ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

October 9-10, 2025

Budapest, Hungary

This interdisciplinary symposium will explore the evolving intersection of mediatization, technology, and society, focusing on how automation, algorithmic culture, and AI systems transform media, communication, institutions, and everyday life. Under the thematic triad of truth, trust, and transformation, we invite contributions that critically examine how technological mediation reshapes epistemic authority, social imaginaries, public discourse, science communication or journalism while also interrogating the shifting boundaries between humans, technologies, and institutions.

We welcome theoretical and empirical work from scholars in media and communication studies, science and technology studies (STS), sociology, political science, digital humanities, and related fields of interdisciplinary research. The event aims to foster dialogue on the role of mediatization in reinforcing or disrupting trust, navigating post-truth conditions, and envisioning new pathways for democratic and ethical transformation in technologically saturated societies.

As part of this initiative, the organizing committee will submit a proposal for a Special Issue in a Q-ranked journal. The highest-rated papers from the symposium will be considered for publication, especially those developed through open discussion/workshop-based collaboration.

Apply HERE.

June 16-17, 2025

Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Deadline: April 27/May 14, 2025

International Conference and Working Group Meeting – COST Action TraFaDy

Globalisation and migratory flows have profoundly reshaped contemporary societies, prompting challenges and opportunities for individuals, families and organisations. In this context, transnational dynamics and relationships have become striking phenomena, associated with complex processes of autonomisation, co-dependence, intergenerational solidarity, connection and the construction of intercultural identities (Baykara-Krumme & Fokkema, 2019; Bryceson & Vuorela, 2002; Cienfuegos et al., 2023).

Our digital world, while enabling further interactions, the reinvention of relationships, and new ways of being present, also brings with it the risks associated with the spread of misinformation and ambivalent dynamics with digital tools (Baldassar et al., 2016; Smets et al., 2020). All the above seriously impact relationships within families and therefore merit analysis in various fields.

Therefore, despite the increase in the mobility and circulation of people and goods, there are also challenges to family/relational fragmentation of interest to transdisciplinary studies in the Social Sciences and the Humanities, particularly in the areas of Psychology, Cultural Studies, Communication and Social Work.

This event, which combines a meeting of Working Group 4 of the TraFady COST Action and a conference, aims to promote theoretical approaches, training, and capacity building. To this end, we are opening a call for presentations including, but not limited to the following topics:

• Cultural representations of migration and transnational relationships

• Transnational Family Dynamics

• National and international migration

• Social policies for the family

• Social policies for migration

• Digital practices for wellbeing in a transnational context

• Media literacy and information in transnational and migratory contexts

• Relationship between work and migration

• Brain Drain and its impact

• Intergenerational solidarity

• Artistic responses to migration and translational relationships

• The role of cultural and artistic expressions in health and wellbeing in transnational settings

• The impact of technology and communication

• Environmental migration

• Cultural adaptation

• The emotional impact of migration

• The emotional impact of family separation

The event will include:

• Keynote Lectures (to be confirmed);

• Workshop on the role of the media in the integration and well-being of transnational families;

• Paper sessions (subject to submission);

• Round table with community agents working with migrants in Portugal;

• Meetings and training for WG4 of COST Action TraFaDy (members-only event).

Organising Committee:
Barros, Carlos – Chair | Borges Tavares, Sandra | Costa Ramalho, Susana | Jesus, Antonela | Lindemann Lino, Verena.

Scientific Committee:
Aguiar, Joyce (CIPES/U. Porto) | Araújo, Emília (U. Minho) | Backström, Bárbara (U. Aberta) | Barros, Carlos (UCP) | Borges Tavares, Sandra (UCP) | Carneiro Pinto, Joana (UCP) | Costa Ramalho, Susana (UCP) | Emirhafizović, Mirza (U. Sarajevo) | Espada Vieira, Inês (UCP) | Ganito, Carla (UCP) | Gaspar, Augusta (UCP) | Gomes Esteves, Francisco (UCP) | Guerra, Inês (UCP) | Haagsman, Karlijn (Maastricht U.) | Hanenberg, Peter (UCP) | Jesus, Antonela (UCP) | Lindemann Lino, Verena (UCP) | Rebelo Pinto, Helena (UCP) | Schrooten, Mieke (Odisee U.) | Telegdi Csetri, Viorela (Babes Bolyai U.)

