November 5-6, 2026

University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal 

Deadline: September 1, 2026

https://televisaoenovosmeios.ubi.pt/

Democracy is increasingly challenged by political polarization, disinformation, populist communication, declining trust in institutions, and the rapid transformation of the media ecosystem. Television now coexists with digital platforms, streaming services, social media, and algorithmically curated information environments that profoundly shape political debate and public opinion.

The International Conference Television and New Media invites scholars, researchers and media professionals to reflect on the role of television and audiovisual media in contemporary democratic societies. Under the theme “Democracy in Times of Anger”, the conference seeks to explore how television and new media contribute to the construction, mediation, amplification or resistance of democratic and non-democratic discourses.

We welcome theoretical, empirical and comparative contributions from communication and media studies, political communication, journalism, propaganda, political science, cultural studies and related fields.

SUGGESTED TOPICS INCLUDE

• Television and democratic resilience
  
• Television and political communication
  
• Populism, polarization and media
  
• Television, propaganda and non-democratic discourses
  
• Disinformation, misinformation and fact-checking
  
• Television news and public trust
  
• Public service media and democracy
  
• Authoritarian narratives in audiovisual media
  
• Electoral campaigns and political advertising
  
• Journalism, editorial independence and democratic accountability
  
• Artificial intelligence, algorithms and political communication
  
• Television and social media ecosystems
  
• Platformisation of television
  
• Streaming platforms and the transformation of the public sphere
  
• Digital participation and civic engagement
  
• Hate speech, online extremism and media regulation
  
• Media literacy and democratic citizenship
  
• Visual communication and political persuasion
  
• Comparative perspectives on media systems and democracy
  
• Media regulation and freedom of expression
  
• Television audiences and democratic culture
  

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Researchers are invited to submit original abstracts of up to 500 words, clearly outlining the research question, theoretical framework, methodology and main findings or expected contribution.

Submissions should be written in English and subjected to: https://forms.gle/sNGAvrceNQSHTDUB7

The Television and New Media Conference is accepting proposals for in-person and remote presentations.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Call for Papers: 15 June 2026
  
• Submission deadline: 1 September 2026
  
• Notification of acceptance: 30 September 2026
  
• Conference: 5–6 November 2026
  

We look forward to welcoming researchers from around the world to the University of Beira Interior for two days of discussion on the future of television, audiovisual media and democracy.

PUBLICATION

All accepted papers will have the possibility of having their work published in a book, edited by Editora de Livros LabCom. The book will be open access and free of charge.

REGISTRATION

• €50: PhD holders
  
• €25: Students
  
• Free: UBI/LabCom members

SPEAKERS

ELKE WEISSMANN, Edge Hill University, United Kingdom

Elke’s research and teaching interests primarily lie in the area of television. This includes high-end drama, an area where she has specific expertise on transnational television with past collaborative work with Jonathan Bignell and another with Trisha Dunleavy. She is also interested in soap opera and public service television.

She also worked on a project on sustainability, local community and community-led television which is a collaboration between Edge Hill University, the University of Liverpool, Love Wavertree CIC and the British Academy. She is now taking this research forward to understand how the television industries tell stories about climate adaptation.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

• Sónia de Sá
  
• Francisco Merino
  
• Ana Catarina Pereira
  
• Branco Di Fátima
  
• Carla Cerqueira
  
• Eduardo Paz Barroso
  
• Evandro Oliveira
  
• Gil Baptista Ferreira
  
• Gisela Gonçalves
  
• Hélder Gonçalves
  
• Hélder Prior
  
• Inês Amaral
  
• João Canavilhas
  
• João Carlos Correia
  
• José Antonio Pereira
  
• José Ricardo Carvalheiro
  
• Paulo Serra