ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

Edited by: Stephen Coleman and Lone Sorensen

This thoroughly revised second edition Handbook examines the latest knowledge and perspectives on digital politics. Through new content on digital populism, filter bubbles, algorithmic power, AI, non-Western digital politics, election communication regulation and right-wing alternative news media, contributors challenge the binary of cyber-optimism and cyber-pessimism and argue for a more nuanced understanding of political change.

Arranged around key themes, this Handbook investigates the meaning of digital politics and analyses the impact of new technologies and platforms on politics. Chapters consider the digital reconfiguration of civic practices, political institutions and journalism. Leading scholars provide original, incisive and provocative insights into cutting-edge issues, exploring how the expansion of digital technologies, channels and styles shapes political dynamics.

Providing a broad and in-depth overview of digital politics, this Handbook will be an invaluable resource for researchers, educators and students of politics, media and communication studies, journalism, technology and governance. It will also be essential reading for political practitioners, policy-makers and strategists seeking to better understand the digital world.

Link: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-digital-politics-9781800377578.html

June 30-July 4, 2024

Christchurch, New Zealand

The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) is pleased to announce the opening of the submission platform for its 2024 conference, to be held from 30 June to 4 July in Christchurch, New Zealand. Hosted by the University of Canterbury, the conference welcomes submissions in the fields of media and communication research from now until 7 February 2024. The central theme for 2024 is "Whiria te tāngata / Weaving people together: Communicative projects of decolonising, engaging, and listening," inspired by a Māori proverb about strength through common purpose.

IAMCR invites abstracts for its various thematic sections and working groups, as well as for two special segments: Flow34 and Pitopito kōrero. Flow34 focuses on academic audio/visual work, such as podcasts and videos that creatively integrate academic and aesthetic dimensions. Meanwhile, Pitopito kōrero is a special strand for short videos on the conference theme. While most of the conference will be in-person only, Flow34 and Pitopito kōrero are open for members who cannot attend the event in Christchurch.

The abstract submission system is now open, with a deadline set for 7 February 2024, at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts should be between 300 and 500 words, with a maximum of two submissions per author. The Flow34 proposals consist of an academic description and a basic script of the audio/visual work, with a maximum length of 750 words. Pitopito kōrero has a different procedure for submissions

The University of Canterbury, hosting the event, is renowned for its Media and Communication program, including Māori strategic communication. Christchurch, the host city, is noted for its blend of colonial heritage and modern architecture, rebuilt following earthquakes a decade ago. The event will take place at Te Pae, a new conference centre on the banks of the Avon river.

For more details and to submit your abstract, please visit the IAMCR 2024 conference website at https://christchurch2024.iamcr.org

April 17-18, 2024

Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania

Deadline: March 1, 2024

The Faculty of European Studies – Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, the Centre for Academic Succes – BBU, The Centre for African Studies – BBU, The State University of New York at Cortland and The University of Johannesburg, have the pleasure of announcing the organization of the 4th edition of the international conference Crisis Communication and Conflict Resolution, which will be held on April 17th-18th, 2024.

In crisis situations, effective communication and conflict resolution strategies are important aspects that cannot be disregarded. In order to address these challenges, this international conference aims to support academics, researchers, PhD and postgraduate students by offering them an opportunity to present their latest research results in the fields of:

• Crisis and Risk Communication
  
• Conflict Transformation and Resolution
  
• The United Nations and Conflict Resolution,
  
• The European Union and Conflict Resolution
  
• Dealing with Ethnic and Religious Conflicts
  
• Political Communication
  
• Institutional and Corporate Communication
  
• Environmental Communication
  
• Mass-media Communication
  
• Discourse Analysis
  
• Education and Learning
  
• Mediation in International Conflicts
  

The 2024 edition will be held in a hybrid format, both on-site and via virtual. Accepted papers will be published in a post-conference volume (e-book with ISBN).

Supporting journals: Synergies Roumanie

Studia Europaea UBB

Conference languages: English and French  (Appel à communications)

Venue: Faculty of European Studies (1 Em. de Martonne St., Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Participation fees:

• virtual participation – free of charge
  
• on-site participation – 50 EUR (50% discount for students)
  

Important deadlines:

• March 1st, 2024 – deadline for title and abstract submission
  
• March 7th, 2024 – notice of acceptance
  
• October 2024 – deadline for final paper submission
  

All paper proposal forms (LINK) should be submitted to both e-mail addresses below:

delia.flanja@ubbcluj.ro & laura.herta@ubbcluj.ro

Organizing committee:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Delia Pop-Flanja – BBU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura-Maria Herța – BBU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adrian-Gabriel Corpădean – BBU

Prof. Dr. Bhaso Ndzendze – UJ

Prof. Dr. