every department chair in the country should subscribe to contexts and put it in the front office, seriously

A few weeks ago, I threw some shade suggested that sociologists exert more effort to build platforms that would help sociology have a sustained voice in the public. People got on my case for suggesting that people do things where there is no incentive to do them.

So that raises a good question – what are some easy and low cost ways to help sociology as a whole build its brand and influence? Here is one, admittedly self-interested, suggestion:  every department chair should subscribe to the physical version of Contexts and place it prominently in the department office next to ASR, AJS, SF, SP and other  regular sociology journals.

Why? Most educated people can understand Contexts and it’s entire purpose is to take our ideas and make it easy for average people to understand. It’s low cost – $60 per year. If it becomes the “front face” of sociology, then it will encourage our best scholars to write for it. That will help the profession see that public outreach is to be cultivated and enriched.

Editor note: Post originally contained more strike through comments for humor, which were about the great tweet rage of April 2019. But it seemed to get in the way of the message. If you want it back, I’m happy to oblige in the comments.

++++++++

BUY THESE BOOKS!!

50+ chapters of grad skool advice goodness: Grad Skool Rulz ($4.44 – cheap!!!!)
Intro to sociology for just $1 per chapter – INSANE BARGAIN!!!!!
A theory book you can understand!!! Theory for the Working Sociologist (discount code: ROJAS – 30% off!!)
The rise of Black Studies:  From Black Power to Black Studies 
Did Obama tank the antiwar movement? Party in the Street
Read Contexts Magazine– It’s Awesome!!!!