The Fragmentation of the Field?

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Proposal

Abstract

The ICA’s thirty-one sections and interest groups represent a diverse collection of theoretical traditions and research methodologies. It is sometimes said that the only thing they share is some reference to the word communication. Are there common core paradigmatic concerns? Will technological change represent a critical intervention to influence the evolving paradigms? What factors drive increased specialization and the proliferation of areas of interest? Should we worry or celebrate these trends? This roundtable panel features a discussion about these questions among scholars with vast experience across the field of communication.

Sub Unit

• Theme Sessions

Cosponsors

• Children Adolescents and the Media

• Communication Law & Policy

• Information Systems

• Intergroup Communication

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies

• Mass Communication

• Mobile Communication

• Political Communication

• Public Relations

Chairs

• Silvio R. Waisbord, George Washington U

• W Russell Neuman, NYU

Participants

• Larry Gross, Univ of Southern California

• Robert T. Craig, U of Colorado, Boulder

• Sonia Livingstone, LSE

• Robin Nabi, UC-Santa Barbara

• Klaus Bruhn Jensen, U of Copenhagen

• Mary Beth Oliver, Pennsylvania State U

• James Potter, U of California, Santa Barbara

• Cherian George, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist U