The BEA2009 convention spotlight “Ethics and…” serves as a focus for the convention, but papers are not limited to this area of research and discussion. Papers are submitted as either "Debut" or "Open" papers. The Debut category is open only to those who have never presented a paper at a BEA Convention. First and second place winners in Debut categories receive $200 and $100 to help defray their costs of attending the convention. If you have previously presented a paper at a BEA convention, your submission category is “Open”.

Submission Requirements:
* Length: not to exceed 30 double-spaced pages, including references and tables
* Style: use of APA style or a style suited to the discipline
* Abstract: less than 250 words to be included with submission * Exclusivity: papers may not be submitted to more than one division during the same year and should not have been presented at or be currently under consideration at any other venue
* Authorship: author's name, institution address, phone number and e-mail to appear on the cover page only (list all contact information for each author of multiple authored papers)

Cover page must include:
* the title of the paper and the division to which the paper is submitted
* any A/V requirements
* whether submission is an "open" or "debut" entry (any papers without such designation will be considered in the open category)
* Title: to be printed on the first page of the paper and on running heads on all subsequent pages
* Author Contact Information, including all contact information for each author of multiple authored papers

Copies: Four (4) copies of the paper must be submitted to the PAC Division.

NOTE: The Research Chair this year for the PAC Division will accept the submission as an attached file -- but in this case the paper must be received by December 3, 2008. FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES: The attachment must be a PDF file ONLY. (The open source, free NeoOffice software will do a PDF conversion.) There must be one attachment that is the cover page, then a second attachment that is the paper--and that has no identifying information. Papers sent as one file and/or that in any way include author-identifying information will be disqualified. The Research Chair will reply to the e-mail confirming receipt. If the sender does not receive a reply by 12/4/08, a follow-up e-mail should be sent and/or phone call made to verify receipt. Send the paper to Tony_DeMars@tamu-commerce.edu.

Convention Attendance:
At least one (1) author of an accepted competitive paper MUST attend the convention to present the paper. Participants MUST be members of BEA and registered for the convention. Authors of accepted papers will be notified by February 8, 2009.

Here are some further guidelines for the PAC Division:

The purpose of the Paper Competition is to provide a forum for presentation of scholarly writing about Media Production. Papers submitted to the PAC Division paper competition should focus on one or more of the following topics or subject areas or develop their own focus relevant to these areas. The topic focus and significance of the analysis or investigation should be made explicit in the paper.

1. The form, practice and technique of production for electronic media,including television, radio, interactive media, or theatrical films.

2. The nature of production as a creative enterprise, including a focus on the achievements and lives of content producers.

3. Critical analysis of media content, including but not limited to narrative, semiotic, ideological, political economy and other critical theories.

4. The historical evolution of media production.

5. The teaching of media production.

6. The business of media production.

7. The PAC Division is interested in completed papers that report on research projects, not simply literature reviews or essays.

Entries to the competition will be judged according to the following criteria:

1. The paper effectively uses critical or scholarly evidence to make a persuasive argument and uses and expands communication theory where appropriate.

2. The paper brings original insights or perspectives to the chosen topic.

3. The subject and focus of the paper are significant to media producers and teachers of production.

4. The paper is well written and conforms to scholarly standards of form and content.