BYLAWS

ASA SECTION ON COMMUNICATION,

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, AND MEDIA SOCIOLOGY (CITAMS)

Bylaws originally approved January 1989; Name changed from “Microcomputing” to “Sociology and Computers” in 1995; Name changed from “Sociology and Computers” to “Communication and Information Technologies” in 2002; Bylaws updated in 2008 and 2013. Name changed from “Communications and Information Technologies” to “Communication, Information Technologies, and Media Sociology” in 2016.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the ASA Section on Communication, Information Technologies, and Media Sociology is to support, enhance and promote research, teaching and other professional activities related to:

• The sociology of communications
• The sociology of media
• The social aspects of computing, the Internet, new media, computer networks, and other communication and information technologies
• The design and use of technology in teaching and research

SECTION OFFICERS and COUNCIL:

The section officers shall be a Chairperson, a Chairperson-Elect, a Secretary-Treasurer and a Communications Coordinator, who is appointed by Council. Council consists of these four officers, the Past-Chairperson, four members elected at large, and one student member appointed by council.

The terms of all elected officers and Council members shall be for two years each with the exception of the Chairperson-Elect, Chairperson, and Past-Chairperson who will serve for one year each. Two Council members-at-large will be elected annually. The terms of appointed Council members shall be for one year.

In the event of a vacancy in an office, a Council membership, or a committee membership, the Chairperson shall make an interim appointment to serve until a replacement is elected in the next annual election.

The Council is vested in principle with the power to carry out all necessary operations for the Section. Any action of the Section, including changes of the By-laws, may be brought to the vote of the Section by the Council, by a petition of l0 percent of the members of the Section or by twenty-five members of the Section, whichever is less. The Chairperson will serve as chair of the Council.

COMMITTEES:

Standing committees shall be established annually for nominations, communications, and individual awards as outlined below. Other committees may be appointed by the Chairperson with the approval of the Council on an ad hoc basis. In the event of the death, resignation, absence or the inability to serve of any members elected or appointed to a committee, the Section Chair, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, may appoint a member of the Section to fill the vacancy during the Chair’s term of office.

Nominations Committee

There shall be a Nominations Committee consisting of three members elected at-large by the entire voting membership of the Section. Members shall serve three year staggered terms with one person elected each year. One elected member shall retire each year. The current Section chair will serve as an ex-officio member. The committee member in their third year will serve as chair of this committee. Each year the Nominations Committee shall develop a slate of at least two candidates for each elected vacancy. The slate of nominees shall be placed on the ballot of the Section’s annual Election.

Communications Committee

There shall be constituted each year a Communications Committee to coordinate and assist in the preparation and operation of a section web site, email discussion list for members, and other means of communication and information sharing as directed by the Section Council. The committee is chaired by the Section Communications Coordinator and staffed by two members appointed by Council at the recommendation of the Communications Coordinator.

Career Achievement Award

There shall be constituted each year a Career Achievement Award Committee to select the recipient of the William F. Ogburn Career Achievement Award. This award recognizes a sustained body of research that has provided an outstanding contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the areas relevant to the section. The Committee shall consist of the immediate past-Chair, the most immediate prior winner of this award, and the council member serving in their second year of their term who has the last alphabetical last name. The immediate past-Chair will serve as chair of this committee. If any individuals are unable or unwilling to serve, the Section Chair, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, may appoint a replacement for that year.

Paper Award

There shall be constituted each year a Best Article Award Committee to select the recipient of the Paper Award. This award recognizes an outstanding published paper or book chapter on a topic relevant to the section. Submissions must be in English and published within the two calendar years prior to the award nomination deadline. The Committee shall consist of the Secretary/Treasurer, the most immediate prior winner of this award, and the council member serving in their first year of their term who has the last alphabetical last name. The Secretary/Treasurer will serve as chair of this committee. If any individuals are unable or unwilling to serve, the Section Chair, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, may appoint a replacement for that year.

Student Paper Award

There shall be constituted each year a Best Student Paper Award Committee to select the recipient of the Student Paper Award. This award recognizes an outstanding published or unpublished paper/book chapter on a topic relevant to the section, or an outstanding design or use of media, communication, or information technology. The Committee shall consist of the current chair of the section, the most immediate prior winner of this award, and the council member serving in their first year of their term who has the first alphabetical last name. The current section chair will serve as chair of this committee. If any individuals are unable or unwilling to serve, the Section Chair, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, may appoint a replacement for that year.

Book Award

There shall be constituted each year a Best Book Award Committee to select the recipient of the Book Award. This award recognizes an outstanding book on a topic relevant to the section. Submissions must be in English and published within the two calendar years prior to the award presentation. The Committee shall consist of the chair-elect of the section, the most immediate prior winner of this award, and the council member serving in their second year of their term who has the first alphabetical last name. The chair-elect will serve as chair of this committee. If any individuals are unable or unwilling to serve, the Section Chair, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, may appoint a replacement for that year.

Public Sociology

There shall be constituted each year a Public Sociology Award Committee to select the recipient of the Public Sociology Award. This award recognizes a specific achievement in teaching, the development or the use of a communication, media, or information technology, or the dissemination of knowledge that advances public understanding or engagement on topics of concern in the section. The Committee shall consist of the chair of the nominations committee, the most immediate prior winner of this award, and the student council member. The nominations committee chair will serve as chair of this committee. If any individuals are unable or unwilling to serve, the Section Chair, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, may appoint a replacement for that year.

ELECTIONS AND VOTING: 

The elections of the Section shall be carried out in accordance with the American Sociological Association (ASA) guidelines and coordinated with the schedule of the ASA. Newly elected officers and Council members shall assume office immediately after the adjournment of the Business Meeting of the Section at the Annual Meeting of the ASA. When there are more than two candidates for a position, the candidates(s) with the largest number of votes shall be elected. Otherwise, a simple majority of the members voting will determine the outcome of all elections of officers, Council members, committee members, referenda, and bylaw revisions.

MEMBERSHIP:

Membership in the Section is open to all members of the American Sociological Association (ASA). Section officers and Council members shall be drawn from members of the Section who are ASA members with voting privileges. The majority of members on each Section committee shall be drawn from the membership of the Section who are ASA members with voting privileges.

DUES: 

Dues shall be set by Section Council to cover the operation of the Section in accord with the requirements of the American Sociological Association (ASA). In addition, with the approval of Section Council, members of the Section shall be assessed as necessary to carry out any program or activities undertaken by the Section, to the limits established by ASA.