Announcements

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

After 23 years of print publication (with an ancilliary online presence after 2004), this and future issues of Media Ethics magazine will be available only online. (The present URL is www.mediaethicsmagazine.com).

Our publication calendar should remain unchanged. The editor, Dr. John Michael Kittross, is issuing a call for manuscripts for the Spring issue.  Details can be found in the Call for manuscripts page.

Like so many publications facing a tough economy, and recognizing the availability of changing technologies, we have weighed our options carefully. Over the past three years, the publishers have discussed and debated this decision, talked with the editor, consulted several members of our advisory board, invited input from most sponsors, and consulted many friends in various places.

Even though it is obvious that current economic conditions are the prime movers in making this decision, they are not the only reason for moving online. In addition to economic factors, there is also the benefit of publishing an environmentally more-friendly electronic version of the magazine-one that saves trees as well as treasure. By moving the entire operation online, we can contribute to the solution of two problems with only one act.

A majority of our advisors, taking account of changing modes of delivery in this century, have come down on the side of an online magazine...although the editor has strongly argued for the retention of a print edition to meet certain needs of authors, readers, professionals, the academy, and other stakeholders in Media Ethics magazine. There are also the enticing possibilities of going online to meet some special needs of readers and others by increasing the magazine's ability to update and expand notices and announcements, as well as make any necessary corrections, updates and explanations quickly. It may be necessary to make special arrangements to service libraries-- and the magazine should now have the flexibility to do so.

The transition from print to Internet has not occurred without problems, and those problems have delayed some of the content we expected to provide in this issue of Media Ethics.  For example, the Announcements of future meetings, opportunities, news and other matters (which were the original stimulus for establishment of the magazine) will not appear in this space until some time in January.  We are sorry if anyone has been adversely affected by this delay.  Similarly, providing access via a keyword and an author "search" command is currently truncated--with full access intended to serve the needs of scholars, professionals and others only available for the most recent issues.  We hope eventually--time and money permitting--to provide this service all the way back to vol. 1, no. 1.  Because, at the same time we are preparing this database and tools for its use we are working on the Spring issue (vol. 23, no. 2), we can't give you a solid estimate of when this feature will be fully available.

We realize that there are likely to be mixed reactions to this decision. To those who prefer print, we apologize. However, we are taking this action primarily to permit us to continue publication in some form. We look forward to many more engaging years working together with readers, contributing authors, sponsors, and friends. Your manuscripts, announcements, ideas, donations, reviews, feedback, news, interest and use of the magazine continue to be a most welcome reason for continued existence.

Here's to Media Ethics Online!

Respectfully,

Cliff Christians, Tom Cooper, and Manny Paraschos, Publishers