BEA2026: Full Schedule

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9:00am PDT

Meeting the Needs of ADA Title II: Audio Descriptions in Media for the Classroom

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

By April 24, 2026, higher education institutions in the US must provide audio descriptions for pre-recorded video content and other visual media in coursework, according to ADA Title II Regulations. The panel explores the regulations and showcases some of the tools institutions are using to meet the content accessibility guidelines.
Moderator: Sandy Henry, Drake University
Ed Youngblood, Auburn University; An Introduction to ADA Title Standards and Amendments
Ryan Stoldt, Drake University; Best Practices in Creating Audio Descriptions for Visual Media Content
Lakshmi N. Tirumala, Drake University; Emerging Tools for Generating Audio Descriptions

Moderators

Sandy Henry

Professor, Drake University

I am the BEA Faculty Fellow for Student Programs. I'd love to hear about your student's needs and ideas you have for expanding student opportunities, both at the convention and throughout the year.

Speakers

Ed Youngblood

Professor, Auburn University

I'm a professor of Media Studies at Auburn University. My current research looks at media accessibility, with a focus on online media, including websites and video captions, though I'm hoping to begin doing some media technology history research in the next year or two. From a teaching... Read More →

Lakshmi N. Tirumala

Associate Professor, Drake University

Ryan Stoldt

Associate Professor, Drake University

I’m an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Drake University! But, more importantly, I’m a huge film, music, and tv nerd. My research focuses on personalization algorithms. I look into how they affect our cultural tastes and sociopolitical landscape. Come chat... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
W305

Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Curriculum Assessment & Administration, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

10:15am PDT

Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies Division Meeting

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

W305

The future of media is evolving fast. Come share ideas about the technologies, tools, and innovations transforming our classrooms and our work.

Join the IMET Division meeting in Las Vegas to connect with colleagues, exchange new ideas, and help shape exciting initiatives for the coming year. These meetings are a welcoming space to build community, spark collaboration, and make your voice part of the conversation. Whether you’re a returning member or attending for the first time, this is a valuable opportunity to network with peers, share insights, and play an active role in your division’s future. We’d love to see you there.

Chair: Sandy Henry, Drake University
Vice Chair/Paper Competition Chair: Aaron Atkins, Weber State University

Moderators

Sandy Henry

Professor, Drake University

I am the BEA Faculty Fellow for Student Programs. I'd love to hear about your student's needs and ideas you have for expanding student opportunities, both at the convention and throughout the year.

Speakers

Aaron Atkins

Assistant Professor, Weber State University

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W305

Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies, Business/District Meeting | BEA, Business/District Meeting

11:30am PDT

Image and Video Creation

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT

W305

We'll work with -- and modify -- prompts to create images and videos. We'll also look at how to fact-check images to see if they're created by AI (some new tools and techniques here). We'll look at how tools like MidJourney have improved image quality over the past 18 months. We’ll work with Sora, Google’s Veo and Nano Banana, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly and other tools. We’ll also explore how Google Gemini’s Canvas and NotebookLM can create infographics. Session materials: https://bit.ly/bea26

Moderators

Mike Reilley

Senior Lecturer | Newsroom Trainer, UIC - Journalist's Toolbox

Mike is the author of two books, "Data + Journalism" and "The Journalist's Toolbox: A Guide to Digital Reporting and AI". He is the lead trainer for the ONA/Microsoft AI in Journalism training program and the RTDNA-Google Election Fact-Checking program.

When he’s not doing trainings, he teaches data and multimedia journalism at the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he has been a full-time faculty member for eight years. A former reporter at the LA Times and a founding web editor at the Chicago Tribune, Mike served for 13 years... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
W305

Production Aesthetics & Criticism, Workshop | BEA, Workshop

2:00pm PDT

Passport to Publication: Study Abroad Programs That Produce Media Professionals

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

W305

This panel examines innovative study abroad programs that integrate immersive journalism and video production components, transforming traditional international education into professional media training experiences. Presenters will demonstrate how hands-on reporting assignments, documentary projects, and multimedia storytelling cultivate both global competency and industry-ready skills.

Moderator: James McNab, Iowa State University
Panelists: Andrew Smith, Kansas State University
Daniela Castillo, Colorado State University
David Allen Nelson, University of Central Oklahoma
Nicole Clarity, Hofstra University

Moderators

James McNab

Assistant Teaching Professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication - Iowa State University

I’m a media producer and educator with over 800 broadcast credits spanning sports, news, corporate media, and live events. At Iowa State University, I teach video production and broadcast journalism, emphasizing real-world, hands-on learning. My work bridges the classroom and the... Read More →

Speakers

Daniela Castillo

Senior Instructor, Colorado State University

With over 20 years in the creative field, I've embraced teaching as a passion, marking my 20th anniversary in 2020 and a decade at CSU in 2021. My educational background includes a B.A. in Communication Sciences and Journalism from Technólogico de Monterrey, as well as M.A.s in Multimedia... Read More →

David Nelson

Professor, KZUC-FM Faculty Advisor, University of Central Oklahoma

David Nelson worked 10 years in the broadcast industry in Oklahoma and Texas as an on-air personality, currently a Professor and KCUZ-FM Faculty Advisor.

Nicole Clarity

Assistant Professor, Hofstra University

Emmy Award-winning producer using my 20+ years of news writing and producing experience to educate and train the next generation of media professionals. I teach mainly broadcast and digital journalism courses.

Andrew Smith

News Director/Assistant Director AQ Miller School of Media and Communication, Kansas State University

After 25 years of Emmy-award winning sports journalism I moved my focus to the next generation by working with student media. I’m a storyteller at heart and work with all platforms (tv, radio, print, digital, social, etc. ) at K-State. My other passion is study abroad- I typically... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
W305

International, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Curriculum Assessment & Administration, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

3:15pm PDT

Multicultural Division - Top Research Presentation

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

W305

Moderator: Tisha Mays, University of Toledo

Open Paper Competition
Open 1st Place: Mahitab Ezz El Din, Linnaeus University; Quran Burning Crisis: A Critical Discourse Analysis Study on the Coverage of Arab and Swedish News Media

Stephanie A. Longo, Penn State Scranton; Authentic Storytelling and the Future of Diasporic Tourism Marketing: The Italian American Experience

David Shabazz, Kentucky State University; Theon Greyjoy as a Symbol of African American Oppression: A Fantasy Theme Analysis

Moderators

Tisha Mays

Assistant Professor, University of Toledo

Tisha Mays is an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University of Toledo. She teaches a variety of courses including Audio Production I, Audio Production |I, Podcasting, Introduction to Social Media, and Communication Principles and Practices. In addition... Read More →

Speakers

David Shabazz

Associate Professor, Kentucky State University

Greetings colleagues,
I'm an associate professor of journalism at Kentucky State University. I teach broadcasting, photography and sports communication classes.

Stephanie A. Longo

Assistant professor, corporate communication, Penn State Scranton

I am an extremely knowledgeable, dynamic multilingual Communications Professor respected for 10 years leveraging traditional and alternative delivery methods to provide instruction and mentoring in student-centered environments. I have a proven track record utilizing applied industry... Read More →

Mahitab Ezz El Din

Associate Professor, Linnaeus University, Sweden

Sunday April 19, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
W305

Multicultural Studies, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

9:00am PDT

10:15am PDT

11:30am PDT

2:00pm PDT

3:15pm PDT

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