From whence we came and where we are going: the editors’ introduction

Abstract

Much can be said about the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: omnipresent threats to democracy in the U.S. and abroad; global surges of anti-Semitic, racist, and white supremacist violence; steadily unfolding consequences of the contentious 2020 U.S. presidential election; and nefarious upticks in anti-LGBTQIA+ bills, policy, and laws. Increasingly characterized by polarization and fragmentation, our cultural landscape offers a great deal to reflect upon, question, mourn, and resist. Yet, there are also glimmers of hope and societal transformation lighting our path forward. Gen Z has proven itself highly effective at utilizing social media to raise climate change awareness and impact policy; artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT, has the potential to generate new solutions to some of humanity’s oldest problems; and the stories told by Indigenous and women of color filmmakers continue to gain prominence. Turning our attention inward, the National Communication Association (NCA) has transformed what began as shining moments worthy of celebration into material achievements that re/shape our discipline. Foremost is Dr. Shari Miles-Cohen’s competitive selection as NCA’s Executive Director, the first African American woman to serve in this role. Since 2013, when the IDEA Council became part of the executive leadership structure, NCA has consistently leveled up its prioritization of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) throughout the organization. Recent efforts include remedying exclusionary awards practices, welcoming three new caucuses as interest groups (Caribbean Communication; Indigenous; and South West Asian/North African, Middle East), and further diversifying its journal editorships and editorial boards. The lack of intersectional diversity represented among journal editors and editorial boards can be traced back to the origination of 11 of NCA’s 12 journals. Recounted in the 2021 IDEA Task Force Report, NCA formally acknowledged exclusionary barriers in our discipline’s publication processes via the 1988–1990 Speech Communication Association Taskforce on Affirmative Action. In 2018, scholar–activists led a renewed call to remove structural barriers that discourage scholars of color and Others who identify with marginalized populations from applying and/or earning these appointments (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Strategic Planning Task Force [IDEA], 2022a, p. 1; see also IDEA, 2022b). NCA’s newest journal, Communication & Race, acknowledges and addresses our discipline’s need to “counteract the ongoing exclusions of scholars and scholarship related