BEA2026

For the first time, more people are streaming content than are connected to cable/satellite.
In 2023, online audio audiences bypassed broadcast audiences for the first time.
As the media ecosystem evolves to increased narrowcasting, this panel will explore whether existing mass media theories are still sufficient and/or valid to explain and predict current and future media effects.
The related question will consider whether it’s time to consider new theories to explain media effects in an increasingly non-mass media world.
Moderator: Richard Vogel, retired from Culver Stockton College
Panelists: Glenn Hubbard, East Carolina University
Teresa (Terry) Filipowicz, Pima Community College
Bridget Rubenking, University of Central Florida
Frank A. Aycock, Appalachian State University
Respondent: Paul T.M. Hemenway, Lamar University

Fresh questions lead to new discoveries—come connect with fellow scholars to discuss methods, ideas, and research directions for the year ahead.

Join the Research 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: Bridget Rubenking , University of Central Florida
Vice Chair: Heather Polinsky, Central Michigan University

Former ABC News anchor and correspondent Antonio Mora will address on-camera presentational skills on all levels, focusing on what students need to do in order to be effective broadcast news professionals and strong on-camera storytellers.
Moderator: Antonio G. Mora, University of Miami

This presentation showcases how college radio transforms classroom and studio learning into a foundation for student success. From mastering on-air skills and live sports coverage to creating social media content, producing podcasts, live remotes, and campus events, students gain confidence and professional skills through experiential learning opportunities that will set them apart in the media landscape. This panel highlights strategies to enhance student learning, boost station visibility, foster community partnerships, and generate revenue.
Moderator: Linda Burkley, Susquehanna University

Teaching pitching is not easy because students need to understand the meat of the story plus think of a creative and artsy way to produce the final product. This roundtable panel session could also be a decent workshop inviting BEA members to bring their best student story pitches and then show the results. The goal of this session would be to show the initial pitch, then show the best stories aired, published, and executed by our students. This interactive session will include pitches and successful stories that could be used as examples to collect and take back to share newsworthy, creative, objective, memorable, interesting, and well-sourced pitches.

Moderator: Chandra Clark, University of Alabama
Panelists: Harrison Hove, University of Florida
Carey L. Higgins-Dobney, University of Kentucky
Brittney Nix-Crawford, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Join us for a fireside chat with Cameron Coats, Online Editor for Radio Ink magazine and radio personality Zach Sang. 

Zach Sang is the most formidable yet likable inquisitor of his generation. Having kick-started his career when he was just 14, launching a radio show from his New Jersey bedroom, Sang went on to host Zach Sang and the Student Body on GOOM Radio, eventually becoming executive producer and music director of Zang Radio, one of the largest online teen radio stations at that time. Post-GOOM he partnered with Westwood One, spending 10 years on terrestrial radio hosting and producing the Zach Sang Show, transmitting to 90 terrestrial stations and millions of listeners (not to mention racking up millions of views online). Sang’s interviewed some of the biggest names in pop culture including Billie Eilish, Sam Smith, Blackpink, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, BTS, Zendaya, and countless other top tier names. His conversations are personally probing and creatively illuminating, but they’re also safe harbor, free from a clickbait gotcha agenda, offering instead, easy rapport and an open ear. 

For his next act Sang is continuing his partnership with Amazon Music across the board — which started in 2021 — while taking his show back to radio. Additionally the 30-year-old’s got his eyes on increasingly ambitious, broader scope projects. His production company Sang a Song is humming, developing a slate of TBA multi-channel formats. 

In a world where Content Is King, this multi-hyphenate is always iterating, but his ethos remains unwavering: Zach Sang leads with curiosity, empathy, and humor. He’s sharing too, but primarily he’s listening so that others can be heard.

Tim McCarthy, president of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, will briefly kick off the session share the work of the foundation. The mission of the Broadcasters Foundation of America is to improve the quality of life of men and women in the radio and television broadcast profession who find themselves in acute financial need due to a critical illness, severe accident, or other serious misfortune.