No. 512 - December 13, 2023


Coming Events


FIMSWrites - Fall Edition
Every Wednesday
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Check your Western email for the Zoom link (or contact Pam McKenzie) or drop in to FNB 4070.
Do you expect to have assignment, story, article, report, thesis, and/or book writing deadlines coming up in the Fall term? Does having other people writing around you help keep you on-task? Then join us for FIMSWrites, an informal initiative to provide some solidarity in the sometimes-solitary writing process. What it is: a group of people sitting silently together working on their individual writing projects for 25-minute Pomodoro sessions, with short breaks between and a longer mid-morning coffee, snack, and socializing break. What it's not: a writing tutorial or workshop. Open to FIMS faculty and grad students who have writing to work on.


Important Dates

- Friday, December 22, 2023 - End of undergraduate exam period
- Saturday, December 23, 2023 - Wednesday, January 3, 2024 - University/FIMS offices closed
- Friday, January 5, 2024 - Orientation for new MLIS students
- Monday, January 8, 2024 - Undergraduate and Graduate courses resume
- Monday, January 15, 2024 - Nominations open for membership on Senate
- Monday, January 15, 2024 - Nominations open for membership on Board of Governors
- Friday, January 19, 2024 - Meeting of the Senate (A&HB, 1R40, 1:30 PM)


Awards & Accomplishments


MLIS student Tianyang Qiu (Joe) was named the winner of the Spirit of Librarianship Award for the Fall 2023 term. The Spirit of Librarianship Award is presented each term by the MLISSC. A list of past winners can be found online.

Rudra Seegobin, FIMS Co-op and Internship Assistant, was named the winner of the Fantastic FIMS Award for the Fall 2023 term. The Fantastic FIMS Award is presented each term by the MLISSC. A list of past winners can be found online.


Publications & Presentations


Media Studies PhD candidate Juan Escobar-Lamanna published an article titled “Microsoft’s ban on third-party controllers on the Xbox excludes some disabled gamers from using the device” in The Conversation on December 5, 2023.

Media Studies PhD student Santasil Mallik published an article titled "Payment controversy over 'The Elephant Whisperers' provokes questions about documentary storytelling," in The Conversation on December 3, 2023.

Professor Anabel Quan-Haase presented a talk entitled "Technology and Society" at the Western Alumni Winter Lecture Series on December 8 at the Faculty of Education.

Gigi Wong, Media Studies PhD student, published an article titled “Digital China and its discontents: On the politics of Sinofuturism and image building at the Venice Biennale” in Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art, 10.3 (Nov 2023)


In the Media


Professor Tim Blackmore was quoted in an article titled "Hyperfemininity: Is it Feminist or not?" published by the Gazette on December 7.

Associate Professor Norma Coates appeared in a number of news sources recently. On December 6, Professor Coates was interviewed on London Live with Mike Stubbs on AM980 about Taylor Swift being named TIME's Person of the Year (Part 1) (Part 2). On December 7, she joined Mornings with Simi on 980 CKNW in Vancouver for a segment titled "Should we care about Taylor Swift being TIME's Person of the Year?" and she was also a guest on CBC's Afternoon Drive (Part 1) (Part 2) discussing the same topic.

Serena Mendizabal, MIT'20, was featured in an article titled "Grad makes good on promise to do 'big picture things'," published by Western News on December 7.

Professor Romayne Smith Fullerton was quote in an article titled, "CBC executives may still receive bonuses despite layoffs and cuts, says CEO Catherine Tait," published by The Toronto Star on December 5. Then on December 8, Professor Smith Fullerton was quoted for an article titled, "Naming victims would keep women safer, police board vice-chair says," published by CBC News online.

Associate Professor Sam Trosow was quoted in an article titled, "Councillors seek ban on displaying images of fetuses on London streets," published by the London Free Press on December 4.


Additional Activities of Note


FIMS alumna Megan Silk (MIT'06) appeared on CBC's Dragons' Den on November 30 and successfully brokered a partnership with Dragon Arlene Dickinson to grow their Gingerbug ginger beer brand. The appearance on the show was covered in The Meaford Independent on December 4 in an article titled, "Local Couple Secures Dragons' Den Deal."


News from the FIMS Graduate Library


December Hours

Monday, December 11th – Sunday, December 17th, 2023 (Regular Library Hours)
Monday, December 18th – Friday, December 22nd, 2023 (Library Closed; Service by Appointment)
Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 – Sunday, January 7th, 2024 (Library Closed)
Monday, January 8th, 2024 (Regular Library Hours Resume)

Let the FIMS Grad Library help with your Course Readings

Remember the FIMS Grad Library can help with your Course Readings. We can help as much or as little as you need. Just email fimslib@uwo.ca with your syllabus, reading list or even a single title, and we will digitize, track down, or purchase copies of the materials you need. We can email these materials to you, place them on physical reserve, or upload them to the Course Readings tab of your OWL site.

Bear in mind if we do not own the materials, acquiring them can take up to 3 weeks.

You may also receive communication about Course Readings from Western Libraries. Our library works closely with Western Libraries in fulfilling your readings requests. Whether you follow Western Libraries’ instructions or ours, rest assured your Course Readings will be fulfilled.


Next Issue


The FIMS Bulletin is your source for news, announcements, and events pertaining to FIMS graduate programs. Submissions from the FIMS community are always welcome and may be sent via e-mail to fims-communications@uwo.ca .

This is the final issue of the FIMS Bulletin for the Fall 2023 term. The FIMS Bulletin will resume regular publication on January 17, 2024. The deadline to submit content is Tuesday, January 16 at noon.