Usha Raman - Candidate for President

Usha Raman
Professor, Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad, India

On this page, you will find Usha Raman's candidate statement, the names of nominating members along with their supporting statements, as well as endorsements from other IAMCR members.

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Statement

The last four years as Vice President of the IAMCR Executive Board have given me insights into the dynamics of keeping a global community of scholars together, nurturing an inclusive and welcoming environment for individuals across career stages and backgrounds. It has also given me a sense of what more needs to be done to make the IAMCR leadership even more participatory and responsive to the challenges of a rapidly changing world. IAMCR has been an intellectual home for those of us who reject historical hegemonies and wish to pursue the kind of research and teaching practice that addresses such structures of power. My own work around gender, digital inequalities and the future of work grapples with these questions, as does the scholarship of many of my colleagues in regions that have for long been seen as the periphery—even as such scholarship is now central to our discipline. Hegemonic structures of knowledge production and dissemination have kept many from participating fully in broader conversations. Being located in the non-West, I believe I can bring both perspective and experience to inform a more inclusive approach to leading IAMCR, and expanding its relevance to those who practice and study media and communications globally.

(Spanish)

Los últimos cuatro años como Vice Presidenta del Comité Ejecutivo de la AIECS me han permitido comprender y apreciar las dinámicas necesarias para juntar a una comunidad de académicos, nutriendo un ambiente incluyente y que dé la bienvenida a individuos de todas las etapas de carrera y de todos los caminos. También me ha dado un sentido de lo que se necesita para que el liderazgo de la AIECS sea aún más participativo y responda a las necesidades de un mundo cambiante. La AIECS ha sido un hogar intelectual para aquéllos de nosotros que nos rehusamos a aceptar las hegemonías históricas y que preferimos construir las prácticas de investigación y enseñanza dirigidas a entender tales estructuras de poder. Mi propio trabajo sobre género, desigualdades digitales y el futuro del trabajo lidia con estas preguntas, así como lo hace la investigación de mis colegas en regiones que durante mucho tiempo han sido vistas como las periferias—inclusive ahora que nuestra contribución es central a nuestra disciplina. Las estructuras hegemónicas de producción y diseminación del conocimiento no han permitido que muchos participen de lleno en conversaciones más amplias. Al estar fuera del Occidente, considero que puedo traer perspectiva y experiencia para informar un liderazgo más incluyente en la AIECS, expandiendo su relevancia a quienes estudian y practican medios y comunicación globalmente.

(French)

Au cours des quatre dernières années, ma participation au sein du Conseil exécutif de l’AIERI, à titre de vice-présidente, m’a offert un aperçu sur la dynamique soutenant une communauté globale d’universitaires, en favorisant un environnement inclusif et accueillant destiné aux personnes venant de divers horizons et stades de carrière. Par ailleurs, cela m’a également permis de mieux cerner les moyens par lesquels on peut rendre la direction de l’AIERI encore plus participative et réceptive aux défis d’un monde en mutation rapide. L’Association a toujours été un foyer intellectuel pour ceux parmi nous qui rejetaient les hégémonies historiques et qui, par la suite, désiraient poursuivre les travaux de recherche et des pratiques pédagogiques traitant de telles structures de pouvoir. Je me suis confrontée aux mêmes questions dans le cadre de mes travaux portant sur le genre, l’inégalité numérique et l’avenir du travail. Il en est de même pour les études menées par de nombreux de mes collègues provenant des régions longtemps perçues comme périphériques. Et pourtant, ces axes se trouvent aujourd’hui au cœur de notre discipline. Les structures hégémoniques de production et de diffusion des connaissances ont empêché la pleine participation aux discussions plus élargies. En tant que membre ‘non-occidental’, je crois pouvoir apporter une orientation plus inclusive de la direction de l’AIERI, autant par ma perspective que par mon expérience. L’Association peut ainsi s’avérer plus pertinente pour ceux qui s’intéressent à la pratique et aux études en matière de médias et de communication à l’échelle mondiale.

