Shaunak Sastry, PhD, Highlights Global Inclusion in China

Beijing, China – The National Communication Association’s (NCA) Second Vice-President, Shaunak Sastry, PhD, participated in the Fifth Biennial Conference on Communication, Governance, and Media in the Age of Globalization, held June 16–18 in Beijing. Co-sponsored by NCA and the Communication University of China (CUC), also colloquially known as the “NCA-CUC Summer Conference.”

The conference reflects Sastry’s vision for fostering a more globally inclusive discipline of communication, one that bridges perspectives across cultural, national, and academic boundaries. In his opening remarks, Sastry emphasized the importance of sustained international collaboration in advancing the field. “Rather than resorting to parochialism, suspicion, and mistrust, it is our sheer hope that this scholarly exchange between U.S. and China-based scholars (as well as scholars from across the globe) will be a model for the incredible value and merit in working together,” he said.

The three-day program featured a diverse range of panels and presentations, showcasing innovative work from both students and faculty. From cutting-edge studies in digital media to critical analyses of journalism in the age of gen-AI, the conference highlighted a breadth of topics relevant to our field today.

Sastry praised the intellectual energy of the gathering, remarking on insightful, playful and provocative uses of AI in media and communication research presentations. Several NCA members were also in attendance, reinforcing the association’s commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships and dialogue with global colleagues.