Jim
Halloran, Honorary Past President of IAMCR, died recently after a
period of illness.
Jim was an
outstanding scholar in our field; an inspiration for IAMCR members for
a very long time; and a great friend to many. He will be missed
greatly.
On behalf of all IAMCR members, I offer condolences to Jim's family.
Robin Mansell, President IAMCR
IAMCR has gathered condolence messages from Jim's friends and colleagues.
Messages of condolence from IAMCR members, May 2007
I would like to join … - and all of IAMCR - in saluting Jim Halloran, a genial intellectual if ever there was.
Jim
sought to expand IAMCR into new worlds. I recall receiving a personal
invitation from him to join, in 1980, when I was living in Colombo, Sri
Lanka.
Jim will be with us in spirit in Paris, sitting quietly at
a table, nursing the proverbial glass of burgundy, smiling gently as he
watches the hustle and bustle around him.
Naren Chitty
Jim was important to the field globally and these exchanges contribute pieces of (auto)bio histories.
Brenda Dervin
I
was saddened to hear of Jim's death. I first encountered him in 1965 at
a special screening of Peter Watkins' TV documentary The War Game on
nuclear war effects, which the British Home Office banned the BBC from
televising because of its realism.
He spoke in energetic
defence of the documentary and its importance. Thereafter our paths
crossed at intervals, mostly at the IAMCR. He was in many ways larger
than life, a great raconteur, a distinguished aficionado of Scotch and
other life- enhancing concoctions, an amazing fund-raiser, and did us
all particularly proud by his pioneering and highly original work in
forming the "Three Worlds" IAMCR.
John Downing
On
behalf of the local organizing committee here in Paris, I would like to
say that we are very sad not to count Jim Halloran among the
participants of the forthcoming celebrations in Paris. We were looking
forward to having a long distance satellite communication with him in
plenary, but he has made the distance too long for us to keep up.
He
was a very significant person for our NGO for a very long time, at
crucial moments. His memory will be commemorated on the 25th of July,
during the final ceremony. You are welcome to provide anecdotes and
testimonies for us to add on our website section "back to the future".
We are open to other suggestions coming from the board or the
international council.
The local organizing committee 2007 Paris, Divina Frau-Meigs, Josiane Jouet, Michael Palmer, Nathalie Sonnac
I am saddened to learn about Jim's death.
He was my first point of contact with IAMCR (the IA of MASS Comms as I will always think of it!). We (and others of course) worked together (endlessly it seems now) on the revision of the constitution and the internal standing orders (gripping stuff...).
He was a giant of a man, intellectually and physically. My fondest memories of him, and his larger-than-life presence, are all connected with being sat round tables at various Leicester restaurants, etc. enjoying his exuberant presence and boundless hospitality.
David Goldberg
I
would hope that one of the many journal editors in our field would
organize a special issue on James Halloran and his contributions to the
field, as a scholar and as a supporter of international cooperation.
hanno hardt
I
agree with all of your suggestions regarding the paying of tribute to a
very important ex-chair of the association. I met him very briefly but
I knew of him and of his contribution to IAMCR of the three worlds!
Sophia Kaitatzi-Whitlock
It
is sad news. I know Jim for more than 30 years. He build bridges
between East and West in difficult times. Both his academic style and
British humour made him an unforgettable friend.
We will miss him.
Wolfgang Kleinwachter
Jim
was a tremendous source of inspiration to a whole generation of Indian
students who joined the Centre for Mass Communication Research to do
their Master's or Ph.D. studies. When I happened to land up at
Lecester in the mid-1980s to do my doctorate, Jim readily accepted me
as his Ph.D student.
During the few months that he guided
me it became clear to me that he was a rigorous and challenging scholar
who would brook no simplistic (what he liked to term 'journalistic')
approach to research. I recall how terribly nervous he was about
visiting India and organising the 1986 IAMCR conference in New Delhi -
the first time I believe that IAMCR dared to conduct its conference in
Asia or Africa. But once the conference was over, he grudgingly
admitted that it was perhaps the most enjoyable and inexpensive
conference. He would invariably remind me and other Indian colleagues
of this whenever I bumped into him at subsequent conferences.
But
the memory of Jim that I will always cherish is that cold January
afternoon of 1988 whe, after interrogating me for over an hour during g
my Ph.D. viva, he walked up to his 'cabinet', got a bottle of the
choicest scotch, and poured out a chotta peg for me. I don't think
I've tasted anything more blessed since! That was the Jim Halloran I
knew: tough -as- nails when it can came to academic rigour, but always
a warm and gentle friend. He will be sorely missed.
My heartfelt conoldences to his family and to his many friends in Leicester and around the world.