How to submit:
Please fill in the following form link, including title, three to five keywords, an abstract (between 250 and 350 words), as well as references in APA 7 format.

Submission of papers – Important deadlines:

• Early Submission: until 27th April (23h59, GMT+1); communication of acceptance of proposals – by 4th May (23h59, GMT+1); Conference registration/confirmation - by 9th May (23h59, GMT+1)

• Late Submission: until 14th May (23h59, GMT+1); communication of acceptance of proposals – by 18th May (23h59, GMT+1); Conference registration/confirmation - by 21st May (23h59, GMT+1)

Fees and grants:

• The conference is free but requires submission before the dates set above. Registration for members of the audience will take place at a later stage.

• A grant is available to support travel to the meeting + conference (this includes the daily allowance and flight support) for Action COST TraFaDy members. There are 26 grants available for early submissions only. Should any grants remain after this period, they will be allocated to late submissions. For all funding inquiries, members of Action COST TraFaDy should contact the local COST organiser and co-leader of the group, Carlos Barros, at cbarros@ucp.pt. For all other queries, please contact us at connectedlivesconference@gmail.com.

References:
Baldassar, L., Nedelcu, M., Merla, L., & Wilding, R. (2016). ICT-based co-presence in transnational families and communities: Challenging the premise of face-to-face proximity in sustaining relationships. Global Networks, 16(2), 133-144. https://doi.org/10.1111/glob.12108

Baykara-Krumme, H., & Fokkema, T. (2019). The impact of migration on intergenerational solidarity types. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 45(10), 1707-1727. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2018.1485203

Bryceson, D., & Vuorela, U. (Eds.). (2002). The transnational family: New european frontiers and global networks (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003087205

Cienfuegos, J., Brandhorst, R., & Bryceson, F.B. (Eds.). (2023). Handbook of transnational families around the world. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15278-8

Smets, K., Leurs, K., Georgiou, M., Witteborn, S., & Gajjala, R. (2020). The SAGE Handbook of Media and Migration. SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526476982

University of the Arts London (UAL)

We invite applications for a PhD studentship at University of the Arts London (UAL) to work on a project on “Understanding social media disinformation and war propaganda through the historical archive”, supervised by Dr. Felipe Soares.

This project aims to understand contemporary practices of disinformation and war propaganda on social media through comparison with war propaganda from historical archives linked to the First and Second World Wars. This project will broadly explore the following question: How can we better understand and contextualise contemporary practices of war propaganda on social media through the investigation of WWI and WWII historical archives?

The PhD student will be based at London College of Communication and work in partnership with the Imperial War Museum Institute.

The studentships cover fees at the UK Home rate and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate for three years full time or six years part time, pro rata for part-time (2025/26 full time rate £22,780). Students with an ‘overseas’ fee status can apply but will need to cover the difference between the UK and overseas fees rate (2025/26 home rate £6620/overseas £26310), and will be required to reside in the UK until completion of the PhD.

Please review the following link for more information about the project and how to apply: https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/fees-and-funding/phd-and-mphil-funding/ual-post-graduate-research-studentships. The deadline for applications is 12 May 2025.

April 29, 2025 (1:30 PM)

The British Association of Comparative Law warmly invite you to a discussion of Dr Irini Katsirea’s book, Press Freedom and Regulation in a Digital Era: A Comparative Study (2024), from 12.30-2pm.

This book examines the challenges for press freedom in the nascent digital news ecosystem. Drawing upon decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as from German, UK and US case law, this comparative work explores the regulation of the press in the digital era and the impact of the proliferating media laws, policies, and jurisprudence on press freedom.

Professor Jacob Rowbottom (University of Oxford) will chair the discussion between Dr Irini Katsirea (University of Sheffield), Dr Peter Coe (University of Birmingham), Emeritus Professor Thomas Gibbons (University of Manchester), and Emeritus Professor Bernd Holznagel (University of Münster). There will be time for Q&A.

Register HERE.

Special Issue of International Journal of Communication (IJoC)

Deadline: End of June 2025

The Open Society Hub for the Politics of the Anthropocene (Central European University, Austria) and the Disinformation Research Cluster (University of Sheffield, UK) are pleased to invite submissions for a Special Issue of International Journal of Communication (IJoC) on the theme of “Climate Disinformation: European and Global Perspectives”, to be published by July 2026.

