Public Relations Committee


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Background

Established in 2009, the Committee’s responsibilities were last revised in January 2026.

Charge

To inform the public about the role of language and linguistics in society, placing particular emphasis on efforts to inform members of the news media, academia, and scientists.

Responsibilities

The work of the Committee includes, but is not limited to:

  • Managing the Five Minute Linguist event at the Annual Meeting.
  • Managing the Linguistics Journalism Award and the Linguistics, Language and the Public (LLP) Award (as of 2023) nominations and selection process.
  • Maintaining a "News Room" on the LSA website, to include a roster of LSA members available for press interviews on different topics. 
  • Encourage members to write op-eds and other articles intended for a "lay" audience. 
  • When appropriate, collaborating with the Editors of LSA publications and the Chairs of the Program Committee to spotlight significant research of interest to those outside the linguistics community, as published/presented in the current issues and/or meetings. This may include garnering press coverage for the Annual Meeting.
  • Consulting with the ED in preparing LSA press releases as appropriate and possible.

Composition of the committee 

The committee is composed of six to ten members who serve staggered three-year terms, optimally 
with two to three members rotating off and two to three rotating on each year. 

Ideally, the committee should include:

  • Editors of LSA Publications
  • Member of Program Committee
  • Members with experience as journalists
  • Members who write/speak for a popular audience
  • Members who are quoted frequently by the news media

Expressions of interest in serving on the Public Relations Committee are solicited each spring. 
Watch for announcements in LSA Update. 

Current Committee Members

  • Chair: Kristen Syrett, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
  • Andries Coetzee (2028)
  • David Pesetsky (2028)
  • Maite Taboada (2028) 
  • Anne Pycha (2027) 
  • Laura Wagner (2027)
  • Melissa Baese-Berk (2026)
  • Anne Curzan (2026)
  • Deborah Tannen (2026)
  • Georgia Zellou (2026)