BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:2026beaol X-WR-CALDESC:Event Calendar METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:-//Sched.com 2026 BEA OL//EN X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261008T190000Z DTEND:20261008T200000Z SUMMARY:Registration and Refreshments DESCRIPTION: CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT\, ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401 Suite\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:901c3f2bb48ada9bd019d64dbd0f5b28 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/901c3f2bb48ada9bd019d64dbd0f5b28 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261008T200000Z DTEND:20261008T210000Z SUMMARY:Catching the Buzz: The Use of Social Media in Brewery Start-Up and Growth DESCRIPTION:The session will explore how breweries use social media to build their brands\, connect with customers and grow their businesses.\n\nConference attendees may choose to sample local beers at our reception at Medici immediately following the panel.\n\nModerator: Rebecca Hayes\, Illinois State University\nPanelists:\nJeremy Christy\, Design & Media Manager\, Destihl Beer Hall + Barrel Room\nJeffrey Mroz\, Keg Grove Brewing Company CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8433feed0b8f6045a54e9e41a0f05797 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/8433feed0b8f6045a54e9e41a0f05797 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261008T213000Z DTEND:20261008T230000Z SUMMARY:Welcome Reception @ Medici DESCRIPTION:Join us as we kick-off the 2026 On-Location Conference!\n\nSpecial thanks to this year's host\, Illionois State University\, and to our sponsor\, Ross Video. CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Medici (upstairs atrium)\, 120 W North St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1c005da84daeee5ba20eec64783925c5 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/1c005da84daeee5ba20eec64783925c5 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T140000Z DTEND:20261009T150000Z SUMMARY:Ross Video Presents...Graphics Tell the Story DESCRIPTION:Today’s leading educators are empowering the next generation of storytellers to create engaging news\, sports\, entertainment\, & virtual content with powerful live motion graphics solutions. Widely adopted production applications and successful instructional models adopting best practices will be reviewed. CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Stevenson 401a\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0e9cb3f9cd20a335eb3adccbbdcaddfa URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/0e9cb3f9cd20a335eb3adccbbdcaddfa END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T140000Z DTEND:20261009T150000Z SUMMARY:Sports Success: Best Practices in Sports Media Classes and Coverage DESCRIPTION:This session will cover best practices for students in producing sports media coverage such as play-by-play and live game broadcasts\, sports storytelling\, and the use of social media in sports coverage. This session will also include best practices in designing any sports media classes on those concepts for academic curriculum. CATEGORIES:JOURNALISM & MEDIA\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1868c20d05dc75bac4f375a0c6305ec8 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/1868c20d05dc75bac4f375a0c6305ec8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T151500Z DTEND:20261009T161500Z SUMMARY:Exploring Local Market TV and Audience Engagement Through Hyperlocal News DESCRIPTION:This panel explores strategies\, tools\, and newsroom practices that enable local television stations to deliver effective hyperlocal news coverage. It is connected to the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont\, that promotes and supports campus media as a means of serving underserved audiences\, but also recognizes challenges for local market commercial TV stations in maintaining local audience engagement\, recognizing that audiences seek information that directly impacts their neighborhoods\, communities\, and daily lives. Panelists will provide specific scenarios demonstrating that TV stations have a unique opportunity to strengthen engagement through localized and specialized storytelling. The session will examine how local broadcast-based news can identify community-driven topics\, leverage digital and social platforms\, use data and audience insights\, and create content that reflects the concerns and interests of specific demographic categories. Attendees will learn practical approaches for building audience engagement\, increasing audience loyalty\, and positioning their stations as essential sources of timely\, relevant\, and community-focused journalism. The panel will also help student media managers learn more about how they can benefit from engagement with the Center for Community News. \nModerator: Tony DeMars\, Texas Wesleyan University\nPanelists: Mike Arnold\, Indiana University\nKevin Swift\, University of North Carolina-Pembroke \nTony DeMars\, Texas Wesleyan University \nClejetter Cousins\, University of North Carolina-Pembroke CATEGORIES:JOURNALISM & MEDIA\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:61a8d0dda5eaa3b40e2890339b055553 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/61a8d0dda5eaa3b40e2890339b055553 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T151500Z DTEND:20261009T161500Z SUMMARY:Research Session: Audio Media\, Music and Performance DESCRIPTION:Creating Radio’s “Farm System”: The Case for Shifting College Radio from “Student-Run” to “Student-Operated” in Instructional Settings\; Len O’Kelly\, \;Grand Valley State University\n\nMe or Thee? An Examination of Lyrical Focus of 2025 CCM Songs\; Casey Hart\; \;Stephen