Climate-related disinformation, ranging from climate change denialism to conspiratorial narratives about decarbonisation, remains a serious obstacle to effective climate action. This disinformation is often amplified by networks involving politicians, think tanks, politically motivated organisations, and anonymous actors, all working to sow doubt and undermine public trust in climate science. Such efforts not only delay urgent policy responses but also erode the scientific consensus necessary for broad societal change.

In Europe, while political momentum around decarbonisation is growing, denialist voices continue to challenge green initiatives. Climate denialism is increasingly used as a political tool, shaping electoral campaigns and lobbying against environmental regulation. Meanwhile, greenwashing by corporations adds another layer of complexity, eroding public confidence in legitimate sustainability efforts and blurring the line between genuine action and corporate PR.

International bodies like UNESCO and the UN have called for stronger action against disinformation, yet significant gaps remain in our understanding of how it spreads and how best to counter it. This Special Issue seeks contributions that critically examine the dynamics of climate disinformation and evaluate the effectiveness of counterstrategies, such as fact-checking, emphasising scientific consensus, cultural messaging, and pre-emptive inoculation approaches.

We invite papers that focus on, but are not limited to, the following issues:

• Climate change disinformation: mapping the stakeholders contesting public perceptions of climate change and decarbonisation
• Influence of political ideologies on climate change beliefs
• Impact of Big Tech companies: investigating how technology and social media algorithms contribute to the spread of climate change denialism
• Geopolitics, political warfare and climate change disinformation
• Climate change scepticism in the “Global South”: exploring the dynamics of climate change scepticism in developing regions
• Challenges of greenwashing: eroding public trust and slowing down systemic change
• Strategies for countering climate change disinformation

Deadline for submissions: end of June 2025

The submission must default to the 6th edition of the APA style guide.

Research articles should range between 6,000 and 8,900 words (all-inclusive). Papers must not exceed 8,900 words.

We would also like to stress that submission to the IJoC Special Issue does not guarantee publication. This will depend on the outcome of the peer review process.

Please send your manuscripts by the indicated deadline to KocsanyA@ceu.edu.

University of Fribourg, Switzerland

The Department of Communication and Media Research at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, offers an International Visiting Scholarship for communication scientists in the postdoctoral phase, financed by a fund raised by the department’s founding fathers Dr. Max Gressly and Dr. Florian Fleck. The remuneration consists of CHF 5.000, permitting a stay of two to three months. The full call for applications for a stay in Fribourg in 2026 is available here: https://www.unifr.ch/dcm/en/assets/public/files/flyers/Gressly-Fleck2026.pdf. Application deadline is 30 September 2025.

October 30-31, 2025

Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden 

Deadline: May 1, 2025

Social media platforms have dramatically changed the ways that people of all ages encounter and engage with news and information, as well as manage vital aspects of everyday life. The algorithmically governed media landscape of today, likewise, not only situates media users in a ‘world of information plenty’ but shapes our daily practices and impacts on how we think, learn, and socialise. This entanglement of media technologies and everyday life is challenging for a variety of reasons, not least as the structure of platforms is ephemeral and fluctuating. This conference brings together scholars to discuss media users’ tactics to navigate news and information, time and space, relations, and identities in an increasingly ephemeral algorithmic landscape.

https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/calendar/events/2025-10-30-ecrea-audience-and-reception-studies-2025

November 26-28, 2025

University of Napoli, Italy

Deadline: June 30, 2025

In an era marked by rapid globalization, digital transformation, and shifting socio-political landscapes, contemporary Canada faces evolving challenges and opportunities in fostering stability and belonging while addressing divisions and conflicts (Simpson 2020; Coulthard 2021).

Canada has long been seen as a bridge between different cultures, identities, and geopolitical forces, yet barriers - both historical and contemporary - persist in shaping its national discourse. The complexities of Indigenous reconciliation efforts, the legacy of residential schools and land rights disputes (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 2015); regional disparities between provinces, particularly regarding economic development and resource distribution (Banting & Thompson 2023); linguistic tensions between English and French-speaking communities (Sioufi & Bourhis 2018); the outbreak and escalation of global conflicts, resulting in further divisions and negotiations; the evolving discourses on ethnicity, cultural diversity and gender equality which resonate in contemporary struggles for resistance and transformation (Abu-Laban 2023); the effects of migration and multiculturalism that shape urban and rural communities, raising questions about integration, identity, and policy responses (Li 2023). Canada's reputation as a welcoming nation for immigrants coexists with growing debates on border security, asylum policies, and systemic discrimination. Moreover, digital and physical infrastructures increasingly impact access to services, exacerbating socio-economic inequalities in an era of rapid technological advancement.

