BEA2026: Full Schedule

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9:00am PDT

Law & Policy Division - Top Research Presentations

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT

Moderator: Fritz J. Messere, SUNY - Oswego

Debut Competition
1st Place Paper: John M. Chambers, SUNY Plattsburgh; The Future of AI and Copyright in a post Bartz and Kadrey era: Balancing Innovation and Creator Rights in the Age of AI

Open Competition
1st Place Paper: Amy Sindik, Central Michigan University; Is Change to the live music industry on the horizon? Examining U.S. v. Live Nation

2nd Place Paper: Matthew Bunker, University of Alabama Emeritus & Emily Erickson, California State University, Fullerton; Transformative FAIL: Transformative Use, Warhol, and the Future of Copyright’s Fair Use Doctrine

Moderators

Fritz Messere

SUNY - Oswego

Speakers

Emily Erickson

California State University, Fullerton

Amy Sindik

Central Michigan University

John M. Chambers

SUNY Plattsburgh

Matthew Bunker

University of Alabama Emeritus

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
W304

Law & Policy, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

10:15am PDT

The FCC, Broadcasters and Programming: Regulation by Raised Eyebrow?

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W304

Newton Minow’s “Vast Wasteland Speech’ is familiar to teachers and many students of broadcasting and media; but what are some other FCC officials’ speeches and actions that have influenced decisions by networks and broadcasters to cancel – or air – programs and other content? How about the decision to cancel “Late Night with Stephen Colbert”? Were low ratings and high costs the reasons for Paramount deciding to end the show? Did the Family Viewing Hour violate the First Amendment rights of program producers? What about the current FCC Chair’s urgings as to how broadcasters should air content recognizing the country’s 250thbirthday. Our panel of experts will address the past, present trends and anticipated future effects of government officials’ “prodding” and “suggestions” that fall short of regulation or legislation but nonetheless are intended to influence content in broadcasting and other electronic media.

Moderator: Barry D. Umansky, Ball State University
Panelists: Mary Ann Watson, Eastern Michigan University; “The Vast Wasteland” zeitgeist – Is it different from today’s style of regulation
Richard Vogel, Culver-Stockton College; Does Raising the Eyebrow Cancel Programs
Brian Sheridan, Mercyhurst University; Political Pressure and Program Cancellation

Moderators

Barry D. Umansky

Professor Emeritus, Ball State University

Barry D. Umansky is professor emeritus at Ball State University in Indiana. He also is a communications attorney who has represented broadcasters and other electronic media and has had an extensive career in government and industry.
Following graduation from college and law school, he served for seven years as an attorney doing communications policy work at the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) in Washington, D.C. Mr. Umansky then became Deputy General Counsel with the Washington-based National... Read More →

Speakers

Rick David Vogel

retired from Culver Stockton College

I am a dad, a husband, and a teacher. I love my daughter and my wife (Mandi and Beth). I was born and raised in New York. My favorite color is blue, my daughter tells me and I love the Yankees. I live in Iowa. That always amazes me--I live in Iowa

I am married to a beautiful pharmacist. I have an awesome, My daughter, who wrote this blurb, is wonderful, beautiful, amazing, and clever. I am in Iowa. That is still hard to believe. I'm in Iowa? Really... Read More →

Mary Ann Watson

Eastern Michigan University

Dr. Watson has published original research in books and articles on American television history, television and the presidency, and the regulatory context of FCC Chair Newton Minow. She launched the “Making It Count” initiative with her late husband Dennis Watson in furtherance... Read More →

Brian Sheridan

Asst Prof, Mercyhurst University

Love talking about old movies, classic TV and James Bond. I’m also a writer and former TV journalist/anchor (known for The Pizza Bomber story). I also teach mindfulness and interpersonal communication.

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W304

Law & Policy, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates

11:30am PDT

DEI Under Scrutiny: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in an AI Society

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

W304

As artificial intelligence reshapes media industries and higher education, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives face increasing political and legal challenges. This panel examines how DEI commitments are being tested across academia and industry, with attention to curriculum design, hiring practices, and evolving uses of AI. Panelists will share strategies for navigating contested definitions of diversity while preparing for a future where equity and technology intersect.
Moderator: Ryoya Terao, New York City College of Technology
Panelists: John J. Gallagher, Borough of Manhattan Community College
Kris Vera-Phillips, Southern Methodist University
Brittney Nix-Crawford, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Moderators

Ryoya Terao

Professor, New York City College of Technology

I am a documentary filmmaker and professor in the Entertainment Technology program at New York City College of Technology (CUNY) in Brooklyn. My films focus on human stories, historical memory, and social issues, and have been broadcast on NHK and PBS. I am currently developing a... Read More →

Speakers

John J. Gallagher

Director, Borough of Manhattan Community College

Brittney Nix-Crawford

Lecturer Professor of Communication Studies and Journalism, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Kris Vera-Phillips

Southern Methodist University

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
W304

Multicultural Studies, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | AI Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

2:00pm PDT

“Please Submit a Ticket”: Strategies for Getting Tools Through IT

Sunday April 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

W304

Nobody loves navigating bureaucratic IT processes. Do you have a VPAT? Is the HECVAT up to date? Did you fill out a ticket? Oh, that was the wrong ticket.

This panel will explore strategies for navigating IT processes when implementing an equipment management system or other technology solution within a media program. We'll explore topics like single sign-on, DNS, security, and all of the other topics which can throw a wrench in a technology rollout. Panelists will bring together a wide range of experiences, from institutions of varying sizes and complexities.

Moderator: Colin McFadden, University of Minnesota
Panelists: Jane Bannester, Lindenwood University,
David Stephenson, University of Kentucky
Chris Strobel, Northern Kentucky University

Moderators

Colin McFadden

Technology Architect, University of Minnesota

Speakers

Chris Strobel

Professor, Electronic Media and Broadcasting, Northern Kentucky University

Father and husband. Educator. Filmmaker. Storyteller. Slow grader.

David Stephenson

Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Media, Univ. of Kentucky

Jane Bannester

Office Manager, Lindenwood University

Sunday April 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
W304

Media Management & Content Strategies, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

3:15pm PDT

Research Division - Top Research Presentations

Sunday April 19, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

W304

Debut Paper Competition
Debut 1st Place Paper: Kylie Jordan Smith, Rollins College & Tanja Vierrether, Rollins College; From Posts to Protests: Public and Private Social Media Expression as a Pathway to Political Discourse

Open Paper Competition
Open 1st Place Paper: Serena Miller, Michigan State University, Zhao Peng, Emerson College & Ruth Heo, University of California, San Die; Utilization of the QuantCrit Lens and Qualitative Approaches to Address Quantitative Data Limitations: Demographic Fluidness in Context

Open 2nd Place Paper: Dustin Serrano Ardine, Regent University & William J. Brown, Regent University; Enhancing Self-Efficacy Through Entertainment Film

Moderators

Bridget Rubenking

University of Central Florida

Speakers

Ruth Heo

University of California, San Diego

William J. Brown

Regent University

Serena Miller

Michigan State University

Dustin Serrano Ardine

Regent University

Dustin Ardine (Ph.D., Regent University, 2025) is an actor, writer, and scholar who attained his PhD in Communications and the Arts from Regent University, with a focus in Film and Media Studies. An Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho) Honor Society member since 2024, his research interests include rhetorrection... Read More →

Kylie Smith

Rollins College

Tanja Vierrether

Rollins College

Sunday April 19, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
W304

Research, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

9:00am PDT

10:15am PDT

11:30am PDT

2:00pm PDT

3:15pm PDT

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