F. Austin State University\n\nEars Across America: Establishing a National Ad Hoc Audio Drama Exhibition Network\; William Anderson\, \;Central Michigan University CATEGORIES:RESEARCH\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401a\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:7120238c1e8cb085a274191c626044f8 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/7120238c1e8cb085a274191c626044f8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T163000Z DTEND:20261009T173000Z SUMMARY:Media Educators & State Broadcast Associations: Partnering for Student Success DESCRIPTION:From Sponsoring "BEA Days" to offering scholarships and internship opportunities\, state broadcaster associations are invaluable partners in our work as media educators. This panel showcases best practices based on the experiences of panelists from five states. \;Some faculty have worked closely with local media in their markets while others have connected with other faculty state broadcast educator associations. These are all strategies we want to share and celebrate during this panel discussion. Attendees should plan to take away at least TWO (2) ideas that they can implement in their state. CATEGORIES:PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b82dfa4c41061d8348c8895b7cd60ae1 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/b82dfa4c41061d8348c8895b7cd60ae1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T174500Z DTEND:20261009T184500Z SUMMARY:Lunch Break DESCRIPTION:Grab a lunch and head back to the lunchtime session or sit and talk to colleagues.t \; CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Stevenson 140\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:816491e883e8cede86b18ef9d91626c9 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/816491e883e8cede86b18ef9d91626c9 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T174500Z DTEND:20261009T184500Z SUMMARY:Teaching TV History for Tumultuous Times DESCRIPTION:Join us for this lunchtime session!\nThis panel is designed for instructors teaching broadcast history courses with a specific focus on why history is relevant and necessary to understanding current seismic shifts in the business of making\, distributing and regulating broadcasting. Panelists will discuss strategies and best practices for engaging students and helping them understand the through line from the enactment of policy (such as the Communication Act of 1934 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996) and the precedent set by early broadcast figures (such as Edward R. Murrow or Faye Emerson) to today’s broadcast ecosystem (using recent studies such as the battle over Jimmy Kimmel\, the Nexstar-Tegna Merger\, the adaptation of NextGenTV\, and the controversy at 60 Minutes). Time will be allotted for engaged discussion with panel attendees. CATEGORIES:TEACHING & CURRICULUM\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4d113e248533d0911ff0a6ad1934e913 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/4d113e248533d0911ff0a6ad1934e913 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T181500Z DTEND:20261009T184500Z SUMMARY:Student Showcase Snapshot Session DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:JOURNALISM & MEDIA LOCATION:Stevenson 401a\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:3d04c3e6194bb04a16cd559d104b4737 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/3d04c3e6194bb04a16cd559d104b4737 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T190000Z DTEND:20261009T200000Z SUMMARY:Blending Filmmaking and Academic Work DESCRIPTION:Panelists will discuss the dual role of creating creative content while working in academic roles. CATEGORIES:CREATIVE & PRODUCTION\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401a\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:96a406f3968e20d459483dd2560dc8ee URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/96a406f3968e20d459483dd2560dc8ee END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T190000Z DTEND:20261009T200000Z SUMMARY:Journalist's Experiences with Confrontational Sources DESCRIPTION:In a time when journalists are under greater scrutiny from the general public as well as those holding political power\, the requirements of a journalist’s job continue to need reassessment. Several instances on the national level involving confrontational exchanges between President Donald Trump and mainstream media journalists have garnered national attention and sparked conversation regarding best practices for how journalists should respond and handle their composure during such confrontations. However\, local journalists are and have been dealing with these same issues from hostile witnesses and lower-level politicians (e.g. county board members\, city council members\, etc.) across the political spectrum of ideologies who have been emboldened to treat the press in the same manner. In this panel\, we will explore not only the well-known examples of Trump confronting journalists in public venues but local journalists experiences with confrontational sources and how\, if at all\, those journalists and those around them should respond. Tips for handling tense moments while gathering and reporting the news involving those in power will be discussed from both an academic and professional practice perspective. \nModerator: K. Megan Hopper\, Illinois State University\nPanelists: \;Bob Carroll\, Illinois State University\nColleen Holden\, Illinois State University\nSteve Suess\, Illinois State University CATEGORIES:JOURNALISM & MEDIA\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:6a0c8d2b44deb3bd8b0c838e7242bd4a URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/6a0c8d2b44deb3bd8b0c838e7242bd4a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T201500Z DTEND:20261009T211500Z SUMMARY:Research Session: Media Influence and Public Discourse DESCRIPTION:Gate-surfing: A new gatekeeping model to observe how local newsrooms are selecting stories and navigating the tsunami of mis-and disinformation in the age of AI\; Grace Provenzano\; \;Des Moines Area Community College\n\nPersuasive Attack and Defense of the “Indiana Bears”:  \;Subverting the Rustbelt from Just Across the Street\; Joseph Blaney\, \;Illinois State University\n\nWhy Do Youth Listen to Celebrities as Spokespersons on Social Media in African Social Change Discourse?