BEA2026

The annual BEA Board Awards Ceremony recognizes some of the best faculty and graduate student work in research, as well as our scholarship winners and the very best leadership and service to BEA. Join us at the ceremony to honor this year’s distinguished award recipients.

Host: Jennifer Meadows, Chico State University

Our 2026 Awardees include:
Distinguished Education Service Award Recipient: Rebecca Ann Lind, University of Illinois at Chicago
Lifetime Achievement in Scholarship: Shuhua Zhou, City University of Hong Kong
Lifetime Achievement in Creative Scholarship: Steve Anderson & John Woody, James Madison University

Outgoing Board Members & Editors:
Immediate Past President: Glenda Balas, University of North Texas – Dallas
Secretary/Treasurer: Kathleen Ryan, University of Colorado Boulder
District 3: Sara Magee Loyola University Maryland
District 7: Brian L. Shelton, Harper College

Festival of Media Arts Committee Chair: Heather Dunn, Arizona State University
Publications Committee Chair: Joe Blaney, Illinois State University
Research Committee Chair: Michel Haigh, Texas State University
Research Symposium Chair: Seungahn Nah, University of Florida

Kenneth Harwood Dissertation Award Recipient: Grace M. Provenzano, Arizona State University
Innovation in Teaching Award: Milton Santiago, Syracuse University
Library of American of American Broadcasting Foundation’s Broadcast Historian Award:  
Lauren Bratslavsky, Illinois State University and Elizabeth Peterson, University of Oregon; The Archivability of Television: Essays on Preservation and Perseverance 
The Leibner Cooper Grant for Creative Productions on the History of Media:  Danielle Beverly, University of Texas at Arlington; Eyes on the Prize Reclaimed 
Book Award: Margaret Peacock, University of Alabama; Frequencies of Deceit: How Global Propaganda Wars Shaped the Middle East
Textbook Award:  Chris Easterly, Regent University; Writing, Making, and Distributing Your Short Film: How the Short Film Can Advance Your Craft and Career

2026 BEA Research Grant Recipients:
Judy Watts, University of Kansas; Persuaded or Dissuaded from Entertainment? Exploring Media Storytelling Techniques and Audience Characteristics 
Nan Zheng & Chengqu Guo, James Madison University; Creator Logic and User Trust: Understanding News Engagement on Short-Video Platforms 
Lauren Smith, Rowan University; Gendered Aesthetics as Causal Agents: Visual Excitement and Cognitive Effects in Olympic Broadcasts 
Gregory Pitts, Middle Tennessee State University & Madeleine Liselblad, California State University, Long Beach; News slanting: The Federal Communications Commission versus George A. Richards’s Goodwill Stations, Inc.

2026-2027 BEA Scholarship Recipients & AERho class of 2025 will also be recognized.

Over the past decade, media systems in Egypt and the wider Arab region have been reconfigured by intersecting forces: securitized state policy, cross-border media competition among Gulf powers, platform governance over speech, and the rapid diffusion of AI-enabled newswork. These dynamics reshape who sets agendas, how conflicts are framed, and which publics are reachable—especially during crises (e.g., the 2017 intra-GCC rift, Gaza/Palestine coverage since 2023; and climate diplomacy around COP28).
Empirically, Egypt exemplifies renewed ownership concentration and regulatory centralization, while transnational broadcasters (Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Sky News Arabia) continue to project soft power and contest narratives region-wide. At the same time, platform moderation and algorithmic distribution increasingly mediate visibility of Arabic content, with mounting evidence of asymmetric enforcement during conflict. Finally, newsrooms across MENA experiment—unevenly—with AI for translation, verification, and automation, under conditions of economic precarity and regulatory risk.
Importantly, diaspora media outlets and transnational content creators extend these dynamics beyond the Arab region. Arab diasporas in Europe and North America rely on satellite television, digital-native platforms, and community media to follow regional developments, while simultaneously refracting Arab affairs through the lens of immigrant life abroad. Content about wars in Gaza, protests in Sudan, or reforms in Egypt not only sustains transnational ties but also shapes debates on integration, discrimination, and political mobilization in host societies. In turn, Arab affairs affect immigrants’ sense of identity, belonging, and activism, as seen in diaspora-led digital campaigns on Palestine, or the mobilization of Egyptian communities in the US and UK around regime politics. This dual circulation highlights the mutual entanglement of Arab and diaspora media ecologies, where geopolitical shifts at home reverberate through immigrant publics abroad and vice versa.
This panel advances a comparative, multi-method account of these shifts, integrating policy analysis, content/platform studies, newsroom research, and diaspora media scholarship to theorize “geo-platformized media orders” in the Arab world, with Egypt as an anchoring case.

