Exactly twenty years ago today, on 25 November, ECREA was officially established. To mark this anniversary, we have been publishing memories from former members of the Executive Board and management teams of the S/N/TWGs since the beginning of November. You can view them HERE.

As part of the celebrations, we are also sharing an interview with the current president, Pille Pruulman-Vengerfeldt.

What is your favorite memory from your time with ECREA?

There are so many. I love the moments you step at any ECREA conference space and you get the first hugs from people you love and who are brought together because of ECREA.

What contribution has ECREA made to the academic community in Europe and beyond?

ECREA has created a safe haven for media scholars where their research is celebrated and valued. I believe ECREA has created academic spaces that are safe, constructive, supportive and engaged. 

What would you like to see ECREA achieve in the next 10 years?

Find ways in which even more people could be part of the constructive academic community. Lift the value of media and communication research not only as a supporting act, but as the theory-building, social-problem-solving, and creative research area we are. Celebrate the diverse academic journals we have so that publishing in European journals is considered prestigious and relevant to everyone's careers.

If you could describe ECREA in one word, what would it be? 

Community.

If you could give ECREA a birthday present, what would it be? 

Hundreds of institutional members that see and value the ECREA mission for what it is and for the support the community can provide.

But I am also giving this handmade birthday card to celebrate the love, the messiness, the interconnectedness and creative spirit that is ECREA.