In Media Res

The Official Newsletter for the Media Ecology Association

June 2026

Editor's Notes

June is here, and that means it is one of the most important months of the year for the Media Ecology Association!  Soon, we will gather for our annual convention. Below, you will find the convention schedule and information about a film screening.  

This month’s newsletter also includes a call for papers for Language, Listening, Literacy, and Algorithms, an October symposium that extends many of the questions at the heart of media ecology and general semantics.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the convention!

—Tiffany Petricini, Newsletter Editor

From the Association

Convention Schedule

Below is the schedule at a glance in image form. 

Prefer a screen-reader-friendly version?  View the full schedule in text format.  

Convention Film Screening

Join us for a screening of Digital Tsunami: Big Tech, Big A.I., Big Brother, a documentary examining the growing influence of major technology companies, artificial intelligence, and digital surveillance on contemporary life.

The film will be introduced by Lance Strate of Fordham University. A question-and-answer session will follow the screening with Fred Peabody, the film’s writer and director, and Peter Raymont, its producer.

Fred Peabody is an Emmy-winning journalist and filmmaker whose credits include the documentaries All Governments Lie and The Corporate Coup d’État. He also served as a producer-director for ABC’s 20/20 and CBC’s investigative series The Fifth Estate.

Peter Raymont is a filmmaker, journalist, and writer who has produced and directed more than 100 films and television series during his 53-year career. His documentary Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire received the 2007 Emmy Award for Best Documentary and the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival.

Opportunities

IGS Call for Papers: Language, Listening, Literacy, and Algorithms

The Institute of General Semantics invites proposals for Language, Listening, Literacy, and Algorithms, a symposium taking place October 2–4, 2026, at The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, New York City.

The symposium is sponsored by the Institute of General Semantics and co-sponsored by the New York Society for General Semantics, the Media Ecology Association, the International Bateson Institute, the Tomkins Institute, and the 404 Festival of Art and Technology.

Organizers welcome papers and proposals exploring any aspect of the symposium theme, as well as related topics such as general semantics, language and semiotics, media ecology, communication and culture, epistemology and phenomenology, cybernetics and systems theory, technology and society, art and perception, cognition and consciousness, evolution and emergence, health, and human potential.

The symposium will feature the 74th Annual Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture, delivered by acclaimed science fiction writer Ted Chiang. Chiang is the recipient of four Nebula Awards, four Hugo Awards, six Locus Awards, and the PEN/Malamud Award. His novella “Story of Your Life” was adapted into the 2016 film Arrival. His most recent collection, Exhalation, was named one of The New York Times’ Top Ten Books of 2019, and in 2023, Time named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in AI.

Submission deadline: August 15, 2026
Send papers, proposals, and inquiries to: Lance Strate at President@GeneralSemantics.org

More Ways to Get Involved with MEA

MEA Book Club

The MEA hosts a monthly reading group on language, technology, and the human condition via Zoom. Anchored in the tradition of media ecology, the group is open to seasoned scholars and curious newcomers alike, including both MEA members and nonmembers.

Acquiring and reading the book is strongly encouraged but not required. Curiosity and thoughtful dialogue are always welcome.

Upcoming Meetings (8–9 PM Eastern Time):

• June 1, 2026 – Walter Ong, Orality and Literacy

• July 6, 2026 – Walter Ong, An Ong Reader,  (Thomas J. Farrell and Paul A. Soukup, eds.)

Attendance is free, but Zoom registration is required to receive the meeting link.

Visit the MEA Book Club webpage.

Virtual Coffee Meetings

Do you have questions about media ecology, need advice on a study, or want to invite an expert to speak in your class? Schedule a virtual coffee meeting with an MEA scholar! To arrange a meeting, visit our website

If you’re an experienced media ecologist interested in volunteering for these meetings, we’d love to hear from you!

Book Reviewers Wanted

Have you read a great book related to media ecology? Consider writing a review for Explorations in Media Ecology!  For more details and a format template, contact jbogaczyk@gmail.com.

Join the Listserv

Stay connected with the MEA community by joining the discussion group. The discussion group is open to all for sharing views, exchanging information, and learning about events related to media ecology.

Follow MEA on Social Media

Connect with us on social media to stay updated on news, events, and discussions. Follow us on Facebook and X to join the conversation!

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