Submission Deadline Date: October 19, 2025, 11:59pm PST
“Emergence”
Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA
April 9 – April 12, 2026
The Applied Communication Interest Group invites submissions for ECA’s 117th Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. The 2026 convention theme is “Emergence” which 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. This theme encourages submissions that creatively, innovatively, and openly engage with this theme, drawing on your unique experience.
The theme aligns well with Applied Communication as it calls for submissions that explore:
• How can/will/must our discipline emerge in the context of the current political landscape?
• What ideas, transformative works, and best practices are emerging in teaching, learning, practicing, researching, and theorizing? How should we respond?
• How can we best support our students as they emerge from academics?
• In what ways is our emergence as communication educators, researchers, and practitioners nurtured, encouraged, or strengthened? How can this be celebrated? Alternatively, in what ways is our emergence as communication educators, researchers, and practitioners impeded, stifled, or silenced? How should we respond?
• How can we encourage our own emergence within ourselves?
• What is not emerging that should, and what should we do about it?
As you prepare your submissions, we encourage you to reflect on how your scholarship contributes to our collective effort in addressing these meaningful questions.
Submission Guidelines:
Individual Papers:
Only complete papers will be considered. Papers must conform to APA 7th Edition guidelines. All identifying author(s) information (names, institutions, hidden document properties) must be removed; if this requirement is not met, submissions will not be eligible for review. Please specify on the electronic submission if any/all authors are student authors.
Panel Discussions:
These can take the form of a discussion panel of scholars, students, practitioners, or a combination
Please use the following guidelines for panel discussion submissions:
Other Submission Information:
Statement of Professional Responsibility
The following statement must be included with every submission of a paper or panel in order for it to be eligible for review. If it is not attached with a submitted document, the chair is responsible for obtaining a completed copy of this form prior to the paper/panel being officially programmed for presentation at the convention.
In submitting the attached paper or proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this panel or 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.
A/V: A projector, screen, and adaptor cables for PC/Mac will be provided. Presentations should be downloaded to laptops in advance, as Internet Access is limited in breakout rooms. Google Slides and PowerPoint templates featuring the convention theme and logo will be available on the convention tab of the website. Requests for Internet Access and speakers for sound must be included in submissions.
ECA utilizes Attendee Interactive to manage submissions and reviews: https://ww4.aievolution.com/eca2501/. To submit your work, you will be prompted to log in using ECA-specific credentials, or to create an account.