Critical communication challenges for the new century

This article, with minor modifications, was the author's presidential address to the 53rd annual conference of the International Communication Association. It presents several critical communication challenges for the early 21st century. First, it outlines the root causes of 3 classic divides that provide context for these challenges: theory versus practice, persuasion versus entertainment, and East versus West. The author suggests pathways toward syntheses of these divides, then discusses 3 communication challenges of particular interest to the author.. legitimization and advancement of entertainment theory, redefinition and expansion of research on the digital divide, and development of a science of diplomatic communication.