Eastern Communication Association

08/01/2025

2026 ECA Convention Media Ecology, (Affiliate Organization) Interest Group Call for Submissions

Call for Submissions 
Media Ecology, (Affiliate Organization)  
The 117th Annual Convention of the Eastern Communication Association
Emergence  
Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA  

April 9 – 12, 2026  

Submission Deadline: October 19, 2025, 11:59 pm PST 

The Eastern Communication Association will hold their 117th Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12, 2026. The convention theme for 2026 is “Emegence.” The deadline for submissions is October 19, 2024 11:59 P.M. (PST). 

As an Affiliate Organization to ECA, the Media Ecology Association seeks individual paper, panel, and roundtable submissions to the Annual Convention that focus on the study of media as environments and attend the study of media as media. While encouraging any and all submissions related to media ecology, we especially welcome submissions tied to the convention theme, "Emergence." 

In describing the convention theme, ECA states, “This theme invites reflection on the emergence of new perspectives, enlightenment, or awakening; the rise of cultural or societal trends, movements, or norms; and the emergence of creative ideas, movements, or transformative works.” As a theme, emergence speaks directly to media ecology. Media ecology has strong ties to systems theory and systems thinking, and emergence calls upon the notion of emergent systems and emergence within systems. Lance Strate, in Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition, writes, “Contemporary systems concepts such as complexity and emergence […] hold particular significance for understanding media effects, as does their combination with an ecological orientation”. With its attention to systems, media ecology is particularly well-suited in enriching our ability to explore the idea of emergence in our contemporary moment. 

Some guiding questions for papers, panels, and roundtables may include, but are not limited to: How can the study of media as environments improve our understanding systems and emergence within systems? How can the study of media as environments lead us to discover emergent perspectives, ideas, movements, and norms? How might we seek balance as new media systems and technologies emerge? How can media ecology, as an educational orientation, help use to understand and contend with emerging systems, media, and technology? What are the consequences of emergent media systems on patterns of human communication? 

ECA uses Attendee Interactive to manage submissions and reviews. If you have not used it before, you will be prompted to create a new User ID and Password to submit your work. Please find the Attendee Interactive link here:https://ww4.aievolution.com/eca2601/.

Media Ecology invites three types of submission. The specific requirements for each type follows. Also, please indicate any Audio Video needs, when necessary, in your submission for accommodation.

When submitting a paper, complete the following Attendee Interactive fields: 

• Title  
• Author/s  
• Abstract  
• Categories: Indicate if student and/or debut paper.
• Additional Information:
  • Scheduling & Special Requests: Please identify any accommodations associated with physical or religious needs that may impact scheduling. 
• Documents: Upload Main Document (Must be BLIND. Accepted file types are Word and PDF.) 
  • At the bottom of the cover page, please include the following statement of professional responsibility: In submitting the attached paper, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this paper if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.

When submitting a panel, complete the following Attendee Interactive fields:

• Title  
• Chair/Respondents  
• Abstracts: Add individual presentation titles, descriptions, and presenters
• Panel Description  
• Rationale  
• Documents: Upload any relevant documents. (Must be BLIND. Accepted file types are Word and PDF.)  
  • In the document, please include the following statement of professional responsibility: In submitting the attached proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this panel if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
• Additional Information:
  • Scheduling & Special Requests: Please identify any accommodations associated with physical or religious needs that may impact scheduling. 

When submitting a round table, complete the following Attendee Interactive fields:

• Title  
• Participants: Enter Chair and Featured Expert/s information  
• Round Table Description (100 words or less)  
• Rationale  
• Documents: Upload any relevant documents. (Must be BLIND. Accepted file types are Word and PDF.)  
  • In the document, please include the following statement of professional responsibility: In submitting the attached proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
• Additional Information:
  • Scheduling & Special Requests: Please identify any accommodations associated with physical or religious needs that may impact scheduling.  
  • Target Audience: Describe the intended audience, including who would most benefit from attending.

Technology A/V Availability
The 2026 Convention will be fully equipped with technology capabilities. A projector, screen, sound, wireless mouse and slide advancer, and Wi-Fi will be available in all breakout rooms. Presenters must supply their own laptop. Google Slides and PowerPoint templates featuring the convention theme and logo are available on the convention tab of the website. We encourage all attendees to take full advantage of these resources to create engaging presentations! 

For additional information about the upcoming convention, please visit ECA’s website http://www.ecasite.org/. For additional information about the Media Ecology Association, please visit MEA’s website: https://media-ecology.org/

All questions or concerns related to the Media Ecology Affiliate Organization and submissions can be directed to:  

Ryan McCullough, Ph.D. 
West Liberty University 
West Liberty, WV
rmccullough@westliberty.edu 

Convention Acceptance Notifications: January 2026