BEA’s interest divisions host a variety of unique competitions that go beyond traditional research presentations. The following competitions are designed to showcase creativity, innovation, teaching excellence, and professional practice across multiple areas of media and communication.  If you are interested in BEA Interest Division traditional paper competitions, click here.

Curriculum, Assessment & Administration Division
Deadline: December 15
​Do you have an innovative idea for assessment?  Share your great ideas for assessment, as IGNITE Your Assessment (formerly GIFA) teams up with BEA’s longtime, successful IGNITE teaching initiative to boost faculty assessment in all its forms. We invite concise abstracts (250 words maximum) describing creative approaches to assignment assessment, program evaluation, or accreditation-related measurement tools. Selected participants will use IGNITE’s presentation format of 5 minutes and 20 slides to showcase their ideas during the IGNITE Your Assessment session at BEA’s annual convention. More information is coming soon! 

Law & Policy Division
Deadline: December 15
The Law & Policy Division invites BEA graduate student members and new and early-career faculty BEA members to submit their research for the Law & Policy Division Research Competition. This competition recognizes outstanding research that advances understanding of electronic media law, regulation, governance, and policy including (but not limited to) broadcasting, streaming platforms, telecommunications, digital speech, media institutions, AI and media regulation, privacy, intellectual property, and emerging policy challenges. The recipient receives a $1,000 award and a $1,000 travel stipend.

Service Learning & Community Engagement Division
Deadline: December 15
The Service Learning & Community Engagement division sponsors a Service Learning Showcase of projects so we can share ideas, assignments, and experiences. Two people will receive $250 each for projects that demonstrate exemplary Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning.  Projects will be judged on how the educator practices community-engaged teaching and learning by going beyond classroom experiences to connect theory and practice for students, collaborating with communities to design, implement, and evaluate research solutions to solve problems, and enabling students to reflect critically on their experiences while investing in their own education. More information coming soon.

Student Media Advisors Division
Deadline: December 15
Dr. Marjorie Yambor Signature Station: The Signature Station Competition is sponsored by BEA’s Student Media Advisors (SMA) interest division.  The competition invites submissions of superior protocol and practices at student-run, faculty-advised college radio and television stations.  The main mission is to identify and impart areas of excellence in the hands-on facilitation of station functions such as philosophical engagement, community involvement, programming arrangement, branding/logo development, student management, volunteer recruitment, and broadcast equipment. Each radio and television station 1st place winner will receive a check for $200, two complimentary student registrations and will be recognized in Las Vegas at BEA’s convention.  Click here for more information.

Two-Year College and Scholastic Division
Deadline: December 15
Innovative Teaching and Learning Awards: The Two-Year College and Scholastic interest division offers a call for submissions from 2-year College, and high school faculty, highlighting your best class assignments/activities!  We are looking for your best ideas for successful and practical projects, or in-class activities that improve student learning.  Assignments and activities could come from any course you teach under the umbrella of radio, audio, TV, video, film, digital media, scriptwriting, broadcasting, or mass communication.  Basically, if it is a course consistent with the mission of BEA, it’s eligible for submission.  More information coming soon.

Writing Division
Deadline: December 15
Show Bibles Competition: The Writing interest division offers a series bible competition for a television show that includes a detailed treatment of the pilot episode, character descriptions, season 1 outline, and season 2-5 summary. The final document should not exceed 25 pages.  More information coming soon.