Mormon Media Studies Interest Group

[Sherry Baker]

 

MORMON MEDIA STUDIES INTEREST GROUP LISTSERVE:

INFORMATION AND INVITATION TO JOIN

 

The Mormon Media Studies Interest Group was formed 26 February 2009 by a group of faculty members in the Department of Communications at Brigham Young University. The group’s e-mail distribution list was launched 9 March 2009.  It moved to a listserve format on 28 April 2009.

 

The group recognizes the centrality of the media to the Mormon experience, historically and in the present, and acknowledges the unique contribution that can be made to Mormon studies by focusing on media from a wide range of academic perspectives.

 

Specific objectives of the group include (but are not limited to) the following:

 

1. to create a global community of scholars and professionals who have an interest in Mormon Media Studies, including: contemporary and historical media coverage and representation of Mormons and the LDS Church; Mormon media history; the intersection between media and Mormon culture; the embrace and use of media technologies by the LDS Church and its members; Mormon –produced messaging and public relations; the Mormon blogosphere, etc.;
2. to facilitate communication among those who are interested in participating in an on-going conversation about Mormons and the media, and to share information and current events about this topic, including related academic research;
3. to encourage scholarship in the field of Mormon Media Studies; to generate research questions; to facilitate collaboration among group members; and to identify outlets (refereed journals and conventions) for publication and presentation of scholarship relating to this topic.

The interest group is just in its beginning stages.  As we find our way, we may expand beyond the listserve format to a blog or some other means of communication. 

 

In the meantime, if you are interested in participating in this community of scholars, we welcome you.  Also, if you know of others who might be interested, please invite them first to assess their interest.  To be added to the list, newcomers should send an e-mail to Sherry Baker (sherry...@byu.edu) with an indication of name and e-mail contact information. 

 

 

 

 

Sherry Pack Baker, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Communications

Brigham Young University

360 BRMB

Provo, UT  84602-2501

801.422.7022

sherry...@byu.edu