Scholar Session | Division Business Meeting | Tours | PRSA Social | Edelman/Division Awards Luncheon | Top Student Papers
Saturday, August 4
1-5 p.m.
Pre-Convention Program
Teaching Public Relations and Always Learning
Chair: Pamela G. Bourland-Davis
Since adjuncts and recent practitioners are such a significant portion of our public relations teaching colleagues, we need to make special efforts to integrate them into the teaching ranks. This pre-conference seminar, which will include panel discussions, sample teaching plans and roundtable discussions on PR pedagogy will provide a very useful service for novice instructors and to their department chairs wanting them to boost their teaching performance.
Panel 1: Adjusting to the Academy: Making the Transition from Boardroom to Classroom
Panelists:
Bill Adams, Florida International
Bojinka Bishop, Ohio University
Lynne M. Sallot, Georgia
Panel 2: Gearing Down While Gearing Up: Making the Transition from Graduate Student to Professor
Panelists:
Linda Aldoory, Maryland
Shannon Bowen, Auburn
Patricia A. Curtin, North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Lisa T. Fall, Tennessee
Teresa Mastin, Middle Tennessee State
Roundtable Sessions:
"Securing Paying Clients for the Campaigns Course -- Vince Benigni, College of Charleston, and Glen T. Cameron, Missouri
"Tips for Managing and Grading Group Work," Pamela G. Bourland-Davis, Georgia Southern
"Integrating Class Content: Race and Ethnicity in the PR Curriculum," Meta Carstarphen, North Texas
"When the Web is Your Classroom," Louis K. Falk, Youngstown State, and Lisa T. Fall, Tennessee
"From Graduate Student to Professor," Patricia A. Curtin, North Carolina
"New Technology in the PR Curriculum" Kirk Hallahan, Colorado State
"Building Critical Thinking Skills," Katherine Kinnick, Kennesaw State
"Teaching the LARGE Introduction to PR Class," Charles A. Lubbers and Michelle O'Malley, Kansas State
"From Boardroom to Classroom," Lynne M. Sallot, Georgia
"Teaching PR Research with a PR Research Primer," Don W. Stacks and Shara Pavlow, Miami
"Managing the Grading (without a TA) in PR Writing," William Thompson, Louisville
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Sunday, August 5
8:15-9:30 a.m.
Refereed Research Session
Top Faculty and Student Collaboration Research Papers
Moderator: Kathleen A. Fearn-Banks, Washington
Panelists:
"From Aardvark to Zebra: A New Millennium Analysis of Theory Development in Public Relations Academic Journals," Lynne M. Sallot, Georgia; Lisa J. Lyon, Kennesaw State; Carolina Acosta-Alzuru, Georgia; and Karyn Ogata Jones, Georgia
"How Prepared Are Companies in Singapore and Hong Kong for Crises?-A Comparative Study," Shiyan Dai and Wei Wu, National University of Singapore
"The Effect of the World Wide Web on Relationship Building," Samsup Jo, University of Florida; Yungwook Kim, Ewha Womans University; and Jaemin Jung, Florida.
"Student Preferences for University Recruiting Brochure Designs," Ann Befort and Roger C. Saathoff, Texas Tech
Discussant: Dean Kruckeberg, Northern Iowa
9:45-11 a.m.
A Study of Public Relations Models in Emerging Democracies
Moderator:
Osabuohien P. Amienyi, Arkansas State
Co-sponsor: Council of Affiliates
A panel discussion of public relations in emerging democracies would address specific case studies as well the basic issues of moving from a culture of propaganda, Grunig's press agentry model; to a more modern public relations practice, or Grunig's two-way symmetrical model.
Panelists:
"PR in Emerging Democracies: From Romania," Silvia Ilies,Romanian Media and Communication Centre for Democracy
"PR in Emerging Democracies: A Global Perspective," Dean Kruckeberg, Northern Iowa
"PR in Emerging Democracies: Latvia, A Case Study," Virginia L. Sullivan, Arkansas State
1-2:30 p.m
Refereed Research Session
Top Faculty Research Papers
Moderator: Louis K. Falk, Youngstown State
Panelists:
"Company Affiliation and Communicative Ability: How Perceived Organizational
Ties Influence
Source Persuasiveness in a Company-Negative News Environment,"
Coy Callison, Texas Tech
Dolf Zillman, Alabama
"Gender Discrepancies in a Gendered Profession: A Developing Theory for Public Relations," Linda Aldoory, Maryland and Elizabeth Toth, Syracuse
"If We Build It, Will They Come?: Testing the Theory of Planned Behavior as a Predictive Model for Use in Determining How Career Counseling Centers Can Better Promote Their Facilities and Services," Carolyn Ringer Lepre, California State, Chico
"Hong Bo and PR in the Korean Newspapers," Jongmin Park, Pusan National University, Korea
Discussant: Charles A. Lubbers, Kansas State
2:45 p.m.
