The Broadcast Education Association (BEA) is pleased to announce the 2026 rankings of schools based on the creative achievement of their students.  The rankings, which began in 2022, are founded on the results from the BEA Festival of Media Arts.  The BEA Festival is the preeminent international media competition focused on student and faculty creative endeavors.  In the last five years alone, over 8,250 student creative works were submitted from BEA’s more than 300 member institutions around the globe for BEA’s extensive juried process.   

The latest issue of JoME presents five articles examining key challenges and developments in media education, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence and evolving industry expectations. The contributions explore students’ ethical concerns about AI use, how educators are incorporating AI into design teaching, and a problem-based learning project addressing racism through media production. Additional articles highlight the need for versatile skill sets in sports media careers and identify gaps in leadership development within student newsrooms. Together, the issue offers practical and theoretical insights into preparing students for a rapidly changing media landscape.

BEA On-Location is where media educators, students, and creators come together to exchange ideas, showcase work, and build connections. The 2026 conference at Illinois State University, will feature panel and research presentations, workshops, technical demonstrations, peer-reviewed research, and creative scholarship from faculty and students.

Participants are invited to submit proposals related to any area of media or media education, including panels, completed research, research-in-progress, hands-on training sessions, and creative work across audio, documentary, film and video, interactive multimedia, news, sports, and open categories.

Thank you to everyone for making BEA2026 a success! Our information packed line-up kicked-off on Friday, April 17 and included over 250 events and sessions, a Research Symposium dedicated to AI, small group conversations with top media executives, ASC presenting epic award-winning cinematographers Team Deakins and Adam Bricker, Radio Ink’s Cameron Coats Fireside Chat with Zach Sang, NAB Show Tours, poster sessions, engaged networking receptions, a magical Festival of Media Arts and the induction of our third AERho class. We celebrated scholars and BEA volunteers, received news and information from our mighty Student MMJs, participated in the first division meetings since pre-COVID, made connections with many new and returning exhibitors, and hosted the largest career fair in our industry.

Thank you to the National Association of Broadcasters who offers our attendees additional connections and content, and our sponsors, Ross Video, Routledge Taylor & Frances, Connect2, RAB, University of Alabama, LABF, Total Traffic & Weather Network, and RTDNA. And thank you to all our BEA2026 exhibitors and Grad School & Career Fair participants!  We appreciate your continued support of BEA and higher education!