Oct 5, 2015 | Annual Conference, News
Consistent with our Asian values of harmony and consensus, and in this age of crowdsourcing, we invite our AMIC members and friends to send us proposed conference streams (general topics) following the theme, Rethinking Communication in a Resurgent Asia. A brief write-up on the theme is available at the AMIC website: www.amic.asia
Special prizes will be given to the first 25 members who send their proposed conference streams.
The conference streams will guidefuture paper presenters on the specific titles and thrusts of the papers to be presented in AMICAsia 2016. This will be held in AMIC’s new headquarters in Manila, Philippines.
Examples of streams are: Asian Communication Theories, Paradigms, and Models; Asian Research Framework and Methodologies; Asian Higher Education Integration; Asian Conflict Resolution Styles and Communication; and Cross-cultural Business Communication in an Asian Setting
You may send your recommendations through the following:
Ramon R. Tuazon, AMIC Secretary General
Email address: r.tuazon@amic.asia; rrtuazon722@yahoo.com
AMIC’s official Facebook account:
AmicAsia
AMIC’s official Twitter account:
@AMIC_Asia
Sep 8, 2015 | Member Updates, News
The Asian Media Information and Communication Center (AMIC) General Membership has ratified the selection of Manila as the new location for AMIC headquarters during its AMIC Annual General Membership (AGM) held on June 11, 2015.
The AMIC AGM is one of the highlights of the 24th AMIC International Conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference was hosted by the American University in Dubai (AUD).
AMIC is now hosted by the consortium of the Philippine Women’s University (PWU)-Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC).
The AMIC Board of Directors, composed of outstanding communication professionals and educators from the Asia-Pacific region, also announced the election of Dr. Crispin C. Maslog as new Board of Directors chairman.
Dr. Maslog is currently senior adviser and former vice president for academic affairs of AIJC. He will replace Arun Mahizhnan of Singapore.
With his appointment, Dr. Maslog comes full circle at AMIC. He was part of a select group of Asian scholars and practitioners who conceptualized AMIC in Singapore in 1971.
AIJC President Ramon R. Tuazon also assumed the post of secretary-general starting June 2015. He first served on an ad interim basis starting October 2014.
During the AMIC Annual General Membership, Tuazon presented the AMIC Strategic Plan (2015 & Beyond).
Among its programs are the revitalization of the AMIC international conference, revival of AMIC regional and sub-regional seminars and workshops, and textbook publishing.
AMIC will continue publishing the Asian Journal of Communication (ACJ) and Media Asia, two leading academic and professional publications in the Asia-Pacific region. Both are published by Taylor & Francis Group, a leading international academic publisher.
An independent, non-profit organization registered as charity in Singapore, AMIC has bloomed into the premier media research, publication, and information center in the Asia-Pacific region. With its transfer to Manila, it will also be registered at the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Since its founding in 1971, AMIC has been based in Singapore. From 1997 to 2014, it was based at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Sep 8, 2015 | News
As he bowed out as AMIC’s chairperson, Dr. Arun Mahizhnancalled on AMIC members to get rid of the “blind subservience” to the Western perspective in analyzing Asian media and communication systems.
“Far too long, we have submitted and submerged ourselves in Western perspective and Western theories, and worst of all, Western validation of our own nascent attempts to create anything Asian,” lamented Dr. Mahizhnan, speaking during the 2015 AMIC International Conference held in Dubai.
He added, “We have a long way go in establishing an Asian perspective and Asian theories of communication” and “it is going to be even more challenging to do this than before.”
A clear research agenda looms ahead for Asian communicators and scholars to differentiate and distinguish Asian communication practices and build theories based on them.
While there are attempts in the past to ground research in local practice, some try to fit them to Western theories.
More work and people are needed in seriously observing and analyzing Asian media and communication practice
Dr. Mahizhnanwas also commended for his long years of distinguished service to AMIC as chairman and member of the Board of Management, and as chairman of the Board of Directors.
In turn, he cited AMIC colleagues Dr. Ang Peng Hwa and Dr. Eddie Kuo, Mr. Martin L. Hadlow and the AMIC Secretariat for their support to AMIC.
He also expressed gratitude to the American University in Dubai, especially its leaders Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President Lance de Masi, Provost Jihad Nader and Dean Ali Jaber, for hosting the 2015 AMIC International Conference.
Sep 8, 2015 | News
The 4th World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) will be held in Auckland, New Zealand from July 14 to July 16, 2016.
The WJEC will be hosted by Auckland University of Technology’s School of Communication Studies.
It will provide a discussion forum on socio-technological changes that impact on the journalism and journalism education worldwide.
The WJEC was occasioned by contemporary developments that signal significant shifts in the place of journalism programmes within the academe and the broader educational environment, and in relationships with industry and wider society.The implications of this transition will be WJEC’s focus.
Journalism Education in the Asia-Pacific will also be a strong feature of the conference, in partnership with the Pacific Media Centre.