I
would like to propose that at its forthcoming 50th anniversary
celebrations in Paris, IAMCR establish an award /scholarship/fellowship
in the name of Professor Jim Halloran.
Keval Joe Kumar, Ph.D Student at Leicester (1984-87)
I
am so sad to hear about Jim's death. I first met Jim at IAMCR in 1974
and over the years, we became good friends. He was one of the featured
critical researchers in my edited volume, A Different Road Taken. I
appreciated Jim's candidness, honesty, and good humor.
I often
kidded him that I particularly enjoyed IAMCR under his "benevolent
dictatorship." Jim brought IAMCR up from a shoestring, ensuring that it
represented all factions during those Cold War years and that it was
not dominated by the empiricists of U.S. academia. He called the shots
the way they were and you can't ask for more than that. He will be
sorely missed.
John A. Lent
I
feel very sad about this in many ways. Jim gave me my first chance to
speak at an IAMCR conference on a platform that was outside the section
format (Bled conference) and despite the fact that I was very
inexperienced then at speaking to a larger audience, he was extremely
positive afterwards. That was for me the hallmark of someone with a
very big heart.
Robin Mansell
I
am very sad that Jim Halloran has died in the 50th year of IAMCR's
existence. I recall that I gave a lecture in his honour at Leicester
several years ago after which he said at a party at Annabelle
Sreberny's that the Australian wine was bottled sunshine. That attitude
and his wink were crucial.
I cannot be in Paris but I trust that he will be commemorated.
Frank Morgan
A
brief note of tribute to Jim Halloran. Jim's contribution to audience
research and to the establishment of media studies as a research field
cannot be overestimated.
I studied at the Centre for Mass
Communication Research at Leicester in 1978/79, and subsequently worked
with Jim on a Prix Jeunesse project (1979/80). This was a far from easy
experience, but also proved to be an exciting introduction to an
academic career. Working with Jim helped me understand the complexity
of academic life and proved instrumental in defining the direction of
my academic research - not to mention introducing me to IAMCR. There
were moments of generosity and assistance during a few life-changing
years in my life that I will always remember.
Virginia Nightingale
The
death of James D. Halloran means the disappearance of one of the most
distinguished leader and scholar in the field of the comunicacion
sciences, principally in the critical research. He exerted the
presidency of IAMCR with a sense of authority and pragmatism, as I have
been able to check in the different Conferences in which I have
participated.
I got to know him in the Conference of Leicester in 1974, and since then we have always kept a cordial relationship.
When
we presented the candidacy of Barcelona as the organizer of the 1988
Conference, we have received a strong and kind support from him. Let me
emphasize the role played by Peggy Gray in the preparation and
celebration of this event. Again, in 1996, when I have been the
candidate to the presidency of the Association, he expressed me his
warm support. Every Christmas I have received his kind and ponctual
greetings card. He deserves a hommage and I believe that all
formulated proposals are pertinent, specially that of Kumar.
Manuel Parés i Maicas
It is indeed a great loss to the field of media studies. He was a great source of inspiration and an outstanding motivator. We in India will certainly miss him and at this juncture on behalf of all the media scholars we convey our deepest condolences to the family of Prof. James Halloran. May god take him in his feet and bless the departed soul.With great respect
Prof C.Pichaandy, India
I
agree with … that we should mark Jim Halloran's passing. He not only
made significant contributions to the very special international
communication organisation that is IAMCR. He was also one of the key
founding figures in the communication studies field in Britain.
Thus, I agree that some form of tribute at the anniversary conf in Paris would be very appropriate
Paschal Preston
I
try to avoid overloading e-mail circuits, but the passing of Jim
Halloran is a historic moment for IAMCR, and I hope the organization
will capitalize on it in Paris. I will not be able to attend this year
and the thought of missing a truly fitting tribute to Jim, the real
genius behind the development of IAMCR, makes my non-attendance hurt
even more.
Because Jim was such a successful leader - at
Leicester, in IAMCR - his intellectual prowess was sometimes
overlooked. But he was the one nurturing the involvement of Herb
Schiller, Gigi Robinson, Graham Murdock, Yassen Zasourski, Karle
Nordenstreng, and so many crucial to the true impact of IAMCR. What he
did behind the scenes to develop the support of UNESCO and to nurture
the "three worlds" of IAMCR, as Doug Kellner put it, was a work of
genius. When I first stopped by Leicester in 1976 and met Jim, Peggy
Gray (whose IAMCR contribution should not be overlooked), Graham, Peter
Golding, and others, no one could have been more gracious and accepting
of a hopeful but unknown young communication prof than Jim. Over the
years, he continued to support, inspire, entertain, and work with me
and so many scattered all over the world.
