AAN Terms of Reference

 

Introduction

This page sets out the terms of references for the AEF Academic Network. It defines the principal terms used, spells out the objectives of the network, and lists the scope of work.

Definitions

1. "The Advertising Education Forum" or "AEF" is a non-profit, non aligned organisation that offers a comprehensive database of information on advertising and children and related issues. AEF provides open and free access to academic and scientific research on advertising and children and serves as a centre for information on the issue. AEF is funded by industry; the full list of supporters is available here.

2. AEF has established an academic network to support its objective of facilitating an informed debate on the issue of advertising to children.

3. The name of the academic network shall be "The AEF Academic Network" or "AAN".

4. The AAN is an international group of individuals with academic expertise in the issues covered by AEF, which include advertising to children and related matters.

5. Members of the AAN belong to the following, non-exhaustive, list of academic disciplines:

- Marketing
- Media and Communication
- Media Education
- Paediatrics
- Pedagogy
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Cultural Studies
- Economics

6. Objectives

The objectives of the AAN are the following

6.1 . Support the AEF in:

- facilitating the sharing of knowledge on the issues covered by AEF
- offering an open and free access to academic research
- contributing to an informed debate on advertising to children and related issues

6.2. Providing the AEF database with expert resources on academic work and publications in different languages and in different disciplines globally.

6.3. Supporting the AEF in identifying trends in the academic debate and gaps in the current literature.

7. What AAN members can expect from AEF

7.1. Members of the AAN will receive the following publications:

- AEF Academic Quarterly: This quarterly publication is specifically tailored for the members of the AAN.

- AEF Annual Report: This publication is released at the end of every year and analyses the most significant trend of the past year on issues related to advertising to children. It also reports the activities carried out by AEF and its achievements.

- AEF Database Directory. This publication is delivered at the end of every year and provides the complete bibliography of all AEF Database entries.

7.2. AEF will set up and manage the AAN member profiles on the AEF website. The information in each member profile will include name, title, area of expertise and contact details, with hyperlinks to personal web pages wherever possible.

7.3. The AAN also provides an opportunity for members to liase with other academics and with the AEF members. If AAN members so wish, the AEF Secretariat will assist in facilitating such contacts.

8. The relationship between AAN and AEF members

8.1. The AAN Members and their work are entirely independent of AEF and AEF's members.

8.2. Research published by AEF will express the views only of the academic author and it will not be assumed that the conclusions of any such research represent the views of all the AAN members.

8.3. The finished work of the AAN members will be made public and will not be edited in any form by the AEF.

8.4. The copyright of AEF-sponsored research belongs to AEF. However, the AAN members may make use of AEF studies, provided that AEF is acknowledged and correctly cited.

Terms of membership

1. All appointments to the AAN are voluntary and by name.

2. Memberships have no fixed length; either party can terminate the membership at any time.

3. Membership is not remunerated, but members will be paid for ad hoc research conducted at the request of AEF.

Scope of work

1. AAN members are invited to use the AAN as a means of exchanging communications of relevant studies and points of views with key colleagues in the field.

2. AAN members will also take advantage of the opportunity of creating a vivacious global cenacle to:

2.1. ask for other members' contribution to their research
2.2. be acknowledged of research opportunities worldwide
2.3. exchange academic and research experiences

3. AAN members are encouraged to participate and contribute ideas.

4. AAN members might be invited periodically to:

- Ensure that AEF studies and research meet high academic standards.

- Review important studies assessing their rigour and scientific validity by using a set of principles, including considerations whether:

- The study is founded on a robust research design and sound methodology.
- Conclusions drawn are proportionate to the evidence produced.
- Cited evidence is relevant to the context in which it is presented.

Detailed explanations of the principles can be found here.

- Speak about their research at Steering Committee meetings.

- Conduct ad hoc research on their issue of expertise, together with other leading academics in the field globally.

- Provide the comments/opinions on research relevant to their area of expertise.

- Evaluate the methodology proposed by AEF for its studies.

- Provide the AEF with additional sources to add to its database.

- Contribute in the development of new AEF academic related projects and activities.

- Contribute in the drafting of the AAN Quarterly.

5. Any cost involved in study and research commissioned by AEF and undertaken by AAN members will be borne by AEF.

6. Members may choose to either accept or reject each invitation to undertake work. Such decisions will not affect an individual's AAN membership status.