(Mandarin)

在过去四年里，我担任国际媒介与传播研究学会（IAMCR） 执行委员会副主席，这使我充分理解了如何将全球学者团结在一起，为来自各个职业阶段和背景的学者营造一个包容和友好的环境。这也让我意识到还需要做更多工作，才能使这一社区更具参与性，更好地应对世界发展的变化与我们所面临的挑战。对于我们这些拒绝接受历史霸权、并希望通过研究和教学实践来解决此类权力结构问题的人来说，IAMCR 一直是我们的思想家园。这意味着，我们以不同的方式看待学术界，并利用我们所掌握的知识工具来改变我们看待、体验和干预世界的方式——在这方面，媒体与传播学可以提供很多帮助。尽管最近本学会有越来越多来自全球南方的学者加入，但从领导层尚未反映出这一转变。凭借多年来在印度和全球学术界的经验所获得的洞察力，我能为本学会带来更广阔的视角。

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Prof. Adilson Vaz Cabral Filho, Full Professor at Fluminense Federal University, Brazil:

For her experience in conducting activities along the current mandate and mobilizing efforts for the development of IAMCR worldwide, it’s very important to carry on this work for the benefit of the association.

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Dr Aditya Deshbandhu, University of Exeter, UK:

I am writing this email to nominate Prof. Usha Raman for the post of the President in the forthcoming elections. I have known her (in the context of IAMCR) since she was head of the Local Organizing Committee of the Hyderabad conference in 2014 and have noticed her willingness to be actively involved in the body's decisions like with the institution of the Stuart Hall award at that very conference. Since then her commitment to making IAMCR "the venue" for meaningful research in Global South contexts has been key to the conference remaining a site of rigorous research and progress in the years of the pandemic and the challenges faced in Lyon. 

As IAMCR moves forward, its commitment to remaining an inclusive, democratic, and philosophically open space for discussion of challenging ideas and critiquing regimes that are increasingly overlooking tenets of cohabitation and peace becomes paramount and I can think of no other person to lead the body in this difficult time. Usha exemplifies the values of the IAMCR in her work and her willingness to listen to others' ideas while always remaining accountable for the decisions in her tenure.

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Andrea Medrado, School of Media and Communication, University of Westminster, UK

It’s been a pleasure and an honour to work closely with Usha in these 4 years at the Executive Board. Usha is an inspiring scholar, researcher and person. She listens attentively to the concerns of the membership. She is also a generous mentor to the many students she has supervised and worked with. Usha has also done excellent work as the liaison of the Publications Committee. Recently, we have also been able to propose a plan that allows Section & Working Group Chairs and Vice-chairs to apply for travel grants to attend conference. This is an important first step towards more inclusivity and support to scholars and early career researchers, particularly those based in institutions of the Global South.

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Anna Gladkova, Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation

I have known Usha for over five years now and have been largely inspired by her enthusiasm, creativity, global vision and exception communication and research talents. I think Usha has contributed a lot to IAMCR becoming more global, inclusive and well-known association in the field of media and communication research worldwide over her term as IAMCR Vice President. On a more personal note, I am grateful to Usha for wonderful collaboration with Lomonosov Moscow State University as a guest lecturer and keynote speaker at the International conferences and events. I am wishing Usha continued success in everything she does and fully support her candidacy as IAMCR President.

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Changfeng Chen
IC member of IAMCR
Professor, School of Journalism & Communication, Tsinghua University, China

I am writing to express my wholehearted endorsement of Usha Raman's candidacy for the position of President of IAMCR. Usha has not only demonstrated outstanding dedication and leadership in her current role as Vice President but has also exhibited exceptional qualities throughout her academic career.

As a Professor at the University of Hyderabad, India, Usha Raman has made significant contributions to the field of media and communication research. Her expertise, coupled with her commitment to advancing the goals of IAMCR, positions her as an ideal candidate for the role of President.

Having worked closely with Usha, I have witnessed her unwavering commitment to fostering international collaboration and promoting the diverse voices within our community. Usha's vision for the future of IAMCR is forward-thinking, inclusive, and aligns seamlessly with the organization's mission.

I wholeheartedly support Usha Raman's candidacy and believe she is the right person to lead IAMCR into the future. 

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Devina Sarwatay
Presidential Fellow, City, University of London
United Kingdom

I am Devina, a long-standing member of IAMCR and presently co-Vice Chair of the Media Education Research (MER) section. With this statement, I nominate Prof. Usha Raman for the position of IAMCR President.