\; Kuburat Ayinde\, \;Illinois State University CATEGORIES:RESEARCH\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:848b5927640a532dc1db900df65ababb URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/848b5927640a532dc1db900df65ababb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T201500Z DTEND:20261009T211500Z SUMMARY:The Film Festival as a University Course DESCRIPTION:The film festival as a course presents a unique opportunity for students to enrich their media education by helping plan and stage a centrally important media industry event while also developing transferable project-based skills. For emerging filmmakers\, festivals provide valuable opportunities to engage audiences for their work while also offering professional development and networking exposure. But how might we understand the additional pedagogical benefits that programming such festivals create? In particular\, producing a film festival in the classroom encourages students to consider a number of interrelated questions: What is the core function of a film festival and who is its intended audience? What are the various entanglements connecting the course to the university\, community\, and broader film industry? Is the film festival primarily a showcase of the program’s or school’s output or an opportunity to connect the program to other players beyond the university campus? How does the festival produce a uniquely curated experience? And relatedly\, what methods of evaluation and judgment are used to curate a program whether that means establishing criteria of inclusion and exclusion or determining how films are to be ordered in programming blocks? This panel identifies the benefits of such efforts\, which includes incorporating students into film curation practice\, utilizing films as vehicles for instruction given their ability to enliven class content\, and further connecting courses to the broader community through shared exhibition spaces. CATEGORIES:TEACHING & CURRICULUM\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Normal Theater\, 209 W North St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0d094d963630ac9a224613bc2b2afc2a URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/0d094d963630ac9a224613bc2b2afc2a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261009T213000Z DTEND:20261009T230000Z SUMMARY:Reception DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Pub II (back patio)\, 102 N Linden St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:5e10e54a5ff25dd1f9b2ef469047a311 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/5e10e54a5ff25dd1f9b2ef469047a311 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261010T140000Z DTEND:20261010T150000Z SUMMARY:Optional Tours of ISU’s WZND and TV10 DESCRIPTION: CATEGORIES:JOURNALISM & MEDIA\, ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Fell Hall (TV10 and WZND)\, 340 S University St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0a1bf26e100dc006f3b0d97f4b6310b8 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/0a1bf26e100dc006f3b0d97f4b6310b8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261010T151500Z DTEND:20261010T161500Z SUMMARY:Drones\, Podcasts and Prison Education: The Evolution of The Nation's First HBCU J-School DESCRIPTION:When it launched in 1942 as the first journalism program at an Historically Black College\, Lincoln University's School of Journalism in Jefferson City not only engaged students working at The Clarion\, the student newspaper started in the 1930s\, but also hosted high school journalism conferences and a national awards program. With fewer than 30 students\, the school was established in the era of segregation. Today\, even with a small enrollment\, the program continues to expand and evolve with a new broadcast facility scheduled to open in 2026. This session showcases both the rich history and the present of the Lincoln University Journalism program. Media historian George Daniels shares what he's learned researching the history of the j-school and its graduates. Will Sites\, the only full-time faculty member in the Lincoln University program shares how he's maintained high standards of journalism while looking for ways to introduce cutting edge technologies into his teaching\, which has expanded to the local Jefferson City Correctional Center. Students in the prison education program are now contributing news content to The Clarion's website. CATEGORIES:COMMUNITY & EMERGING ISSUES\, ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401a\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:6495c3f11be2ea689e1146f4b86c6029 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/6495c3f11be2ea689e1146f4b86c6029 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261010T151500Z DTEND:20261010T161500Z SUMMARY:Beyond Campus: Working with the Off-Campus Community as Student Media DESCRIPTION:While most student radio and television stations work closely with campus partners\, it can be difficult to build relationships with the broader community as a student media outlet. On many campuses\, students are unfamiliar with the broader community since they are far from home