Refereed Research Session
Scholar-to-Scholar Research Papers
"Co-Acculturation in a Korean Manufacturing Plant in Mexico," Glen M. Broom and Suman Lee, San Diego State; Woo-Hyun Won, Korea University
"Framing Effects of Genetically Engineered Food Labels On the Public's Attitudes Toward Genetically Engineered Foods: Implications to Public Relations Campaigns," Hyun SoonPark and Sun Young Lee, Michigan State
"Public Relations Excellence in Alliances and Coalitions: An International Perspective," Mark A. Van Dyke, Maryland
"Investigating Corporate Social Responsibility: A Content Analysis of Top Chinese Corporate Web Pages," Shu Peng, Louisiana-Lafayette
"Institutional Advertising as Contemporary Public Relations: Philip Morris, A Case Study in Rhetorical Framing," Valerie Terry, Oklahoma State
"Public Relations Education and Professional Training: The Need for Continuing Education Research," Patrick W. O'Neil, North Carolina
"Interactive Computer Approaches to a Crisis Communication Case Problem," Jane W. Brown and Mark L. Shifflet, Evansville
4:15 p.m.
The "Phoenix" of Public Relations Ethics: How Can a Function
Originating From an Unethical Base of Puffery Now Claim to Be the Ethical
Conscience of the Organization?
Co-sponsor: Media Ethics Division
The panel will argue that, although the public
relations
function has less-than-credible historical origins, the profession has
matured into the organizational function best able to include the interests
of publics, the community, and society in organizational decision-making.
Public relations is also best able to communicate the information it
generates in its boundary spanning role back to leaders of the organization,
and best able to understand how publics will view the organizations'
actions.
The panel will explore challenging questions, such as: How are ethical
decisions made, by a seat-of-the-pants approach, or by methodical analysis
of
the ethical implications of decisions? Are modern public relations
practitioners ready for the role of ethical conscience of the organization?
What training would better prepare public relations practitioners for this
role? Are the historical origins of the function and the stereotypes of
publicity limiting the contributions of public relations to ethical and
socially responsible organizational behavior?
Moderator: James E. Grunig, Maryland
Panelists:
Shannon A. Bowen, Houston
John P. Ferré, Louisville
Derina Holtzhausen, South Florida
Judy VanSlyke Turk, Zayed University
6 p.m.
Exploring the Dark Side: Can Journalists and PR Work Together?
Co-sponsor: Newspaper Division
This panel will examine various ways journalism and PR educators can teach students how to work cooperatively in order to get their jobs done and provide information to the public. Panelists will discuss teaching techniques that can be used to facilitate the building of good working relationships between journalists and PR practitioners. These will include writing and editing exercises that involve both PR and journalism classes; in-class presentations by representatives of each profession; and other activities designed to enhance student awareness of and appreciation for the roles played by both groups.
Moderator:
Frank E. Fee, North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Panelists:
Clyde H. Bentley, Missouri
Bojinka Bishop, Ohio University
Patricia A. Curtin, North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Mark H. Massé, Ball State
Andi Stein, California State-Fullerton
.
7:45-9:15 p.m.
AEJMC Keynote Address
9:30-11 p.m.
AEJMC Capitol Odyssey Gala
.
Monday, August 6
7-8 a.m.
Outgoing Executive Committee Business Meeting
7-8 a.m.
New Members and First-Timers Convention Orientation
10-11:45 a.m.
AEJMC Plenary Session
Hon. Barney Frank,
Member of Congress
Keynote Speaker
12 noon-2:30 p.m.
Off-Site Tours
Tour: BBC America: Retaking the Colonies
Tour Guide: Jo Petherbridge, Vice president of Communications, BBC America
Barbara J. DeSanto, Oklahoma State
Tour: The Pentagon: Defense at the Crossroads, Information in the
Crossfire
Tour Guide: Lt. Col. Anne Morris, Office of Public Affairs, Secretary of
the Air Force
Moderator: Alan R. Freitag, North Carolina-Charlotte
More Details
Tour: A Press Secretary's Tour of the U.S. Capitol
Tour Guide: Jim Hock, press secretary, Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Moderator: Kenneth D. Plowman, San Jose State
2:45-4:15 p.m.
