In this section on the IAMCR, we publish both a brief history of the association and four very personal views on it delivered by leading scholars who made IAMCR happen, at least in part: Kaarle Nordenstreng, Yassen Zassoursky, Jan Servaes, and Janet Wasko.

The following essay is based on the chapter “The IAMCR Story: Communication and Media Research in a Global Perspective” published in the edited volume "The international history of communication study" (Simonson/Park 2016).

Janet Wasko talks about her academic career, the political economy of communication approach, the situation of critical scholars in the US field, and the past and future of IAMCR. Thomas Wiedemann led the interview on October 23, 2015 in Madrid.

Yassen Zassoursky talks about his academic career, his commitment in IAMCR and promoting mutual understanding in the international arena. The piece is an edited compilation of two interviews conducted by Michael Meyen (November 2012) and Kaarle Nordenstreng (September 2015) in Moscow.

Kaarle Nordenstreng talks about his academic career, his institutional commitment, and bridge-building within the international scientific community. The interview was led by Michael Meyen on July 24, 2012 via Skype.

Jan Servaes talks about his academic career, his commitment in IAMCR and his research on development communication. The piece is an edited and authorized version of a skype interview conducted by Michael Meyen on August 18, 2017. That day, Jan Servaes was in Thailand.