I wish to offer not
only a tribute but also a toast to our mentor and guide, Jim! You
don't have to be Irish (though it helps) to know that he would
appreciate that. Those of us remaining will have a hard time
compensating for the loss of Jim Halloran, Jim Carey, Roger
Silverstone, George Gerbner, Herb Schiller, and our other departed
mentors who opened up new ways of being critical communication scholars
in the world.
Michael Real
I
would also like to contribute my thoughts on Jim Halloran who was
little more than a name in a bibliography when I joined CMCR in the
mid-1990s. On meeting him for the first time in the place he called his
second office - the local wine bar as I recall - I was impressed by his
friendliness and approachability and it was only later that I properly
realised the intelligence which lay beneath the jokey bonhomie. His
past thoughts inform our present thinking and thereby, he lives on.
A good life lived well.
Karen Ross
I
am very sad to hear that Jim Halloran has passed away. He was a
tireless leader and scholar who inspired many like me. He encouraged
and made it possible for me and a lot of other people to join IAMCR. He
will definitely be missed. My sincere condolences to Jim's family. We
should sure commemorate his contributions to IAMCR and to the field of
communication/mass communication in Paris.
Mohammad A. Siddiqi
Professor
Jim Halloran will be remembered for his charm and humour, for his
intelligence and commitment to the international community of
communication researchers, and especially ... for raising the right
questions.
"Research in the West ... is research of social control ... [It] tends ...
to
reflect the values and reinforce the system within which it is
conceived, supported, and executed ... [It] is not marked by
speculative and reflective approaches ... consideration of
alternatives, or caution and tolerance ... but by dogma, doctrinaire
statements, selective use of evidence, unsubstantiated assertions ...
arrogance and hostile intolerance ... The positions, firmly held by
the new high priests, brook no contradictions, and evidence must not
... get in the way of faith."
"It is now suggested that research
... should be shifted away from such questions as 'the right to
communicate' to 'more concrete problems.' But what are these 'concrete
problems?' They are the same as, or similar to, the safe, 'value-free'
micro questions of the old-time positivists who served the system so
well, whether or not they intended or understood this. All this
represents a definite and not very well disguised attempt to put the
clock back to the days when the function of research was to serve the
system as it was -- to make it more efficient rather than to question
it or suggest alternatives."
HALLORAN J. D. (1981), "The Context of Mass Communication Research"
Jan Servaes
I
would also like to pay tribute to James Halloran, not only for his
astute leadership of IAMCR through a difficult era in geopolitics, but
even more widely for his pioneering contribution to the building of the
whole field of international media and communication research.
John Sinclair
Jim
was a foundational figure in the field, helping to establish the study
of the media as a legitimate subject in British universities and
building up the international collaborative academic network that is
IAMCR.
He leaves an enduring legacy, which we might commemorate in Paris.
Annabelle Sreberny
I want to express my sincere sadness on learning of the passing of Jim Halloran, who was an unforgettable and forceful leader of IAMCR for many years and a provocative, influential scholar.
Jim told me in a card this past December that he hoped to come to IAMCR's 50th anniversary meeting in Paris this July. I wish he had been able to, and I look forward to seeing many of you again there.
Dave Weaver
Being
on the move, I am hopefully not too late and not the last one to
commemorate, too, the death of our former president. I remember him
since I first attended the Warsaw conference of IAMCR 1978, where I
began to be impressed by his ability to overbridge the deep political
divide within the organization. He was an excellent tactician, but
nevertheless a distinguished researcher. Unforgettable to me is the
"Demonstrations and Communication"-study which was an important step in
reconsidering the influence of journalists on how we do perceive
events. I hope very much that Jim's draft of the history of IAMCR will
be finished by others.
Juergen Wilke
On my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, Media & Journalism professors in Egypt and in the Arab World, I would like to express deep sorrow for the decease of the world acclaimed British professor James Halloran.
In this occasion, I would like to mention with all due gratitude some of his glorious feats and his limitless contributions on both levels, academic and human.
It is doubtless that Professor Halloran is considered one of the pioneers in the field of critical Mass Communication research, where he contributed in an unprecedented effort in laying the foundations of the critical theory through a number of pioneering researches. He also takes the credit for establishing the IAMCR. Moreover, he struggled for a number of years in taking hundreds of researchers from all over the world , and in particular from the South, under his wing and patiently educating them. His extent of adopting generations of Arab and African researchers during his presidency of Media Studies Centre in Leicester University was legendary while he continued to encourage and support their participation in international conferences organized by the Association over a quarter of a century. He did not spare an effort in removing all obstacles, financial, administrative and political, facing those researchers in their local universities. This is a humble tribute for a great man.
I suggest establishing an international award on his name for Media researchers from the South, and I also suggest naming a division for critical research after him.
Awatef Abd-El-Rahman
Cairo - University - Egypt
July, 2007 - IAMCR - Paris