BEA2004 Convention Overview & Theme
Bold Vision, Fresh Thinking: Untangling Media's Gordian Knot

Concept:
       According to the legend, King Gordius of Phrygia (now part of present-day Turkey) had devised a large and complicated knot of tangled rope and proclaimed that the person able to untie the Gordian Knot would rule all of Asia. When Alexander the Great was confronted with this challenge he simply drew his sword and cut the Gordian Knot with a single stroke.
      By today's common usage, the "Gordian Knot" is a metaphor for problems so intricately entangled and perplexing that their resolution requires bold vision and fresh thinking. Given the unprecedented-and at times bewildering-changes in the economics, control structure, and technology of modern media, the metaphor is particularly seductive. At the same time, it is a rather unlikely theme for a convention on broadcast education. As academics and media practitioners, we share a rather strong skepticism of dramatic and simple resolutions proposed for complex political, economic, social, and technological problems. Yet, we acknowledge the need for new approaches in seeking answers to the vexing issues of media's intricate societal entanglements. Herein lies the challenge. As media educators, we are further charged with the task of preparing our students for the integrated digital networks, a seemingly bewildering regulatory regime, and increasing industry consolidation, while attempting to instill in them an appreciation of the broader context of media's role in society. As they go forth, our hope for untangling media's Gordian knot relies on the boldness of their vision.
Challenge:
      Each interest division is encouraged to seek panels that promote new approaches to the entangling issues of Media in society. Each interest division's respective membership is challenged to seriously think about, confront, and discuss the issues that arise from emerging technologies, changing regulatory policies and increasing media consolidation. Such an approach should also be multidisciplinary in perspective. Interest divisions are further challenged to forge new collaborative approaches, seek out other interest divisions as partners on panels and seriously strive to increase the diversity of representation and perspective in confronting the challenges of untangling media's Gordian knot.
      Like my predecessors, I am also personally challenging the interest divisions to have one new BEA member on each invited program/panel. Further to this challenge is one of diversity of voice; we should encourage our Hispanic, African American, Asian American and Native American colleagues to join BEA and contribute to the discussion. If we are truly committed to promoting bold vision and fresh thinking when confronting media's role in our lives, increasing the diversity of voice in the debate by advancing alternative perspectives is a responsibility we all must share.

Michael Ogden
Central Washington University
BEA2004 Convention Program Chair