Canada’s dual role as a place of connection and disconnection is therefore evident. The Conference seeks to explore the multifaceted ways in which Canada engages with the notions of connection and separation across cultural, political, linguistic, economic, and social spheres. We invite proposals that critically examine the factors that build bridges and create barriers in contemporary Canadian society, from a range of disciplines in the wider field of the Humanities. We encourage interdisciplinary approaches as well as geographic, historical, sociological, legal, literary, linguistic and cultural perspectives.

Proposals may address (but are not limited to) the following topics:

• Indigenous sovereignty, reconciliation, and self-governance

• Bilingualism and multilingualism: policies, identities, and challenges

• Immigration, multiculturalism, and social integration

• Climate change, environmental justice, and Indigenous perspectives

• Digital and physical infrastructures: access, exclusion, and connectivity

• Cultural production and artistic expressions of belonging and alienation

• Social movements and activism: building solidarities or reinforcing divides

• The role of education in shaping national identity

• Inclusion and accessibility: policies, challenges, and opportunities

• Literature and narratives of connection and disconnection

We encourage both theoretical and empirical approaches. Submissions from graduate students and early-career researchers are also welcome.

The official languages of the conference: Italian, English and French

Submission Guidelines:

Abstracts should be no more than 250 words and be accompanied by a brief biographical note (100 words). Please submit your proposals by June 30 to aiscnapoli2025@gmail.com

Notifications of acceptance will be sent by July 15.

For further inquiries, please contact aiscnapoli2025@gmail.com

Works cited

Abu-Laban, Y. (2023). Contemporary Canadian Multiculturalism and Racial Justice. UBC Press.
Banting, K., & Thompson, D. (2023). Inequality and the Future of the Canadian Federation. University of British Columbia Press.
Coulthard, G. (2021). Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition. University of Minnesota Press.
Li, P.S. (2023) Deconstructing Canada’s discourse of immigrant integration. Int. Migration & Integration 4, 315–333
Simpson, L. (2020). As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom Through Radical Resistance. University of Minnesota Press.
Sioufi, R., & Bourhis, R. Y. (2018). Acculturation and Linguistic Tensions as Predictors of Quebec Francophone and Anglophone Desire for Internal Migration in Canada. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 37(2), 136-159.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Lorimer.

September 25-26, 2025

University of Padova, Italy

Deadline: April 27, 2025

The conference invites researchers to investigate the multiple ways in which young people interact with, negotiate, and reinvent intimacy in a progressively digitalized world. The goal of the conference is to create a critical discussion space to reflect on the opportunities, challenges, and contradictions inherent in digital intimacies, exploring its intersections with the social, cultural, and technological dimensions of daily life. While the digital offers new possibilities for connections, self-expression, and identity construction, it simultaneously raises questions about privacy, surveillance, commodification, and inequalities.

Find the full call for papers and submission guidelines here: http://www.digitalintimacies.eu/conference

June 23, 2025

Research Centre for Communication and Culture (CECC), Human Sciences School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Deadline: May 5, 2025

CECC will be hosting a conference on Taylor Swift and the Art of Meaning-Making: Communities, Affect and Storytelling on 23 June 2025.

This conference will explore the Taylor Swift phenomenon and gather scholars working at the intersection of media, literary, cultural, and political studies to explore Taylor Swift’s role in meaning-making processes.

Anonymized abstracts of no more than 500 words (not including references), as well as a short bio should be sent to taylorswiftconference@gmail.com by 5 May 2025. Submissions from early-career researchers and Ph.D. and M.A. students are welcome.

For full details, please visit the conference website: https://taylorswiftconfere.wixsite.com/cecc

Organization: Carla Ganito, Patrícia Tavares, Cátia Ferreira, Naíde Müller, and João Simão

Research Centre for Communication and Culture (CECC), Human Sciences School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa