The Official Newsletter for the Media Ecology Association

      

September 2025


Dear MEA Community,

As fall settles in, it’s a good time to reconnect with one another and with the work that brings us together as media ecologists. This month’s newsletter includes reminders about upcoming conferences, calls for participation, and events that invite reflection, dialogue, and community engagement.

You’ll find updates about our 2026 convention in Winnipeg, the MEA-sponsored session at ECA in Pittsburgh, fall programming from the Institute of General Semantics, and the ongoing book club. We also encourage all members to vote in the MEA Board of Directors election.  Ballots open October 1st.

Thanks, as always, for being part of the conversation.

--Tiffany Petricini

    2026 MEA Convention: Call for Papers Now Open

    The 2026 Media Ecology Association Convention will be held June 25–28, 2026, at The University of Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada.

    This year’s theme, Crossing [Out] Borders in Our Global Village, invites participants to reflect on how we navigate, blur, or uphold borders—whether geographic, disciplinary, methodological, or conceptual. Drawing on Marshall McLuhan’s reference to Canada as “a borderline case,” the theme encourages expansive thinking and interdisciplinary exploration.

    Location: The University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
    Conference Dates: June 25–28, 2026
    Pre-Conference Tour: June 24, 2026 — A McLuhan-themed tour hosted by the Marshall McLuhan Initiative

    Submission Guidelines

    • Include: Title, abstract (maximum 250 words), and contact information for each participant

    • Limit of two submissions per author

    To be considered for a Top Paper or the Linda Elson Top Student Paper award, authors must also submit a full manuscript (4,000–6,000 words) by January 1, 2026.

    Additional information about registration, housing, and student travel grants will be announced in the coming months.

    For more details, contact convention organizer Jaqueline McLeod Rogers at j.mcleod-rogers@uwinnipeg.ca

    Upcoming MEA Board Elections: Voting Opens October 1

    The Media Ecology Association will hold elections beginning October 1, 2025, to fill four positions on the Board of Directors. All current members are invited to participate in the voting process.

    Positions open for election this year:

    • Vice President Elect (1-year term)

    • Recording Secretary (1-year term)

    • Newsletter Editor (1-year term)

    • Member-at-Large (3-year term)

    More information, including candidate details and voting instructions, will be shared in the coming weeks.

    Stay tuned and make your voice heard in shaping the future of the MEA.

    MEA at ECA Call for Submissions
    Three people standing for an award acceptance on stage

    MEA at ECA 2026: Call for Submissions

    The Eastern Communication Association will host its 117th Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12, 2026. This year’s convention theme is “Emergence.”

    As an Affiliate Organization to ECA, the Media Ecology Association invites individual paper, panel, and roundtable submissions that explore the study of media as environments and media as media. While all submissions related to media ecology are welcome, we especially encourage work that speaks to the theme of Emergence.

    Submission Deadline: October 19, 2024 at 11:59 PM (PST)

    ECA Convention Website: ECA Website

    Call for MEA Submissions: MEA @ ECA CFP


    Questions? Contact MEA’s ECA Liaison:
    Dr. Ryan McCullough
    West Liberty University

    rmccullough@westliberty.edu

    Institute of General Semantics & NY Society for General Semantics – Upcoming Events


    Back to School: Getting Our Bearings for a New Year
    Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
    Time: 6:00–9:00 PM ET
    Location: The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, NYC

    This public discussion on the state of higher education features Missy Alexander (Western Connecticut State U. Provost Emeritus), Susan Drucker (Distinguished Professor of Journalism at Hofstra), and Nadine Strossen (New York Law School Professor Emerita and former ACLU President). Wine and cheese reception during the first hour.

    Registration required on the NYSGS website.  


    73rd Annual Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture
    Date: Friday, October 3, 2025
    Time: 5:00–10:00 PM ET
    Location: The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, NYC
    Tristan Harris will present “The Narrow Path to a Humane AI Future.” The event includes a full dinner and leads into a weekend symposium on Discourse, Dialogue, and Democracy (October 4–5).
    Sponsored by: Institute of General Semantics
    Co-sponsored by: Media Ecology Association
    Free for IGS members (or contact Lance Strate at strate@fordham.edu

    More information and registration on the IGS website.  


    Film Screening: Digital Tsunami
    Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
    Time: 6:00–9:00 PM ET
    Location: The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, NYC
    The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and participants including Sherry Turkle, Douglas Rushkoff, Zephyr Teachout, Ronald Deibert, Andrew McLuhan, and Lance Strate. A cash bar will be available.
    Registration required on the IGS website.  

    MEA Book Club:  August and September Media Ecology Book Club

    MEA Book Club – October Update

    Thank you to all who are joining our book club.    Discussions have been phenomenal.   We will continue with the Media Ecology Introductory Reading List.  

    October's reading will be:
    Echoes and Reflections: On Media Ecology as a Field of Study by Lance Strate (2006)

    This work explores foundational questions about media ecology as a field of study. The book also includes a reflective essay on language, literacy, and the self, with special attention to autism.

    Meeting Date and Time:
    October 6, 2025 | 7:00–8:00 p.m. ET
    Please RSVP using the Registration Link to receive the Zoom link.  

    The book can be purchased on Amazon.   


    MEA Book Club – September Reminder

    There’s still time to join us for the September MEA Book Club meeting. 

    Date: Monday, October 8, 2025
    Time: 7:00–8:00 p.m. ET / 4:00–5:00 p.m. PT
    Location: Zoom (link provided upon registration)

    RSVP link: Media Ecology Association - Media Ecology Book Club

    All are welcome, whether you’ve finished the book or are just starting out. Join us for thoughtful conversation grounded in media ecology.


    Questions or title suggestions may be sent to Tiffany Petricini at:
    tzr106@psu.edu

    We look forward to reading with you.


    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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