BEA2026: Full Schedule

6:30pm PDT

BEA Opening Night Awards Ceremony - Sponsored by Ross

Friday April 17, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT

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.

Speakers

Rebecca Ann Lind

Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago

Jennifer Meadows

Professor, Chico State University

Jennifer Meadows is a Professor of Media Arts in the Media Arts, Design, and Technology Department at California State University, Chico. She is the 2025-2026 BEA President. Her research and teaching focuses on communication technology, emerging technologies, diversity and inclusion... Read More →

Shuhua Zhou

City University of Hong Kong

Dr. Shuhua Zhou is a Chair Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong. He previously served as the Leonard H. Goldenson Professor in Radio and Television Journalism at the Missouri School of Journalism and was a professor and associate dean... Read More →

Steve Anderson

James Madison University

Steve Anderson is an Emeritus Professor of Interactive Design and the former director of the School of Media Arts & Design at James Madison University. His websites have won the top awards from the Broadcast Education Association (Best of Festival) and the Association for Education... Read More →

John Woody

Emeritus Professor, James Madison University

John M. Woody dedicated thirty years to James Madison University, where he served as a full professor of Media Studies until his retirement in 2015. Specializing in advanced video post-production, he built a reputation for combining creative storytelling with emerging technology... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
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1:15pm PDT

Telcom Update 2026 - Everything about media is changing.

Saturday April 18, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

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What is the state of media universe?Telcom Update is now 30 years old and the media world is changing rapidly; there are many questions. Do services like YouTubeTV and Sling spell the end of cable? Will AI spell death to copyright and change ‘Fair Use’? How will AI impact local journalism? Are broadcasters and cable ready for the fragmentation of sports? Should there be a federal right of publicity law? Will the FCC change ownership rules? Can Next Gen TV save broadcasters? Can rural public radio survive without federal funding? With the FCC’s new 2025 EEO rules is DEI dead? What will state-level age verification laws do to the Internet? Finally, there are many difficult questions for the Supreme Court on what role government has in the new media frontier. These issues are some that will be addressed in this year’s panel.

Moderator: Fritz J. Messere, SUNY - Oswego
Panelists: Kim A. Zarkin, Westminster University, Current First Amendment Issues in Media
Laurie Thomas Lee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Important Privacy Issues Related to Media
Amy Sindik, Central Michigan University, FCC and Regulatory Issues Impacting Broadcasting
Paul J. MacArthur, Utica University, Cable, Satellite and Online Video Issues

Moderators

Fritz J. Messere

Retired Dean, SUNY - Oswego

I am the retired Founding Dean of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts at SUNY Oswego. Prior to that I was chair and professor of broadcasting and telecommunications in the Communication Studies department. I am a long-time (meaning old) member of BEA and have chaired... Read More →

Speakers

Paul MacArthur

Professor, Utica University

Laurie Lee

Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Amy Sindik

Central Michigan University

Kim Zarkin

Westminster University

Saturday April 18, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
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Law & Policy, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates

3:00pm PDT

The Search for Digital Responsibility: When Violence Goes Viral

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

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Recent gruesome viral moments that landed in the feed of unaware digital media users reminds us that the conversation around obscene material is not at a satisfactory close. What kind of impact do these visuals have on us? What would thoughtful policy proposals look like? And can we balance the weight of free speech with protective measures, ensuring a win-win for all?

Moderator: Amy E. Bonebright, Liberty University
Panelists: Chris Underation, PhD, Gordon College
Russ Jones, PhD, Liberty University

Moderators

Amy Bennett Bonebright

Assistant Professor of Journalism, Liberty University

Former newspaper reporter and managing editor turned academic. Master’s in journalism and public relations, and currently working on an MFA in digital media production. Passions include technology, changing field of journalism, saving local and community news, sports, social media... Read More →

Speakers

Russ Jones

Liberty University

Chris Underation

Gordon College

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
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Law & Policy, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates

9:00am PDT

Law & Policy Division - Top Research Presentations

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

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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
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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

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

11:30am PDT

Drones and the Future of Aerial Technology: New Regulations in Times of Emerging Artificial Intelligence

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

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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

Moderators

Dale Blasingame

Associate professor of practice, Texas State University

Dale Blasingame is an associate professor of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where he received the 2017 Presidential Excellence Award for Teaching and 2023 Presidential Excellence Award for Service. Blasingame... Read More →

Speakers

Julian Rodriguez

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Texas - Arlington

Julian Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Communication at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and Coordinator of the UTA Amon G Carter Foundation Broadcast Production Studio. Julian’s teaching and research interests focus on broadcast journalism... Read More →

David Smith

Teaching Associate Professor, West Virginia University

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
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Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | International, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | News, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Law & Policy, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

4:30pm PDT

The Future of Local Television, AI, Ownership, and the New Broadcast Frontier

Sunday April 19, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT

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Local television is at a crossroads.
We will look at AI already being used in newsrooms and how these tools could reshape both editorial workflows and ethical standards. We will discuss the operational, technical and editorial makeup of consolidated newsrooms, the rapid growth of streaming newscasts and other local content, and how it all affects the future job market.
We'll also address ownership changes and how these shifts change the way local television has been defined over the years.