Dr. Hussein Amin: moderator
Dr. Ahmed ElGody: discussant
Dr. Mahitab Ezz El Din: panelist

Dr. Rasha Allam: panelist

Dr. Nadine ElSayed: panelist

Prof. Salma ElGhetany: panelist

Moderator: Hussein Amin, American University in Cairo
Panelists: Rasha Allam, American University in Cairo; Platform Power under Authoritarianism: Social Media, Influencers, and the Future of Egyptian Media
Mahitab Ezz El Din, Linnaeus University; Arab Diaspora Media in Sweden: Countering Disinformation and Mediating Migrant Experiences
Nadine El Sayed, The American University in Cairo; The Shifting Political Economies of the Egyptian Media
Salma El Ghetany, American University in Cairo; Platform Power, Algorithmic Silences, and Fast Moving Consumer News in Arab Media
Respondent: Ahmed El Gody, Orebro University

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming economies, societies, and media landscapes worldwide, and the Arab region is no exception. Governments across the Middle East and North Africa are increasingly investing in AI strategies to drive digital transformation, diversify economies, and enhance public services. At the same time, challenges such as limited research infrastructure, uneven access to data, regulatory gaps, and skills shortages continue to hinder effective adoption. This presentation explores the dual trajectory of AI in the Arab world: the opportunities it creates for innovation, education, media, and governance, alongside the socio-technical and ethical challenges it raises. Drawing on regional policy frameworks, case studies, and global comparisons, the discussion will highlight how Arab states can leverage AI responsibly while addressing risks related to employment, privacy, and algorithmic bias. The presentation aims to contribute to a critical dialogue on ensuring that AI deployment in the Arab context is inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with local priorities.

Panelists: Hussein Amin, American University in Cairo; Artificial Intelligence in the Arab World: Challenges and Opportunities
Ahmed El Gody, Orebro University; The Role of Social Media Influencers in the UAE as a Tool of Soft Power
Salma El Ghetany, American University in Cairo; AI Policy Agendas in the Arab World: Between Aspiration and Implementation
Khaled H. Alqahs, Kuwait University; Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Broadcasting Education: A Comparative Study of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Universities
Respondent: Mahitab Ezz El Din, Linnaeus University

This panel explores the distinctive advantages that professors with international backgrounds bring to the classroom. Initially, each panelist will share their personal narratives, highlighting how experiences abroad have shaped their pedagogical approaches and informed their research trajectories. Subsequently, a moderated discussion will delve into the broader implications of international experience including how an international background influences teaching and curriculum development, and the role of cultural diversity in fostering an innovative academic atmosphere.
Moderator: Roxane Coche, University of Florida
Panelists: Erika Grodzki, Lynn University
Helena Vanhala, Robert Morris University
William Davie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Hyacinth Balediata Bangero, Bowling Green State University
Camilo Perez Quintero, Regis University

The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping both the media ecosystem and journalism education with unprecedented force. While AI enhances content production and distribution, it also raises pressing debates around algorithmic ethics, information authenticity, and human–machine relations. This panel, featuring scholars from Communication University of China, City University of Hong Kong, and other international institutions, will explore how technological transformations redefine media practices and educational paradigms, and how global collaboration can address these shared challenges.

Moderator: Shuhua Zhou, City University of Hong Kong
Panelists: Weihua Wu, Communication University of China, Reproducing Intangible Cultural Heritage with Generative AI: A Critical Media Study of Z-Generation Youth in China
Seok Kang, University of Texas - San Antonio, Transformations and Directions of Future Newsrooms with Artificial Intelligence: Shaping, Redefining, and Challenging Journalistic Practices
YUEHONG YU, Communication University of China, What Should Content Creators Do in the Age of Artificial Intelligence? Core Competencies and Practical Pathways
Xiaodong Gui, Communication University of China
Jiabiao Xu, Shaanxi Normal University, Reconstructing Capabilities and Redefining Boundaries: Diverse Transformation Paths in Journalism Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Yuping Jin, Xinjiang University
CHANGCHUN XUAN, Xiamen University
Shiwen Wu, The school of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University

Media is a global conversation.  Join us to exchange ideas on international systems, practices, and perspectives shaping communication worldwide.

