ICA NIGERIA 2ND QUARTERLY SEMINAR SERIES (QSS)
PUBLISH MORE TO MAXIMIZE REPRESENTATION IN GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE
The 2nd Quarterly Seminar Series (QSS) of the International Communication Association (ICA) Nigeria Chapter, titled Navigating ICA: Expert Tips for Successful ICA Journal and Conference Paper Submission, was held online and at the Conference Hall of Nile U Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
The seminar featured distinguished global scholars, Professors Mohan Dutta(Massey U, New Zealand) and Srivi Ramasubramanian (Syracuse U, USA).
They highlighted what they referred to as an existing 'whiteness' of the communication discipline in terms of publications and representation in global journals. This concentration can only be diluted and corrected with "disruption of the spaces through scholarship from the Global South." In a paper that discussed successful submission guidelines to achieve visibility and impact, Prof. Mohan Dutta, an ICA Fellow shared his experiences from India and later in the USA and Singapore. Researchers and academics from the Global South need to familiarize themselves with the publishing outlets, know the editors and editorial boards, and get acquainted with the trajectories of the journals to which they wish to submit papers. He admitted that though some journals submission and management processes are "fairly opaque, constructed around specific forms of discipline making, and therefore confining", scholars can push back against the politics of discipline-making, by ensuring that their research output is outstanding and able to disrupt confined or unfamiliar spaces. Prof. Dutta described publishing as "an opportunity to educate" that can lead to a decolonization of knowledge.
Prof. Srivi Ramasubramanian, ICA Fellow, Syracuse U, urged scholars to build writing and reading communities, and accountability groups in virtual spaces where they read each other's works, give and get feedback. She said, "From my experience, reviewing others' work has been a wonderful way to learn what is publishable." Prof. Ramasubramanian highlighted co-authoring and co-publishing as a way of learning how others approach theories and methods.
The presenters noted that the current state of "whiteness" in communication scholarship and research does not erase the values that underrepresented communities of scholars bring to the table. Organizing as a chapter and occasions like the 2nd Quarterly Seminar is a call to action for the ICA community in Nigeria to take advantage of their peculiar opportunities to engage and attempt to disrupt the status quo by contributing to conferences, and journals like the many published by the ICA.
Earlier, Dr. Sarah Joseph, ICA Nigeria, Rivers State U, gave a presentation on how to prepare standard slides. Her presentation titled "Transform, not Inform," shared tips for avoiding the 'Death by PowerPoint' syndrome. With apt examples, she showed why presenters can share ideas on slides, making the slides powerful and memorable and how to use color or size to contrast. She also encouraged presenters to use more images such as photographs, charts, and infographics than text.
The 2nd Quarterly Seminar Series of the International Communication Association (ICA) Nigeria had more than 70 participants, drawn from ICA Nigeria members, faculty and students of Nile U of Nigeria, other universities, and communications practitioners within and outside Nigeria. Attendees also included special guests like the immediate past ICA President
Prof. Noshir Contractor, ICA India Chapter Chair, Prof. Padma Rani and others from the ICA community.
The 2nd ICA Nigeria Quarterly Seminar was hosted by Dr. Jacob Shagbaor Suemo, a member of ICA Nigeria Chapter and the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Nile U. ICA Nigeria 2nd QSS also received the support and attendance of Nile U Registrar, Dr. David Olowale, and the Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Gerald Usugbo. Also in attendance were Associate Prof. Ridwan Adeyemi and Dr. Adebisi Okere.
Seminar Discussant was ICA Nigeria member, Mr. Odoh Diego Okenyodo, a scholar at the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication (ISDEVCOM), Nasarawa State U, Keffi, Nigeria.
ICA 3rd Quarterly Seminar has been scheduled for Thursday, 21 September 2023 in Lagos, Nigeria.