and their on-campus living situation in a college town is temporary. From an advisor perspective\, working with community partners can be particularly difficult for student media outlets because of frequent staff turnover. This panel will discuss how WZND Radio at Illinois State University has been able to successfully embed itself into the broader Bloomington-Normal community despite these challenges. Faculty and students will provide specific examples\, including partnerships with local arts and entertainment venues\, regular interviews with local newsmakers\, and support for local philanthropic organizations. The panel will also discuss best practices for off-campus community involvement and how to get students to "buy into" a local mindset despite seeing the broader community as temporary neighbors. CATEGORIES:JOURNALISM & MEDIA\, ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:311efb43efa26b150eafb1a6e593243d URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/311efb43efa26b150eafb1a6e593243d END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261010T163000Z DTEND:20261010T173000Z SUMMARY:Faculty Best of Show Creative Showcase DESCRIPTION:Join our 2026 Faculty Creative Competition Best of Show winners as they showcase their work and talk about their creative processes.\n\nAudio Competition: Dyslexia Stories Podcast episode 1\, \;Stacey Irwin – Millersville University\nDocumentary Competition: \;One Day in November\, \;Brian Plow – Ohio University\nFilm & Video Competition: \;Red Rice\, \;Wenhwa Tsao – Columbia College Chicago\nInteractive Multimedia & Emerging Technologies Competition: \;The life of Yesman\, \;Michael Lee & Jaeho Kang – Ball State University CATEGORIES:CREATIVE & PRODUCTION\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:a450bd6241395ef07401b7f306140b05 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/a450bd6241395ef07401b7f306140b05 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261010T163000Z DTEND:20261010T173000Z SUMMARY:Research Session: Media Education and the Academic Workplace DESCRIPTION:Assessing “Advancing a Culturally Proficient Workforce”: A First-Year Review\; George Daniels\, \;University of Alabama\n\nThe Tipping Point: Time Allocation\, “Hidden” Service and Work-Life Balance in Media-Centric Departments\; Sara Magee\, \;Loyola University Maryland and Adam Kuban\, Ball State University\n\nHistorical Broadcast Journalism Program as a Media Law Pedagogical Resource: A Critical Discourse Analysis of The MacNeil/Lehrer Report: “The A.C.L.U. and the Nazis”\; Raja Das\, Ohio University\n\n\n CATEGORIES:RESEARCH\,ALL SESSIONS LOCATION:Stevenson 401a\, 300 S School St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:cc61742c2892b57158ed963c973f8e37 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/cc61742c2892b57158ed963c973f8e37 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261010T174500Z DTEND:20261010T190000Z SUMMARY:Awards Lunch and Closing Plenary: "Stop meeting students where they are": Reclaiming academic rigor in the AI & digital era DESCRIPTION:This panel addresses a burgeoning tension in higher education: the conflict between maintaining traditional academic rigor and feeling the pressure to "meet students where they are." Inspired by Walt Hunter’s February 2026 article in The Atlantic\, "Stop Meeting Students Where They Are\," executive board members Thom Baggerman (Point Park University)\, Sara Magee (Loyola University-Maryland)\, Adam Kuban (Ball State University)\, and Jen Meadows (California State University-Chico) will facilitate a candid discussion on the pedagogical and professional impacts of "holding the line." As curricula are increasingly condensed to accommodate shortened attention spans and digital distractions\, faculty reinforcing high standards often face being branded as "anti-student" or tone-deaf to modern learners' needs. This session explores the rationales and tactics of educators who refuse to abbreviate expectations\, arguing that true student-centricity involves providing the rigorous training necessary for long-term professional competency rather than immediate academic comfort. Beyond the classroom\, panelists will grapple with institutional ramifications\, specifically regarding student retention and morale. In an era where administrators can often equate retention with student satisfaction\, high academic standards can seem in conflict with university enrollment goals. Participants will discuss the "retention-rigor paradox\," examining how to navigate pressures to inflate grades while preserving the integrity of the degree. By sharing strategies for communicating the value of "productive struggle" to both students and administrators\, this panel aims to empower faculty to reclaim the classroom as a site of deep\, sustained focus without sacrificing their commitment to student success. CATEGORIES:TEACHING & CURRICULUM\,ALL SESSIONS\,SPECIAL EVENT LOCATION:Hancock Stadium\, 211 N Main St\, Normal\, IL 61761\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:d75e525a99d363cba5099d0bf4c88575 URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/d75e525a99d363cba5099d0bf4c88575 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260912T154829Z DTSTART:20261010T190000Z DTEND:20261010T230000Z SUMMARY:Brewery Crawl DESCRIPTION:Join us for a casual brewery crawl at \;Destihl\, Keg Grove and Fiala Brothers. \; \;\n\nA bus will pick up the group outside of Hancock to start the crawl\, and we'll conclude at Fiala Brothers\, a short walk from the Hyatt.\n\n\n CATEGORIES: LOCATION:Illinois State University SEQUENCE:0 UID:8bf3ab87985b578cd26b006d87a5e4cb URL:http://2026beaol.sched.com/event/8bf3ab87985b578cd26b006d87a5e4cb END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR