I'm Ellen Wartella, and I'm here to introduce a new podcast series titled Architects of Communication Scholarship as part of the International Communication Association Podcast Network. In this podcast series, we engage with thought leaders who have shaped communication scholarship around the world. The International Communication Association, ICA, is the largest worldwide academic organization devoted to the systematic study of communication. Conceived in 1950 as the National Society for the Study of Communication, NSSC, the association was originally constituted as an offshoot of the Speech Association of America. The modern form of institutionalized communication study was at the time in its early stages of development. Increased specialization of colleges and universities, which encourage the formation of speech and journalism programs, as well as higher demand for social scientific scholarship concerning the effects of new communication technologies and mass media were the primary currents that led to the disciplines official establishment. The formation of NSSC slash ICA brought together scholars of both mass communication and interpersonal communication backgrounds and provided a forum where they could present their research and shape the young disciplines identity. The organization has grown to more than 30 divisions or interest groups, the membership is international, and its annual meetings are held around the world. Most importantly, ICA members have since its inception been intellectual leaders in developing communication research. With this podcast, we will bring you interviews where several of these outstanding communication researchers who have been architects of communication scholarship will ask them questions about what motivated them to study communication, what they see as current status of their area of research, what they see as the important research questions in their respective areas moving forward, and we will ask how communication research contributes to societal challenges and opportunities. In each episode, I will introduce one of the architects of communication scholarship and a handpicked scholar who will be engaging in dialogue with that architect. This episode of architects of communication scholarship podcast series is presented by the International Communication Association and is sponsored by the School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University. Our producer is Jacqueline Colarusso. Our executive producer is Aldo Diaz Caballero, our Senior production coordinator is Nick Song. The theme music is by Humans Win (formerly Lance Conrad). For more information about our sponsor, be sure to check the episode description. Thanks for listening.