The Art of Writing Short: Teaching Students to Write and Place
Tight Stories
Co-sponsor: Magazine Division
Teaching writing is one of the most important and most demanding instructional tasks in public relations and advertising programs. The elemental but complicated task of teaching students to write precise, structurally correct and persuasive prose has been made even more difficult by new media, like web pages, and new formats in old media that often demand even more succinct writing than ever before. This panel will review best practices in teaching writing, examine new ways to incorporate technology into writing instruction, and explore new media outlets and the demands they place on writing pedagogy and media placement tactics.
Moderator: William Thompson, Louisville
Panelists:
Eric Freedman, Michigan State
Carol E. Holstead, Kansas
Peter P. Jacobi, Indiana
Doug Newsom, Texas Christian
4:30 p.m.
Beyond Monicagate: Covering the Ethics of Government
Co-sponsor: Media Ethics Division
Journalists spent much time covering Clinton's real ethical lapses. But, in fact, there are lots of stories about the ethical problems confronting people outside the White House who are still involved in government. Furthermore, those ethical issues--everything from conflict of interest to the revolving door of government service/corporate service--raise important questions about how governmental officials, tossed by political and economic realities, frame their actions in moral and ethical terms.
Moderator: Lee Wilkins, Missouri
Panelists:
Stuart Gilman, deputy director, Federal Ethics Office, Washington, D.C.
Susan Gonders, Southeast Missouri State
Richard Alan Nelson, Louisiana State
6:15 p.m.
PRSA Meet-Your-Citations
Social
More Details
An academic all-star event featuring the top scholars in public relations so graduate students and young professors have a chance to meet the top names in the field.
7-9 p.m.
ASJMC Distinguished Service Award Dinner
Honoring Brian Lamb, founder of C-SPAN
9:45 p.m.
PR Division Business Meeting
.
Tuesday, August 7
8:30-10:30 a.m.
Cooperative Research Projects between Practitioners and
Scholars:
Opportunities for Applied and Basic Research
Co-sponsor: Advertising Division
The perceived barrier between applied vs. basic research is one of the major impediments to practitioners and scholars collaborating on research projects. Building a bridge between these two worlds means more than just consulting opportunities for professors (although that is certainly an important benefit to consider). It also allows the possibility of obtaining "real world" observations to generate, test and refine theory-driven questions. Academicians can proactively seek out these opportunities. These speakers will share advice, tips, and pitfalls of conducting research for various industries. This "how-to" session should prove to be very informative and beneficial for all who attend.
Moderator: Lisa T. Fall, Tennessee
Panelists:
Glen T. Cameron, Missouri
Walter K. Lindenmann, Public Relations Research and Measurement
Glen Nowak, Centers for Disease Control
Debbie M. Treise, Florida
12 noon
Edelman/Public Relations Division Luncheon
Hay-Adams Hotel
Speaker: Michael K. Deaver
International Vice Chairman for Edelman Worldwide, and
former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Reagan Administration
1 p.m.
Voice of America Tour
2:45 p.m.
Using the Spiral of Silence to Bring "In the Outs"
Co-sponsor: Media & Disability Division
With over 25 years of research exploring the Spiral of Silence, this panel offers both retrospection and introspection on this important theory. While the theory focuses on media forwarding one or two dominant societal perspectives, the theory also can be used to describe how voices that otherwise might be quashed can gain a foothold in the media's "voice."
Moderator: Kevin L. Keenan, The American University; Cairo, Egypt
Panelists:
"Empowering the Silenced in the Spiral of Silence: Applications for Public Relations Theory," Ann Marie Major, Pennsylvania State
"The Practitioner's Perspective: How Disenfranchised Groups Use PR to Break into Public Awareness," Mercy Coogan, Director of Public Relations, Gallaudet
"Eyes on the Prize: Getting on the Media Agenda to Achieve a Policy Agenda," Patricia A. Curtin, North Carolina-Chapel Hill
3-4:30 p.m.
Library of Congress Tour
4:30 p.m.
