After discussions between the Program Committee for SCMS Tokyo, Josai University and others, an alternative conference to SCMS has been put in place. The details are as follows: 1) Josai International University will host a one-day conference under the heading, “The Josai International University Media Studies Department Media Workshop.” The event is hosted by Dean EN Fukuyuki, Dean of Media Studies. The conference will be held on Saturday, May 23 from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Josai Kioichô Campus (the original conference site). 2) Josai will provide 5 large classrooms, including the Main Hall for presentations, discussions, workshops. We still need to determine the event’s details, but much of this will depend on how many people plan to attend, and what sorts of events that people envision. We will work on this, along with others who have stepped up, in the coming week. There may be additional events on or off site on Friday and/or Sunday that will be confirmed in the coming days. 3) Josai will still provide masks, hand sanitizers, and health forms, but the use of these materials will be voluntary. 4) The event will be free and open to the public. 5) Because SCMS cancelled the conference and requested a full refund for all hotel reservations, JTB was forced to cancel all hotel reservations for the conference, and incurred a substantial loss. They will no longer be handling hotel bookings for attendees, so those reservations will need to be made individually. It is absolutely necessary that we can confirm as soon as possible the number of participants, so PLEASE CONVEY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION to [log in to unmask] by 6:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time), March 16, 2009: 1) Your intention to participate. 2) Do you also intend to present a paper? 3) If so, what is the title of the paper? What was the original panel number in the SCMS schedule? 4) Please provide your name, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, current address and, if known or if different, your contact address in Japan. 5) The special screening at the National Film Center planned for SCMS on Friday, March 22, between 1 and 4 pm is still on the books, but the NFC has requested a list of attendees beforehand. Attached below is the original flier. Please also indicate whether you intend to attend this screening as well. (A small fee may be charged depending on the number of attendees.) ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu