ECREA welcomes new Central and East European Network

The Executive Board of ECREA has approved the establishment of the Central and East European Network, that will be chaired by Tomas Trampota (Charles University, Czech Republic).

Tomas Trampota, Network Chair

A main objective of the ECREA Central and East-European (CEE) Network revolves around two prerequisites: on the one hand it aims at a more harmonious integration and proportionate representation of CEE scholarship and scholars within the field and ECREA structures. On the other hand, the CEE Network seeks to revitalize and strengthen cooperation and exchange links between the CEE scholars and their colleagues and institutions outside the region.

Its aim is to:
1. Offer a forum for the discussion, analysis and co-operation in the area of media and communication research focused on, or based in Central and Eastern Europe.
2. Provide information about on-going research, new publications, forthcoming conferences, educational activities, workshops and events organized by CEE scholars and academic institutions.
3. Stimulate visibility for media and communication research with a CEE-relevant focus, and support a more proportionate representation of CEE scholars among the ECREA management and organizational structures.
4. Map and analyse the status quo of scientific research, research conditions and position of scholars in the CEE.
5. Foster educational co-operation through a comparison of educational programmes, exchange of instruction methods and standards, development of joint diploma degrees.
6. Establish links between national associations in the region and ECREA.
7. Support a productive exchange of information about:
- other research and educational projects with a CEE-relevant focus,
- research grants, financial resources or tenders, that can support genuine research and academic exchange in the region,
- scientific communication journals both with a CEE, and beyond-CEE scope,
- field resources and databases, including lobbying for a free access to
commercially offered resources.

Further information and contact details of its Chair Tomas Trampota (Charles University, Czech Republic) and Vice Chairs Aukse Balcytiene (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) and Epp Lauk (University of Jyväskylä, Finland) are available on the Network's webpage.

Aukse Balcytiene has also become a new member of ECREA's Executive Board and her responsibilties will include acting as CEE Network representative and work on open access publications.