AEJMC Public Relations Division

Help Make the 2003 Kansas City Convention Memorable!

AEJMC convention programming happens because people like you propose ideas for panels. Have a topic of interest? Something you always wanted to hear discussed? Something you want to know more about or think others should be more aware of? Propose a panel on the subject. It's easy.

How Panels Go from Proposals to Programming

In the fall, each division and interest group of AEJMC gathers panel proposals, like the one on the back of this page, which are then put in a book and sent to the person in charge of convention programming for each division and interest group. At the mid-winter meeting, held the first weekend of December, the negotiation begins to establish which proposals will become conference programs. Because each division and interest group has a limited number of programming slots (or 'chips' as they are known), we try to team up with another division or group on a panel so that the session will only cost us half a slot (or half a 'chip'). Such teamwork allows us to offer more programming by making our 'chips' go farther.

Hints for Proposing a Successful Panel

Be sure the panel topic has a broad appeal across divisions, or has a strong appeal within our division, or ties in to the conference theme (TBA), to timely issues, or to issues associated with the geographic location of the convention. For Kansas City such topics include jazz, sports marketing, and the agriculture industry.

If I Propose a Panel, What Am I Committing To?

You can simply submit an idea, then wash your hands of any further commitment. Or you can decide to take the lead in organizing the panel and obtaining panelists. Your degree of involvement is up to you. If you decide to be involved, remember that because we pair up with another group, you will need to be somewhat flexible. Often, in the process of pairing, the focus of the panel is slightly changed. You need to go with the flow and work with the other division. Final panel programming will take place at the midwinter meeting, so expect to hear by the end of the year whether your panel has been accepted and what group you will be working with if you decide to take the lead.

Okay, You Convinced Me. Now What Do I Do?

Just fill out the form. Type of panel simply means which of AEJMC's three recognized categories you think the subject best falls under. So what's Professional Freedom and Responsibility? Good question—it gets used as a catch-all category for things that are not strictly research or teaching oriented.

What To Do with Your Completed Form

Return it to Pat Curtin at pcurtin@email.unc.edu or snail mail her a hard copy to CB# 3365, Carroll Hall, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365. Or, submit your idea over the web using this online program panel proposal form.