BEA2014 Convention Spotlight: New Connections: Mobile and Global

The BEA 2014 convention spotlight is New Connections: Mobile and Global. New Connections can mean many things, and as the convention spotlight, it is intended to have a variety of applications, including but not limited to the new way audience and content connect and the new worldwide social and business connections now possible because of digital media. Mobile computing devices are profoundly impacting our lives as media users and scholars, providing increasing opportunities for the Global Village envisioned by Marshall McLuhan 50 years ago. These new levels of interconnectivity are breaking down old
barriers between content creators and content users.

The 2012 Arbitron-Edison "Infinite Dial" study shows that 850/0 of Americans now have Internet access from anywhere. Broadband Internet is the driving force of 'new media' and home broadband has reached 700/0 penetration. The study and many like it these days show the Internet as more important in young people's lives than radio or television. However, this same demographic is still very engaged with radio and video content-the form of distribution is just changing. Online radio along with local broadcast radio, for example, is highly used by the 18-34 demographic.

Our challenge as broadcast education scholars is to continue to study and teach the foundations of our field, including writing and visual storytelling, while also guiding future professionals toward what may be evolving new economics regarding how to make a living as a content creator. New Connections: Mobile and Global serves as a focus for the 2014 convention, but papers are not limited to this area of research and discussion.

Tony DeMars
2014 Convention Chair

Panel Deadline: September 15, 2013
Paper Deadline: December 1, 2013
Convention Dates April 6-9, 2014