I first met Prof. Raman as a newly admitted PhD student at the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad, India. Since she was the only one at the Department working in the area I wanted to pursue my doctoral research in, I approached her to be my supervising professor and, honestly, that was the best decision I could have made for my academic career! Not only is Usha ma'am a brilliant scholar, she is, I believe more importantly, one of the best human beings I have come across.

Knowledgeable and humble, eloquent and approachable, she is the kind of professor anyone would be blessed to have, and I aspire to become. From being a PhD student in India to now holding the Presidential Fellowship at City, University of London, United Kingdom, she has been my mentor, facilitator, collaborator, and guide every step of the way! Together, we have not only carried out award-winning research, but also built networks globally. She has brought the best out of me, just as she does with everyone around her, including my fellow doctoral scholars and colleagues at the Department as well as other Early Career and Senior Researchers who often turn to her for collaborations as well as counsel and support.

Her kindness and generosity are immense and reflect in her approach to critical scholarship, whereby she not only engages with research and outreach that work towards bettering inclusion and equity, but she is also unafraid of espousing these causes of social justice. In a world increasingly fraught with precarity and de/insensitivity, we need more scholars like Prof. Raman who maintain their composure and offer an empathetic, measured, and fair response to the challenges around us. These are all qualities I want my IAMCR President to have and this is why we need Prof. Usha Raman in the chief leadership role at IAMCR.

I strongly endorse her candidature for President and encourage everyone to vote for her.

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Elske van de Fliert
IAMCR Treasurer
The University of Queensland, School of Communication and Arts, Australia

Hereby, I would like to nominate Usha Raman for the position of President and Andrea Medrado for the position of Vice-President 2024-2028. I had the pleasure of working with both of them in the 2020-2024 Executive Board and believe they are highly capable and committed to furthering the mission of IAMCR, and particularly to making it a more diverse and inclusive association. I also believe that it is vital that the 2024-2028 EB will have members from the previous Board who can carry successful strategies through to the next period, while revamping strategies that were less effective.

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Kanchan K. Malik
University of Hyderabad, India

Professor Raman's academic contributions to Media and Communication Research and her commendable service as the Vice-President of IAMCR make her a deserving candidate for the role of President.

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Pradip Thomas
University of Queensland, Australia

I am delighted to nominate Prof. Usha Raman for the post of President, IAMCR. If she is elected, she will be the first woman from the South to head the IAMCR – a major achievement in itself and a signal to the rest of the world of the inclusive, progressive agenda at the heart of the IAMCR. As a VP of the IAMCR, Usha has demonstrated time and again the benefits of clear thinking and a quiet, understated approach to dealing with the intellectual, administrative and strategic challenges faced by IAMCR in a context in which the relevance of IAMCR as a professional communications association requires re-visioning and restating. Usha in her role as VP has been involved in exploring critical issues linked to IAMCR including the imperative of Open Access. She has played an important role in the Task Force on the Global Alliance for Media and Gender while also being involved in the IAMCR History project and reviewing the work of Sections and Working Groups. In this sense Usha is close to the beating heart of IAMCR and knows the association and its membership. The next President of IAMCR will work in a context characterised by rapid political and technological change – a context that requires a person with the knowledge and sensibility to navigate the currents and position IAMCR as a relevant, thinking, global association that has the nous to make a difference.

Those of you who know Prof. Raman will recognise the fact that beneath her unassuming and quiet exterior, there is an extraordinary intellect, a committed scholar, a public intellectual involved in exploring key media issues that have both local and global purchase, an intellect who is happy to debate and discuss and provide leadership in dealing with the world’s most pressing issues related to media, communication and the digital. One of Prof Raman’s key strengths is her openness to new ideas and new thinking. Most importantly though, she is by her very nature an inclusive person, and her inclusive leadership will ensure that IAMCR lives up to its principles as a truly international organisation, welcoming of all. Prof Raman has made major contributions to feminist media studies, media and children and digital cultures and has played a pioneering role in communicating these concerns to the public through a variety of media interventions.

I am sure that there are many friends of IAMCR who would agree that what the association needs at this moment in time is stable, inclusive leadership, someone with vision and a pragmatic approach to dealing with the challenges faced by a global association. Usha fits the bill.