International Communication Association

The International Communication Association (ICA) is a scholarly membership organization for researchers, educators, and other specialists concerned with the study, teaching, and application of human and mediated communication. Its scope encompasses communication processes across interpersonal, organizational, cultural, political, technological, and media settings. Rather than operating as a commercial consumer brand, ICA functions as a professional and academic institution: it creates channels for scholarly exchange, supports disciplinary communities, publishes research, organizes conferences, and recognizes contributions through awards and fellowship programs. ICA originated in the United States on January 1, 1950, when it was established in Austin, Texas, as the National Society for the Study of Communication (NSSC). The new organization began as a subsidiary of the Speech Association of America, now known as the National Communication Association. Its early purpose was to provide a distinct institutional setting for communication scholarship. In 1951, the NSSC published the first issue of its official journal, the Journal of Communication, creating a continuing publication platform for research in the field. A major institutional turning point came in 1967, when the NSSC formally separated from the Speech Association of America and opened membership to scholars outside the United States. This internationalization was followed in 1969 by adoption of the name International Communication Association, reflecting the association's broader membership and ambitions. The name also positioned ICA as a transnational scholarly organization rather than solely a U.S. professional society. ICA's principal activities are scholarly publishing, annual convening, professional networking, research presentation, and recognition of achievement. Its annual conference brings together thousands of scholars from around the world and provides a venue for presenting research papers, participating in panels, meeting within specialized divisions and interest groups, and discussing developments in communication theory and practice. The association also communicates with members and the wider field through a monthly electronic newsletter and other organizational channels. Publishing is central to ICA's identity. Its journal portfolio covers foundational communication theory and research as well as newer areas involving digital media, computer-mediated communication, culture, critique, and global perspectives. The portfolio includes the Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, Communication Theory, Communication, Culture & Critique, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Annals of the International Communication Association, and Global Perspectives in Communication. Oxford University Press is identified as the association's current publishing partner for its principal journal program, while Annals of the International Communication Association is described as being published in partnership with Taylor & Francis. The association also contributes to the professional structure of communication studies through fellowships and awards. Its fellows include prominent scholars associated with communication theory, media research, digital communication, rhetoric, intercultural communication, political communication, and related fields. These recognition programs reinforce ICA's role in identifying influential scholarship and service to the discipline. Administratively, ICA moved its offices from Austin to Washington, D.C., in 2001. In 2006, it purchased a permanent headquarters in Washington. Its institutional reach is international even though its historical roots and headquarters are in the United States. The association's present identity is therefore best understood as a global scholarly society organized around communication research, education, publication, and academic community-building.

The International Communication Association traces its institutional history to January 1, 1950, when the National Society for the Study of Communication was founded in Austin, Texas. The organization was created as a subsidiary of the Speech Association of America, an institution now known as the National Communication Association. Its formation reflected the development of communication as a distinct field of inquiry and the need for a dedicated organization through which scholars could exchange research and support the emerging discipline. The association established an important publishing function early in its history. In 1951, the National Society for the Study of Communication issued the first number of its official journal, the Journal of Communication. The journal became a continuing platform for communication scholarship and remains part of the association's publishing legacy. In 1967, the organization formally separated from the Speech Association of America. The change gave it greater institutional independence and coincided with a decision to admit scholars from outside the United States. International membership altered the scale and character of the association, moving it beyond its original national framework. Two years later, in 1969, the organization adopted the name International Communication Association. The new name expressed its international membership and its ambition to represent communication scholarship across national and disciplinary boundaries. Over subsequent decades, ICA developed a broad program of scholarly activities. Its annual conference became a major meeting point for communication researchers, with hundreds of research papers and participation from more than 2,000 scholars described in reference materials. The association's work also expanded through journals addressing general communication research, human communication, theory, culture and critique, computer-mediated communication, and global perspectives. Awards and fellowships created additional mechanisms for recognizing influential research and service. The association's administrative base changed in the early twenty-first century. In 2001, ICA relocated its offices from Austin, Texas, to Washington, D.C. Five years later, in 2006, it purchased a permanent headquarters in the capital. These moves marked a change in institutional location while preserving the organization's international academic orientation. ICA's current structure combines membership services, scholarly publishing, annual meetings, electronic communications, and professional recognition. Its journal program includes the Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, Communication Theory, Communication, Culture & Critique, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Annals of the International Communication Association, and Global Perspectives in Communication. Oxford University Press is identified as its current publishing partner for the principal journal portfolio, with Annals of the International Communication Association associated with Taylor & Francis. Through its conferences, journals, awards, fellowships, and communication channels, ICA serves as an international platform for the production and circulation of communication knowledge. Its history reflects the institutionalization of communication studies from a U.S.-based society into a global scholarly association.

• 2006

  Permanent headquarters acquired

  [1]International Communication Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association purchased a permanent headquarters in Washington, D.C.

• 2001

  Relocation to Washington, D.C.

  [1]International Communication Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ICA moved its offices from Austin, Texas, to Washington, D.C.

• 1969

  Adoption of the International Communication Association name

  [1]International Communication Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization changed its name to the International Communication Association, reflecting its expanded international membership.

• 1967

  Separation from the Speech Association of America

  [1]International Communication Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became institutionally independent from the Speech Association of America and opened membership to scholars outside the United States.

• 1951

  First official journal issue

  [1]International Communication Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The National Society for the Study of Communication published the first issue of the Journal of Communication.

• 1950

  Founding as the National Society for the Study of Communication

  [1]International Communication Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was founded on January 1 in Austin, Texas, as the National Society for the Study of Communication, a subsidiary of the Speech Association of America.

A global professional association and scholarly infrastructure organization for communication researchers, educators, and practitioners, combining academic publishing, international convening, disciplinary recognition, and member services.

• Academic journal · 1951

  Journal of Communication

  ICA's official journal originated with the first issue published in 1951 under the organization's former name, the National Society for the Study of Communication. It serves as a major scholarly outlet for research on communication and represents the oldest publication identified in the association's journal history.

• Academic journal

  Human Communication Research

  A peer-reviewed journal in ICA's portfolio focused on research concerning human communication. It forms part of the association's broader publication system for advancing empirical and theoretical work in communication studies.

• Academic journal

  Communication Theory

  A peer-reviewed publication devoted to theoretical work in communication. Its place in the ICA portfolio supports the development, examination, and circulation of communication concepts and explanatory frameworks.

• Academic journal

  Communication, Culture & Critique

  A journal addressing communication in relation to culture and critical inquiry. It broadens ICA's publication range beyond general communication research to scholarship examining cultural meanings, power, interpretation, and critique.

• Academic journal

  Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

  A peer-reviewed journal focused on communication conducted through digital and computer-mediated environments. It represents ICA's engagement with technologically enabled communication and the research questions generated by networked media.

• Academic journal

  Annals of the International Communication Association

  An ICA journal included in the association's current publication portfolio and described as being published in partnership with Taylor & Francis. It contributes to the association's program of scholarly synthesis and research communication.

• Academic journal

  Global Perspectives in Communication

  A journal in ICA's portfolio emphasizing communication research from global perspectives. Its inclusion reflects the association's international membership and interest in communication across national and cultural contexts.

1. 1International Communication Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Communication Association official websiteicahdq.org