The Official Newsletter for the Media Ecology Association

      

May 2025

MEA May Update: One Month to Go!

Dear MEA Community,

As spring unfolds, we find ourselves just over one month away from gathering together for our annual convention The excitement is building, and we can’t wait to see you there.

In the meantime, we’re thrilled to share some major updates. This month, we proudly celebrate the publication of three new books authored by members of our community, each contributing important perspectives to the field of media ecology. In addition, we’re launching a new MEA Book Club, offering an opportunity for deeper engagement with these works and meaningful conversations year-round.

Stay tuned for more details below — and as always, thank you for being part of this ever-evolving community.


--Tiffany Petricini

    Convention Updates

    We’re now just over one month away from the 2025 Media Ecology Association Convention, and we’re looking forward to gathering in Mexico for what promises to be an inspiring and energizing event.

    While the April 30 deadline to be included in the official program has passed, registration remains open for all attendees. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time to join us in person for a dynamic lineup of panels, presentations, and community connection.

    Whether you're presenting or attending to learn, reconnect, or explore new ideas, we’d love to see you there.

    Member Accomplishments

    Our members continue to make significant contributions to the field of media ecology through their research, publications, and creative projects. This section highlights recent achievements, from book releases to awards and other professional milestones. If you have news to share, we encourage you to reach out so we can celebrate your work with the MEA community!

    New Publication: Not A, Not Be, &c by Lance Strate
    We are excited to announce the publication of Not A, Not Be, &c by Lance Strate, released by the Institute of General Semantics in December 2024. This vibrant collection of essays explores general semantics and media ecology, offering reflections on communication, symbolic forms, culture, imagination, and the human condition. Strate blends rigorous insight with playful creativity, crafting an intellectual landscape that invites readers to rethink the structures shaping reality. Complete with illustrations and indexes, Not A, Not Be, &c is an essential addition for anyone interested in language, media, and human understanding.

    Order your copy here: Not A, Not Be, &c at Barnes & Noble

    Hear more from the author: Watch Lance Strate discuss Not A, Not Be, &c in conversation with Paul Levinson on YouTube.

    New Publication: Harold Innis’s Final Course Edited by Edward A. Comor
    We are also pleased to announce the publication of Harold Innis’s Final Course, edited and introduced by Edward A. Comor. This important volume brings to light Tom Easterbrook’s previously unknown lectures based on Harold Innis’s final communications course at the University of Toronto. Offering new insights into Innis’s evolving thought, the lectures reveal broader applications of his concept of bias, his strategic use of media to promote certain values, and his increasing focus on institutions like language, law, and the nation.

    Through Comor’s extensive introduction and careful contextualization, this book provides a unique window into Innis’s pedagogical approach and final intellectual contributions — an essential resource for anyone interested in Innis, media ecology, and the history of communication studies.

    Order your copy here: Harold Innis’s Final Course at Peter Lang

    About the Editor:
    Edward A. Comor is Professor of Media Studies at the University of Western Ontario. His publications include The Global Political Economy of Communication, Communication, Commerce and Power, Consumption and the Globalization Project, and Media, Structures, and Power. He is also the co-editor of Harold Innis’s Political Economy in the Modern State.

    New Publication: The Sensus Communis, Synesthesia, and the Soul: An Odyssey by Eric McLuhan
    We are excited to announce the upcoming reprint of The Sensus Communis, Synesthesia, and the Soul: An Odyssey by Eric McLuhan, with a new introduction by Luke Burgis. Scheduled to arrive in early May, this extraordinary essay explores faith as a form of knowing, weaving together communications theory, mimesis, synesthesia, and theology.

    In this profound journey, McLuhan traverses the Aristotelian and Medieval concept of the sensus communis, examining the evolution from preliterate embodiment to post-literate electronic experience. He maps a trinity of knowing across physical, intellectual, and theological senses, offering readers a dazzling and deeply reflective odyssey through communication and the soul.

    Preorder your copy here: https://assemblypress.ca/shop/sensus-sommunis-synesthesia-soul

    MEA Book Club Announcement

    Interested in Joining the New MEA Book Club?
    We are excited to announce that we are exploring the launch of a new MEA Book Club! The book club will offer an opportunity for members to engage more deeply with important works in media ecology, general semantics, and related fields through informal, thoughtful discussion.

    We are still finalizing the details, including the format and meeting schedule, and would love to hear from those who are interested in participating. If you'd like to be part of the conversation, please complete this short form:
    MEA Book Club Interest Form

    We look forward to building this new space for connection and learning together.

    Institute of General Semantics Updates

    The Institute of General Semantics (IGS) continues to offer valuable resources and opportunities for scholars, researchers, and practitioners interested in general semantics, media ecology, and related fields. Below are some key updates


    Save the Date for the 73rd Annual Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture and Symposium
    The dates for the upcoming 73rd Annual Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture and Symposium on Discourse, Dialogue, and Democracy have been announced, taking place October 3–5, 2025 at the historic Players Club in Gramercy Park, Manhattan.

    This year’s featured speaker is Tristan Harris, Co-Founder of the Center for Humane Technology and one of the leading voices on the ethical impacts of technology. Known for his work in The Social Dilemma and The AI Dilemma, Harris will deliver a powerful keynote exploring the urgent need to realign technology with humanity’s best interests.

    Important Notes:

    • Registration is for in-person attendance only and will open at a later date.

    • Livestream access will be provided for all IGS members in good standing; instructions will be sent prior to the event.

    • Registration is free for IGS members and their guests, but advance registration is required for admittance to the Players Club.

    This year's symposium is proudly co-sponsored by the New York Society for General Semantics, the International Bateson Institute, the Media Ecology Association, the Tomkins Institute, and the 404 Festival of Art and Technology.
    Stay tuned for more information about the dinner and full symposium schedule.

    For more information and to register for IGS, visit the Institute of General Semantics website. 

    Below, enjoy a conversation between Tristan Harris and Lance Strate via Youtube hosted by the the Center for Humane Technology as part of their Your Undivided Attention Podcast


    More Ways to Get Involved with MEA

    Are you looking for opportunities to engage with the Media Ecology Association beyond the convention? Here are some exciting ways to participate:

    • 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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