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Welcome to the Spring 2007 Issue
For scholars of poltiical communication, election season is a little like tax season for accountants. This is the time when our colleagues pigeon-hole us in hallways asking us to handicap the races; when journalists seek us out to pontificate on the campaigns; and when we unwrap those courses on media and elections we haven't taught since the last election cycle.
The 2008 campaign season seems to have come awfully early--at least at the national level--and so this dynamic has been set in motion early as well. Therefore, I thought a commentary and roundtable on an election-related theme would be appropriate. I chose the issue of media effects on political and civic participation. It is, of course, one of the longest-standing questions in the literature. But it has been energized in recent years by the emergence of the Internet and news/comedy shows on television. In our commentary, Dietram Scheufele lays out the main planks of this literature. The four contibutors to our roundtable--William Eveland, Patricia Moy, Diana Owen, and Rabia Polat--fill in some of the details in a discussion of their own research. Together, these essays give us a great snapshot of what is happening in this field these days. I want to thank the contributors for their work!
As you make plans for ICA in San Francisco, remember that the Political Communication Business Meeting will be held on Friday, May 25, at 4:30 pm in the Hilton Hotel, Continental Ballroom 2.
Among other business, we will congratulate Joseph Capella and Kathleen Hall Jamieson for winning the 2006 Doris Graber Book Award for Spiral of Cynicism. As editor of PCR, it is my privilege to offer them an early "way to go!"
Also, here is a Call for Nominations for the APSA Political Communication Section:
The Nominating Committee for the American Political Science Association Political Communication Section is seeking nominations for its Executive Committee and Award Committees.
The Section needs to fill the following executive positions: Vice Chair (who is Chair-Elect), a 2009 Program Chair and an At-Large Executive Committee member.
The Section also needs a chair and three additional members for each of the following Award Committees:
The Murray Edelman Distinguished Career Award
The Doris Graber Outstanding Book Award
The Paul Lazarsfeld Best Paper Award
The Best Graduate Student Paper Award
Per the by-laws, the Nominating Committee will give weight to names forwarded by the Section members in drawing up the 2007-2008 slate. Self nominations are encouraged. Please submit nominees’ names and contact information to Todd Belt, Nominating Committee Chair.
Finally, we also need to begin thinking about who will be the next editor of PCR. Yes, my stint as editor has almost come to a close. If you have an interest in taking up the reins, let me warn you off now! Just kidding. As I'm sure the other past editors of PCR will tell you, it is a great way to learn more about the field and to make connections with the many great and interesting people around the country and the world. I heartily recommend the job. If you're interested, don't hesitate to contact me.
To the left, you will find the usual plethora of goodies that appear in every issue. May I suggest giving special attention to the new books page. Some very interesting works in political communication have come out in the last several months.
See you in San Francisco.
David Ryfe
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