Below is a call for grant proposals on ethics and social media. Feel free to email me with questions. Denise Bortree, Ph.D. Assistant Professor College of Communications Penn State University 814-865-1274 dsb177@psu.edu The Arthur W. Page Center at the Penn State College of Communications announces its annual Page and Johnson Legacy Scholar competition for the study of integrity in public communication. The Center will award up to $75,000 in grants of $1,000 to $25,000 each to support scholars and professionals making important contributions to knowledge, practice, or public understanding of ethics and responsibility in public communication. Given the high rate of social media use by the public, organizations are compelled to engage with key audiences through these outlets. Social media engagement requires organizations to actively participate with public groups, and this highly-interactive exchange raises a new set of ethical concerns for communicators. In this rapidly changing communications environment, the long-term implications of social media are uncertain and much research is needed to understand its impact on audiences and organizations. We are inviting proposals for research papers on all aspects of public relations that deal with ethics in social media. Possible topics include (but are not limited to): · Ethical use of social media to communicate with diverse audiences · Challenges of providing transparent communication through social media · Ethical measurement of social media · Building trust through social media dialogue · Corporate responsibility and social media · Ethics of engaging internal audiences through social media · Ethical public engagement · Ethical challenges with the international use of social media The research conducted from approved proposals will be evaluated for possible combined presentation in panel and/or book form (selected researchers will be invited but not required to participate in any such presentation). See the Page Center website for details (http://thepagecenter.comm.psu.edu/index.php/legacy-scholar-grant/rfp, submission is online this year). Questions should be directed to Dr. Marcia W. DiStaso at mwd10@psu.edu or (814)863-9874 or to Dr. Denise Bortree at dsb177@psu.edu or (814)865-1274. Please mark your proposal for the Project for the Ethics of Social Media in Public Relations Practice, Attn: Dr. Marcia W. DiStaso and Dr. Denise Bortree. Application materials must be submitted on or before January 10, 2011. Marcia W. DiStaso, Ph.D. Assistant Professor College of Communications Pennsylvania State University