06/26/2025

CSCA 2026 Convention - Media Studies Interest Group Call for Submissions

MEDIA STUDIES INTEREST GROUP

Translate!

Call for Papers, Panels, and Original Media

Central States Communication Association (CSCA)

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 14th – 19th, 2026

The Media Studies Interest Group (MSIG) invites submissions of competitive papers, thematic panels, and original media focusing on all aspects of media studies for the 2026 CSCA Convention in Minneapolis, MN. We welcome scholarship on all forms of mass, social, and interpersonal media, including studies that engage political economy, audience reception, textual analysis, production, new media, social media, critical cultural studies, media technology, media effects, and various other media subjects and methodologies. We especially encourage submissions that address topics or issues related to the conference theme of Translate.

Some suggestions of topics include: The theme Translate - how can media research and teaching make a difference outside of academia? Examining power and influence on media on a larger public scale. How the media exposes people to ideas and changes lives. What does media mean in the larger ecology to shape human perception, culture, and social structures?  What is the media capable of? What potential does media have to enlighten and foster change- how does that work in larger culture? We also encourage members to form collaborative panels with members of the private sector, K-12 educators, and community members. We want to make the theme of Translate a conversation between MSIG members and various community representatives.

The Media Studies Interest Group accepts three types of proposals: Papers, Panels, and Original Media.

Papers: Cutting-edge research papers from scholars who examine all forms of media regarding audiences, texts, technologies, effects, producers, communities, and culture. Considering the theme of the conference, papers examining Translate! in paradigms, theories, production, methodologies, audiences, discourse communities, and pedagogies centered on media are especially welcome.

For paper submissions, please keep in mind the following guidelines:

• Only completed papers will be accepted.
• Please include a title and brief abstract.
• Graduate students should type “STUDENT” on the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
• If the paper will be a graduate student debut, please type “DEBUT STUDENT” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
• To be considered a graduate student debut paper:
  • The author must be a graduate student
  • The paper must have single authorship
  • The paper must be the author’s first paper to be presented at CSCA
• Additionally, we are happy to take part in the Inclusive Scholarship Award process. If your paper should be considered for this, the paper must clearly articulate, in at least one paragraph in your abstract, how the respective scholarship explicitly addresses equity and inclusion. Make sure to select the Inclusive Scholarship option in submitting

Panels: The Media Studies Interest Group welcomes submissions of proposals for paper panels, roundtable discussions, spotlight panels, and debate panels exploring media studies and the conference theme of Translate.  Preference will be given to panel proposals that include panelists from multiple institutions. Please note that no panelist should serve more than one role on a panel (for example, the chair of a panel should not also serve as a paper presenter or panel discussant).

Original Media Submissions: The Media Studies Interest Group welcomes submissions of original media, including all mediated forms and mixed media artifacts. We seek to promote all forms of original media, including (but not limited to): film submissions, digital art, graphic design, digital media, podcasts, music, advertisements, short stories, digital games, and any/all mixed media combinations. Original media submissions can be made using CSCA’s online submission system and should include the original media artifact as well as a brief rationale statement discussing the link between the submission and the conference theme of Translate. While we welcome and encourage original media submissions, be mindful that this year CSCA will be held at a hotel that may create some function space limitations for original media. Please notify us if the original media requires any special equipment. As with papers and panels, all original media submissions should be devoid of any author-identifying information to ensure anonymity.  

Awards: The Media Studies Interest Group presents four awards. The Samuel L. Becker Award is given for the top student paper and includes an individual certificate and a cash award. At the annual business meeting, the Media Studies Interest Group will also present awards for the top paper, top panel, and top original media submission.

Due to budget and access, the only technology that can be made available for your panel will be a projector that you can connect your laptop computers (or other equipment) to. There should be cables available for this, but there may not be Internet access readily available. Any technology requests must be made at the time of submission.

Submissions for all categories must be complete and submitted electronically by October 10, 2025, 11:59 pm CDT, via the CSCA online submission system site. Questions and other communication about the Media Studies Interest Group may be directed to the Chair and Program Planner, Tasha Riggins, tasha.riggins@bakeru.edu.