08/12/2025

2026 ECA Convention Communication Technology Interest Group Call for Submissions

Call for Submissions
Communication Technology Interest Group
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 Communication and Technology Interest Group is requesting paper and panel submissions for the 117th Annual ECA Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. The convention theme, Emergence, emphasizes the expanding nature of communication and its relationship both to new technologies, and new forms of human organization. The obvious would of course identify AI as the newly emergent technology that will change the way we communicate. However, as Marshall McLuhan has noted, the form of AI and how it will change our perceptual field is as important to study as what AI will do to communication technology. This year the Communication & Technology division ought to provide a forum for communication scholars to discuss and debate the nature of emergent technologies that will in turn produce new emergent forms of human interaction, professional life, artistic ventures, and perhaps even new forms of government.  At this year’s conference we welcome individual paper and panel submissions that incorporate problem or opportunity of emerging technologies into communication technology research, service, pedagogy, and/or practice.

Papers and panel proposals must be submitted electronically by October 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST).  The Communication and Technology Interest Group of ECA utilizes Attendee Interactive https://ww4.aievolution.com/eca2601/ to manage all submissions and blind-reviews.

The Communication and Technology Interest Group invites three types of submissions:

Submission Guidelines for Individuals Papers
Individual Paper: A completed paper reporting original research, an extensive literature review, or other form of scholarship. Papers should be written in accordance with the APA 7th edition. 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.

Submission Guidelines for Panel/Program Proposals
Panel: A program where three to four speakers present individual papers on a specific topic area. The individual submitting the panel should identify a chair who has agreed to introduce each paper and moderate the presentation of papers and any discussion. Respondents are optional at the discretion of the panelists. Alternatively, please submit panel/program proposals in one MS Word file (.doc or .docx). 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.  

Submission Guidelines for Roundtable/Workshop Proposals
The Communication Technology Interest Group is also inviting roundtable discussions or workshops that are unique in composition and format. Consider proposing a workshop led by two or three experts on a particular topic with audience involvement and participation. Similarly, consider submitting a roundtable discussion featuring 5-8 presenters who share their positions on a focused topic moderated by a chair. When submitting roundtable/workshop proposals, 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 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.   
  • 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 https://www.ecasite.org/. All questions or concerns related to the Communication and Technology Interest Group can be directed to the 2026 IG Planner: Joel Ward (jsward@geneva.edu). The Communication and Technology Interest Group is limited in the number of sessions it can program, so prior consultation with the planner about session ideas is recommended.

Convention Acceptance Notifications: January 2026