Moderator: Suzy Smith, Ball State University
Panelists: Terry J. Heifetz, Ball State University
Michael Brouder, Ball State University
Stephen Crews, Gray Television

Moderators

Suzy Smith

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Media, Ball State University

Speakers

Stephen Crews

Talent Acquisition Specialist, Gray Television

I have spent over 25 years covering news across the Wiregrass. I spent over a decade working in newspapers and radio, covering news and sports. The experience I gained in a small community is invaluable. I learned how to develop my own film and print my own pictures before transitioning... Read More →

Michael Brouder

Ball State University

Terry Heifetz

Ball State University

Sunday April 19, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
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News, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates | Law & Policy, Industry Issues & Updates | AI Spotlight, Industry Issues & Updates

11:30am PDT

From Policy to Practice: Supporting Students with Mental Disabilities

Monday April 20, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

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This panel examines faculty and institutional responsibilities to students with mental disabilities—including bipolar disorder, autism, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia—under ADA Titles II/III and Section 504. Panelists discuss evidence-based supports for severe conditions; accessible course design and reasonable accommodations; crisis-response and referral practices; and confidentiality considerations (FERPA). The session highlights partnerships among institutions, faculty, and students to reduce stigma, promote inclusion, and ensure equal access consistent with disability law and campus policy.

Moderator: Glenda R. Balas, University of North Texas - Dallas
Panelists: Glenda R. Balas; Access, Inclusion, and Care: Faculty and Institutional Duties under ADA
Desiree Hill, University of Oklahoma; Leveraging Established University Programs to Support Students with Different Needs
Tony R. DeMars, Lamar University & Paul Hemenway, Lamar University; Identifying and Addressing Stress Factors with Student Media and Student Assignments
Donna J. Koskela, Pinkerton Academy; Accommodations that Matter: Case Examples, Pitfalls, and Best Practices

Moderators

Glenda Balas

Professor, University of North Texas - Dallas

Dr. Glenda Balas is a Professor in Communication and Technology at the University of North Texas at Dallas. She was formerly Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNT Dallas; Professor and Chair of the Communication and Journalism Department at the University of New Mexico; and Chair... Read More →

Speakers

Tony DeMars

Professor, Department of Communication and Media, Lamar University

BEA Past President. Previous service with BEA includes past convention program chair, elected positions in multiple interest divisions, leadership roles in the Festival of Media Arts, District 5 Board Representative, and Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Radio and Audio Media.

Paul Hemenway

Lamar University

Donna Koskela, M.Ed.

Faculty, Pinkerton Academy

Desiree Hill

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, University of Oklahoma

All things students!
Trauma, journalism research.
North American Hub leader of Journalism Education Trauma Research Group (JETREG)
Broadcast journalism, producing, storytelling, media management

Monday April 20, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
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Law & Policy, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

12:45pm PDT

Law and Policy Division Meeting

Monday April 20, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT

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The rules shaping media are always changing. Join us for a timely conversation about the legal and policy issues influencing the field and learn about new grant program offered to Law & Policy division members.

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: William R. Davie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Vice Chair/Paper Competition Chair: Fritz J. Messere, SUNY - Oswego
Communications Chair: Laurie Thomas Lee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Moderators

William Davie

Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Dr. William R. (Bill) Davie holds a professorship from the Louisiana Board of Regents and is the Mass Communication/Broadcasting Coordinator for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has authored and coauthored research papers, journal articles, and books on electronic media... Read More →

Speakers

Fritz J. Messere

Retired Dean, SUNY - Oswego

Laurie Lee

Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Monday April 20, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT
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Law & Policy, Business/District Meeting | BEA, Business/District Meeting

3:15pm PDT

The First Amendment in an AI Society

Monday April 20, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

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AI is here to stay. In 2026, virtually all digitally literate people would agree, even (or especially) including Generative AI. That being the case, is Amendment I to the U.S. Constitution, celebrating its 235th anniversary this year, here to stay as well? Does it still have relevance? Or even practical applicability? Those are the provocative questions this panel will explore.
Moderator: Carey Martin, Liberty University
Panelists: Cory Carpenter, Lander University; Wait, What? That's Not My Voice! First Amendment and Commercial AI Use
Stephanie A Longo, Penn State Scranton; Moving Toward AI Legal Standards
Adam Schwartz, Towson University; What We Don’t Hear: Audio Editing, AI, and Reframing the Truth
Heather Walters, Missouri State University; AI, Free Speech, & Uncertainty: An Analysis of Garcia vs. Character Technologies, Inc.

Moderators

Carey Martin

Professor, Liberty University

screenwriting, directing, film & television history

Speakers

Cory Carpenter

General Manager of LUX Studio and Associate Professor, Lander University

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 →

Heather Walters

Senior Instructor, Missouri State University

Adam Schwartz

Assistant Professor, Towson University

Monday April 20, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
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Law & Policy, Industry Issues & Updates | AI Spotlight, Industry Issues & Updates

5:30pm PDT

Closing Cocktails @ ZEN Westgate Hotel & Casino

Monday April 20, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT

ZEN @ Westgate Hotel & Casino

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.

Monday April 20, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
ZEN @ Westgate Hotel & Casino

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