The President’s Note
Dear KACA members,
Happy fall, everyone! I hope you are well and productive in your work!
It has already been almost two months since I officially took over the KACA office. Our officials have been busy settling into their jobs, sharing our vision for KACA, and setting strategic goals for the 2021–2023 term. It is my privilege to work with these dedicated leaders on the executive council.
First, I would like to give a special shout-out to Dr. Jiyoun Kim and the Newsletter Committee! As you can see, KACA now publishes the newsletter quarterly, not semi yearly, and we are excited to deliver KACA news more frequently. I hope you enjoy the new look of our newsletter.
Second, I want to remind you that the 2021 NCA national conference is returning to a face-to-face format. I am so excited to have the on-site conference back for KACA events. However, we must remember that the safety of our members is still the utmost priority. All preventative measures—wearing masks, social distancing, and vaccination—are important ways we can protect one another. Online tools for networking will be used as much as possible. You will see the detailed program for the conference in this newsletter. For more information, stay tuned with us. Thank you for your leadership, Dr. JongHwa Lee, and the KACA-NCA team!
Third, let me update you regarding the Korean Journal of Communication. The editor-in-chief, Dr. Do Kyun Kim, has formed an editorial board and is writing a proposal for the publisher. We hope to announce the final publication contract this year. I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who joined the editorial team at this critical moment for the journal.
Thinking of our journal, I suddenly realize that we, an overseas Korean scholars’ group, took the name “Korean Journal,” while there are no other communication journals published in English that have “Korean” in their names and are dedicated to Korea-related issues. Will our name be a strength? Should we have chosen something else to attract more diverse topics or audiences? How can we sustain this journal year after year?
I answer those questions with hope and confidence but also uncertainty. My hope is rooted in the power of our members. My confidence is in each of you who are thriving in your research. Uncertainty remains, however, because it is all up to us! Now is the time to ask what we can do to make this journal an internationally renowned one, not to ask what this journal can do for our career development.
Thank you very much, and I hope to see many of you soon at the NCA conference!
Sincerely,
Jin-Ae Kang, Ph.D.
President (2021-2023)