Topics to be discussed at the WJEC include:
- Mobile/Social/User-generated Media and Journalism
- Research Trends in Journalism
- Utilising the Professional Connection Work in Journalism Education
- 21st Century Ethical Issues in Journalism
- Journalism Education and an Informed Citizenry
- Journalism Programmes Offered by the Industry
- Journalism Education in the South Pacific
- Journalism Education in Asia
Conference organizers are calling for abstracts. Please contact: Steering Committee chair Associate Professor Verica Rupar.
For inquiries from the Asia-Pacific, please contact Professor David Robie, New Zealand Country Representative of AMIC and 2015 AMIC Communication Awardee.
More details can be viewed at the WJEC conference website at AUT, and the AUT School of Communication Studies.
Dec 15, 2014 | Member Updates
Dear AMIC Members,
Once again, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” (with apologies to American singer Andy Williams) when we take stock of our achievements and start planning for what we wish to accomplish this coming 2015. I am sure the holiday fever has also caught many of us. But before you get too absorbed with your preparations for the fast-approaching holidays, may I remind you that it is also time to renew your membership with Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC).
You may recall that as member of AMIC, you are part of Asia Pacific’s most prestigious professional association of communication media scholars and practitioners.
Your benefits as an AMIC member includes:
· Discounted subscription to the Asian Journal of Communication, print edition;
· Free US$200-subscription to Media Asia, online edition;
· Discounts on all other AMIC publications, including books;
· Participation in AMIC international conferences at discounted rates;
· Opportunities to participate and present papers at AMIC’s annual international conference and to avail yourselves of discounted conference fees; and
· Broad networking and collaborative opportunities with media and communication professionals and academics.
Please pay your annual fee by sending your payment made out to the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre Ltd or via Pay Pal Account amic@org.sg. You may pay to our AMIC country representatives as well. Also, invite your colleagues to join our network of about 300 communication professionals. We are also open to institutional membership.
In my earlier letter, I announced that our next annual conference will be in Dubai on 10-13 June 2015 with the American University in Dubai as our partner. I hope you will join us and perhaps you can present a paper. Details are in our website at www.amic.org.sg. The deadline for submission of paper abstract for review is on 05 January 2015.
Thank you very much. I look forward to your active participation in AMIC events in 2015.
Very truly yours,
RAMON R. TUAZON
Acting Secretary-General
Oct 3, 2014 | Member Updates, News
Dear AMIC members and friends,
Greetings!
I’m writing to share with you some important developments with regard to AMIC.
AMIC was founded in 1971 and has always been based in Singapore. Since 1996, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been our headquarters and also the single most generous financial supporter of AMIC. However, NTU now has new priorities and the high level of support it has been providing AMIC is no longer feasible from its own perspective. For us, however, the much reduced offer of support it made is not sufficient to run even the basic operations of AMIC.
Thus, your Board of Directors was compelled to look for an alternative location for the Secretariat operations of AMIC. The Board received a few proposals from interested parties to host AMIC. After much deliberation, and weighing all the pros and cons of various hosts, the Board has concluded that the proposal from a consortium of the Philippines Women’s University (PWU) and the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) in Manila was the best. The proposed PWU-AIJC Consortium involves an established university and an eminent NGO. The consortium’s strengths are congruous with the key AMIC functions in research and training, as well as our publications programme.
Thus, while AMIC remains a ‘company limited by guarantee’ registered under the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, Singapore, the day to day operations of the Secretariat will move from Singapore to Manila shortly. We will ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible.
Another important development is the change of leadership at AMIC headquarters. Dr Martin Hadlow, who has been serving AMIC as Acting Secretary General for the past two years, has stepped down from his position but remains on the Board. In view of the transfer of AMIC headquarters to Manila, the Board has now appointed Mr Ramon Tuazon, current AMIC Board Member from the Philippines, as the new Acting Secretary General until a permanent appointment is made. You will be soon hearing from Ramon directly.
On behalf of the Board and all members of AMIC, I wish to record our deep gratitude to NTU, especially the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, its Chair, Prof Chuck Salmon, and its staff for their long and generous support of AMIC over the years. The association with NTU has been rewarding and fulfilling.
I also wish to record, on all our behalf, our great appreciation to Martin for stepping in to act as the Secretary General during a difficult transition. He served AMIC ably and unstintingly, and towards the end, without any remuneration. It was a remarkable gesture of his commitment to AMIC and the Board and management of AMIC are most grateful to him.
Next, I wish to warmly welcome Ramon as the new Acting Secretary General and, on all our behalf, wish him the best in his new undertaking in AMIC. We very much look forward to the new chapter opening in Manila under his leadership.
You will be pleased to know that the AMIC management has already started to work on the next Annual Conference and we hope to make a formal announcement soon.
Finally, on behalf of your Board and my personal behalf, I wish to thank each and every member of AMIC for their continued support and understanding. Without you, we would not have come this far, nor will we go much further.
Arun Mahizhnan
Chair, Board of Directors
AMIC