The Relevance of Critical Research to the Future of Public Relations
Scholarship
Co-sponsor: Cultural & Critical Studies Division
It has been close to 10 years since the relevance of critical scholarship to public relations has last been under scrutiny. Unfortunately, with the overwhelming emphasis on public relations as a corporate function, the impact of public relations on society has taken a back seat to this corporate orientation of public relations. The question might well be asked what relevance these critical approaches have at a time when capitalism seems to be firmly in the saddle, everybody prospers and the role of public relations is perceived as a necessary evil. The aim of this panel discussion will be argue the relevance of critical theory and research in public relations and to debate the validity of the different perspectives to social values at the beginning of the 21st century.
Moderator:William Thompson, Louisville
Panelists:
"Experiential Outcome of the Avon Three-Day Breast Cancer Walk; A Case Study," Heidi Edwards, Georgia
"Public Relations Campaigns as Postmodern Practice: Mapping Tradition and Difference Among Today's Target Publics," Frank Durham, Iowa
"How International is International Public Relations Research?," Carolina Acosta-Alzuru, Georgia
"Practicing Public Relations in a Postmodern Society: What Public Relations Scholars Should Know and Nobody Told Them," Derina Holtzhausen, South Florida
"The Value and Application of Critical Research in Public Relations," Elizabeth Toth, Syracuse
Discussant: William Thompson, Louisville
6:15 p.m.
Top Teaching Research
Papers
Moderator: Andi Stein, California State Fullerton
Panelists:
"Student Evaluation of Experiential Learning: Comparing Public Relations Internships and Service Learning Placements," Patricia A. Curtin and Robert Kerr, North Carolina-Chapel Hill
"How We Teach Graphic Design to Public Relations Students," Linda P. Morton, Oklahoma
"Two Schools, Two Time Zones, One Set of PR Class Objectives: On Asynchronous Learning Networks and In-class Discussions," Tom Kelleher, Hawaii, and Michelle O'Malley, Kansas State
"How Public Relations is Perceived and Taught in MBA Programs: A Survey of Business School Professors," Tina Bobe Carroll, Miami
Discussant: Jim Van Leuven, Oregon
.
Wednesday, August 8
7 a.m.
Incoming Executive Committee Business Meeting
8:45 a.m.
Incorporating Electronic Journalism into Public Relations Classes
Co-sponsor: Community College Journalism Association Division
Today's public relations student has been raised as part of the visual generation. The use of electronic (radio, TV, Internet) resources for public relations instruction is necessary. Several problems prevent the easy implementation of this material. First, there are legal and ethical concerns. Second, they must be used so that they enhance student learning, not detract from it. Finally, there is no readily available list or archive of public relations related materials. This panel is designed to deal with each of these three problems to help public relations educators effectively incorporate electronic resources.
Moderator: Michelle O'Malley, Kansas State
Panelists:
Beverly Bailey, Tulsa Community College
Louis K. Falk, Youngstown State
Charles A. Lubbers, Kansas State
John Lynch, Vanderbilt Television News Archive
10:30 a.m.-Noon
Mini-Plenary Session
Interactive Media Rule: The New Rules of Interactive Media
Co-sponsors: Advertising, Cultural & Critical Studies, and Media and Disability Divisions
This mini-plenary studies how persuasive communication is being transformed by technology. Does the data-driven potentiality of one-to-one marketing change the respective roles of marketer and consumer? Do the same rules of graphic design apply to web pages that are increasingly designed to be more interactive? When genetic algorithms give consumers the capacity to shape their own personalized sales messages, how does that change the balance between creativity and technological competency? And does that vast power to track consumer behavior through interactive media introduce new legal and ethical issues?
Moderator:
Kenneth D. Plowman, San Jose State
Panelists:
Jennifer Consalvo, Senior Program Manager, America Online
Tracy North, National Library of Congress, Hispanic Division
Mike Paciello, CEO of Webable
Jeff Scott, President, Slick Rock Communications
2:45 p.m.
Refereed Research Session
Top Student Research Papers
Moderating/Presiding: Donald Avery, East Connecticut State
Panelists:
"Public Relations Worldview and Conflict Levels in the Client-Agency Relationship," Youngmin Yoon, Syracuse
"Intangible Outcomes of Corporate Strategic Philanthropy: A Public Relations Perspective," Joon-Soo Lim, Florida
"Classifications of Corporate Web Pages by Relationship Contents and Functions," Joon-Soo Lim, Florida;and Jae-Hwa Shin, Missouri-Columbia
"Media Coverage of Risk Events: A Framing Comparison of Two Fatal Manufacturing Accidents," Michael J. Palenchar, Florida
Discussant: Linda Aldoory, Maryland
.