The modern landscape of sports, entertainment, and digital media are changing in ways that have fundamentally altered the traditional notions of employment. From the emerging employment questions surrounding NCAA athletes, to the regulatory gaps in digital media protections for minors and the rapid rise of “prediction markets,” these developments carry significant legal, social, and economic implications. While NCAA revenue-sharing expands and the social media era thrives, athletes and child-influencers remain stranded in a legal gray area, denied “employee” status or robust statutory protections. These regulatory deficits raise a critical question: what structural and statutory frameworks must be enacted in order to eliminate these exploitative gaps and protect talent?
A proposed submission or abstract will focus labor law in the sports and entertainment context. While the primary focus remains on the “Talent Economy,” we will consider all original legal scholarship relating to sports and entertainment law, gaming law, and media regulations. If submitting an abstract for approval, please submit a maximum of 1,500 words. Proposed submissions and abstracts should be in Microsoft Word format, 12-point font, and (preferably) Times New Roman font. Proposed articles should be at least 30 pages and contain at least 200 footnotes. All citations must adhere to the Bluebook (22nd Ed.) style of citations.
All submissions and abstracts to be considered should be submitted via the NIU Law Review Scholastica portal, or directed to the NIU Law Review Symposium Editor, Nick Brummel, at symposium@niu.edu. Please submit your papers by 11:59 PM on October 16th. You may also submit a maximum of 1,500-word abstract for prior approval. If submitting an abstract for approval, please submit your abstract by July 31, 2026. Notification of abstract approval will be communicated to the author by August 14, 2026. Decisions regarding paper acceptance will be communicated to the author(s) no later than November 22, 2026. The In addition, authors who are extended, and accept, a publication offer may be offered the opportunity to attend the symposium and present their research.
Respectfully,
Nick Brummel
Symposium Editor
Vol. 47| NIU Law Review