Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Call for Chapters for the Handbook of Research on Computer Mediated Communication

Call for Chapters for the Handbook of Research on Computer Mediated Communication
Editor: Sigrid Kelsey, MLIS
Louisiana State University

Introduction: Technology has changed communication drastically in recent years. Podcasts, Email, the World Wide Web, Blackberries, cell phones, text messaging, wireless connections, and other forms of computer mediated communication (CMC) have transformed communication in numerous ways, not only facilitating the speed and sometimes ease of communicating, but redefining and shaping today's communication norms. The Handbook of Research on Computer Mediated Communication will provide comprehensive coverage of the most important current issues, trends, and technologies related to professional computer mediated communication.

Coverage: The Handbook of Research on Computer Mediated Communication will feature chapters (5000-7000 words) of a scholarly nature, written by experts offering in-depth descriptions of concepts, issues, and trends in various areas of CMC. The purpose of this handbook is to provide academic articles written in a more non-academic style, in the sense that each article should focus on a specific topic -- rather than a general treatment of CMC -- keeping in mind a readership with a varied background. This will allow scholarly ideas to be accessible to a wide range of readers. This book will explore various forms of CMC chapter by chapter and discuss the broad implications that each medium is having on communication.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to:
- Email
- Web Sites, web pages
- Blackberries
- Podcasts, RSS
- Chatrooms
- Instant messaging
- Text messaging
- Cell phones
- Corporate blogging (may mention implications of personal blogging in the workplace)
- Digital divide
- File sharing, peer to peer networking
- Online forums
- Computer mediated collaboration
- Wikis
- Historical aspects of CMC
- Effects of CMC on research participation
- Web Design and visual CMC

Submission Procedure: Individuals interested in submitting chapters should submit a chapter proposal of one single-spaced page on or before September 30, 2006 to Sigrid Kelsey at sigridkelsey@gmail.com (Rich Text Format or Microsoft Word is acceptable). The proposal should include the purpose and content of the proposed chapter and how the proposed chapter relates to the overall objectives of the book. Upon acceptance of their proposals, authors will have until December 31, 2006, to prepare their chapters of 5000-7000 words. Guidelines for preparing chapters will be sent upon acceptance of proposals. This book is tentatively scheduled for publishing by Idea Group Reference (an imprint of Idea Group Inc.), www.idea-group-ref.com, in 2008.