April 9-10, 2025
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Deadline: August 22, 2025
Journalism has long been a field caught up in discussions of trends and changes. Technological changes, in particular, have been highlighted as well as changes in media structures, alongside changing political, economic, and social trends all playing out in changing societies. This has led - understandably - to a preoccupation within industry and scholarship with journalism's future, as it tries to navigate each new development to both stay afloat, economically, and stay relevant in the societies where journalism operates.
However, an overemphasis on novelty and change at the same time makes it “difficult to discern passing fads from deeper shifts” within journalism (Carlson and Lewis, 2019: 644). Behind each headline-grabbing development is a larger set of dynamics, from societal forces and public values to technological opportunities and business decisions. Highlighting and scrutinizing these dynamics provides a better understanding of the complex context that shapes the nature and pace of journalistic change and can elucidate structural impediments to, for instance, diversity, inclusion and representation, journalists’ wellbeing and mental health, and the ongoing contestations over journalism’s boundaries.
With this conference, we aim to weave together the threads beneath these trends, situating change in context with an eye towards journalism's future.
Scholars can opt for either thematic or open submissions:
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Thematic submissions
The conference aims to bring together a diverse mix of scholars from the field of journalism studies. It invites papers that focus on key developments and trends in journalism and put these in a broader perspective. Both theoretical/conceptual and empirical contributions to journalism studies are welcome.
Submissions responding to the conference theme can address (but are not limited to) the following areas that are currently at the cutting edge of the field (cf. Westlund et al., 2025):
• Digital innovation, adaptation and changing journalism practices;
• journalism and algorithmic culture;
• datafication of audiences;
• journalism’s position in platform societies;
• hybrid storytelling forms;
• changing patterns of news use, news avoidance and non-use;
• spread of online mis- and disinformation;
• digital press and media criticism;
• epistemologies of digital news production;
• journalism, emotion and subjectivity;
• new business models for digital journalism;
• alternative media and peripheral journalistic actors;
• rise of anti-media populism;
• social media journalism;
• digital hate and online threats to the safety of journalists;
• novel methodological approaches to studying digital journalism.
Please emphasize in your abstract how you see your paper responding to the conference theme – "the threads behind the trends".
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Open submissions
While we encourage thematic submissions, we also hope to create an open forum for the latest research in journalism studies in its many facets. Contributors can also submit abstracts for open sessions, for which there are no thematic requirements. Again, both theoretical/conceptual and empirical contributions to journalism studies are welcome.
Submission guidelines
Abstracts should be no more than 500 words (excl. references, tables and graphs) and should be submitted no later than 22 August 2025 via this form.
The abstract must include an indication whether you submit to the conference theme or to the open panels. As we aim for a conference that provides extensive space for reflection, discussion and connection, we also ask you to indicate your preferred presentation format. This could include:
• A traditional research paper presentation in a thematically linked session
• A proposal for a pre-constituted panel
• Participation in a thematically-focused roundtable discussion
• High-density pitch sessions
Only one proposal per first author can be accepted (submitting further abstracts as co-author is accepted). Diversity in nationality, gender and country of affiliation can be prioritized in selection. Notifications of acceptance will be sent in early November 2025.
Submission will undergo scholarly peer-review and adhere to the newly established ECREA Journalism Studies section rule: For every abstract you are listed as an presenter/contributor, you are expected to review 2-3 abstracts (this applies to all authors on the paper).
The organizers will provide proof of conference attendance/presentation upon request.
PhD Colloquium
The day before the main conference, Dr. Sandra Banjac and Dr. Marilia Gehrke, together with the section’s YECREA representative Dr. Bissie Anderson, will organize the 6th ECREA Journalism Studies Section PhD Colloquium on 8 April 2026 at the University of Groningen. Further details about this event will soon be published on this webpage.
Conference Organization
The conference will be hosted by the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, organized by Dr. Joëlle Swart, Dr. Frank Harbers, Dr. Marilia Gehrke, Dr. Sandra Banjac and Dr. Scott Eldridge. The city of Groningen is two hours from Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport by train, and three hours from Bremen Airport by public transport.
If you have any questions, contact the conference organizing committee at journalismconferences@rug.nl.
Registration will open in November 2025. More information about the conference will be posted regularly on this webpage.
PLEASE NOTE: The conference will take place in-person only and we are unable to accommodate requests for virtual presentations.
Timeline
• Monday 12 May 2025 - submissions open
• Friday 22 August 2025 - deadline for abstract submissions
• Early November 2025 - acceptance notification and registration opens
• Before Christmas 2025 - first draft of the programme published
• Friday 27 February 2025 - deadline for delegate registration
