Tag: Canada

Univ Waterloo Asst Prof

The Department of Drama and Speech Communication at the University of Waterloo invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in Speech Communication. Based in a liberal arts faculty that aspires to high national and international standards, the Speech Communication program currently serves approximately 140 majors and offers eight different degree programs, including three and four year regular and honours programs, an Arts and Business degree option, and a minor and option. The program has concentrations in four areas: Intercultural Communication; Interpersonal/Organizational Communication; Performance Studies; and Public and Digital Communication. The formal relationships between Speech Communication and other programs (especially Digital Arts Communication and Drama) provide regular opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations in teaching, research, and creative work.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated teaching experience as well as a strong research profile, and will have PhD in hand or ABD with dissertation near completion. Strong candidates will specialize in interpersonal and/or organizational communication in teaching and research. Additional areas of specialization may include cultural/critical studies, ethics, public communication, intercultural communication, and performance studies. A demonstrated pedagogical commitment to theoretically-informed practice, student-centered learning, and engagement of broad public concerns is desirable. Expertise in qualitative and/or creative work is welcome. Duties include research, teaching, and academic service. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and Permanent Residents of Canada will be given priority. The University of Waterloo encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, members of visible minorities, native peoples, and persons with disabilities. This appointment will remain open until a suitable candidate has been hired. Send letters of application, complete CV, and three letters of recommendation to: Dr. Jennifer S. Simpson, Interim Chair, Department of Drama and Speech Communication, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1. Appointment begins August 1, 2011. Application deadline: Review of applications will begin May 10, 2011.

Conference: Media in Minority Contexts

Media and media practices in minority and competitive contexts: From local to global
University of Alberta
11-12 May 2012

Few studies have been conducted on the topic of media in minority context. However, in today’s plurilingual and multicultural societies, their role in the functioning of democracy and in the construction of minorities’ cultural identities is crucial. These media are both channels of communication and gathering places or common areas for communities. By connecting individuals who share the same language, these media reinforce solidarity within minority groups as well as their cultural identity, both at the local and global levels. In order to maintain their existence, minority media must also position themselves vis-à-vis the media of the majority to which their audiences also have access.

Conceived as a space for exchange between practitioners and researchers in social sciences, humanities and modern languages, this colloquium seeks to reflect on the role of media in minority contexts from various perspectives and with a comparative angle. The selection committee solicits proposals on any question related to the issue of media in minority contexts, and in particular in relation with questions of: cultural representations (identity, art, translation), democracy (multiculturalism, ethics, media status), networks (national, transnational), professional practice (journalism, technology), language policy and language use. We encourage submissions dealing with different media:  television, radio, specialized and general press [newspapers and magazines], posters, internet, etc. We strongly encourage media professionals to participate. Working language will be English and French. Proposals can be submitted in either of these two languages. Selected proceedings of the conference will be published.

Submission of proposals
September 1, 2011 : Deadline for the submission of proposals

Abstract (400 words maximum) to be sent to  minority.media.conf@gmail.com. The abstract should contain a title.

Please put your name in the subject of your mail, and your further references in the mail message (affiliation, university or institution, e-mail, phone number, and the title of your paper).

October 31, 2011: Notification of acceptance by the Academic Committee after a double blind peer-review

Academic Committee: Marc-François Bernier (Université d’Ottawa, Canada), Mike Cormack (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland),  Luc Côté (Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface), Robert Darnton (Harvard University, USA), Christian Delporte (Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France), Ouzi Elyada (Université de Haifa, Israel), Donald Ipperciel (University of Alberta, Canada), Karim H. Karim (Carleton University, Canada), Andy Knight (University of Alberta, Canada), Elisabeth Le (University of Alberta, Canada), Marc Lits (Université catholique de Louvain), Marie-Linda Lord (Université de Moncton, Canada), Catherine Murray (Simon Fraser University, Canada), Lloyd Sciban (University of Calgary, Canada), Jean Valenti (Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Canada), Isabelle Veyrat-Masson (CNRS, Université Paris IV, France)

Organizing Committee: Sophie Kienlen, Caroline Moine, Géraldine Poels, François Robinet (Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France); Marine Ghéno, Justine Huet, Andy Knight, Elisabeth Le, Iaroslav Pankovskyi, Sathya Rao, Christian Reyns-Chikuma (University of Alberta, Canada) ; David Maurice (Université de Sherbrooke)

Sponsors:
Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies (MLCS)
University of Alberta
Le Centre d’histoire culturelle des sociétés contemporaines (CHCSC)
Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

With the support of :
Department of Political Science, University of Alberta
TV5 – Quebec

Multiculturalism as a solution, not a problem

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently made headlines when she pronounced multiculturalism in Germany a failure. Shortly before, a Globe and Mail editorial argued that Canadians should eradicate “multiculturalism” from their vocabulary and refocus on “citizenship.” Multiculturalism isn’t just out of style, these statements suggest – it’s dangerous for building unity in increasingly diverse societies.

Unfortunately, both analyses are dead wrong.

Social scientists can measure multiculturalism in a given society by examining the number and content of public policies and government pronouncements around cultural recognition and accommodation. Such indices show that Germany is not, and has never been, a multicultural society.

Multiculturalism can’t have failed in Germany because it was never tried. Turkish guest workers and other immigrants were never welcomed as future citizens – only as temporary labour. If Germans are now concerned about the consequences, the blame certainly doesn’t lie with multiculturalism.

These indices also group countries such as France and Norway with Germany as least multicultural, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States as moderately multicultural, and Australia and Canada as most multicultural.

Have Canada’s past practices and policies hurt attempts to forge common citizenship out of diversity?

Absolutely not.”

For further details, see the original article by Irene Bloemraad in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail.

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