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: Jeffrey Wilkinson, Florida A&M University
Vice Chair/Paper Competition Chair: Roxane Coche, University of Florida

This panel explores how emerging aerial technologies are reshaping drone capabilities and prompting new regulatory frameworks. Panelists will examine ethical, legal, and operational challenges in aerial innovation, highlighting implications for journalism, public safety, and environmental monitoring. The session fosters dialogue on balancing innovation with responsible governance in a rapidly evolving field.
Moderator: Dale Blasingame, Texas State University
Panelists: Julian Rodriguez, University of Texas - Arlington
David Smith, West Virginia University

In light of recent cutbacks to U.S. international broadcasting, this panel explores the evolving role of Voice of America (VOA) and its counterparts in shaping global media. From shortwave radio to digital platforms, these broadcasters have long served as tools of public diplomacy. As artificial intelligence and mis/disinformation reshape the media landscape, the mission and credibility of international broadcasting are more vital than ever.
Moderator: Lance Liguez, University of Texas - Arlington
Panelists: Tom L Ingram, University of Texas - Arlington
LaDonna Lynn Aiken, University of Texas - Arlington
Andrew Clark, LeTourneu University

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

Moderator: Jeff Wilkinson, Florida A&M University

Debut Paper Competition
Debut 1st Place Paper: Shahla Shahnaz Dyuti, Bowling Green State University, S M Russel Rabbi; Bowling Green State University & Louisa Ha, Bowling Green State University; How Social Media Influencers Navigate Hate Speech: A Comparative Study of Exposure and Coping Strategies between South Asian and Influencers Worldwide

Debut 2nd Place Paper: Gangheong Lee; Kyungpook National University; Myeong Cheol Kang, Kyungpook National University & Ha Na Kwon, Kyungpook National University; Comparing the International News Framing of Pro-Palestinian Protests at University Campuses in 2024

Open Paper Competition
Open 1st Place Paper: Ivanka Pjesivac; University of Georgia; Sohyun Park; University of Georgia & Moses Okocha; University of Georgia; Framing of the 2024 American Elections in International Media: A Comparison Among Nine Countries

Open 2nd Place Paper: Hee Jay Kim, Kyungpook National University; Shichao Zhang, Kyungpook National University & Chung Joo Chung, Kyungpook National University; BERTopic analysis of impeachment discourse in Korean media

Tackling a study abroad short documentary-video project can be challenging if the student participants are skilled, but what if they have little to no experience? Hear how to harness the non-majors’ best assets and make them feel equally part of the project. We hear from panelists who have learned valuable lessons on what to do and not do overseas on recent projects with non-majors ranging from short documentaries to multi-media.

Moderator: Melissa Jackson, Chair, BEA Writing Division & Former Associate Professor, Piedmont University,
Panelists: LaDonna Aiken, of Practice, University of Texas at Arlington
Dwayne Cheddar, Associate Professor, Oakwood University
Melissa Jackson, Chair, BEA Writing Division & Former Associate Professor, Piedmont University,
Kyle West Hufford, Goshen College

It is no secret students benefit from hands-on, high-impact learning experiences. It is also no secret intercultural experiences spur student growth and strengthen learning outcomes.

This panel proposes a discussion on developing and executing intercultural and international media production experiences that serve both to advance the development of a student's production knowledge as well as advance understanding and appreciation of different societies, cultures, and perspectives through faculty-led research, travel, and interaction.
Moderator: Aaron Atkins, Weber State University
Panelists: Franklyn Charles, Slippery Rock University
Camilo Ernesto Perez Quintero, Regis University
Andrea Baltazar, Weber State University

Back by popular demand, it's time for Closing Cocktails!  And we are heading back to the Westgate Hotel & Casino!  Meet us at ZEN (right in front of Benihana) for a drink to celebrate BEA2026.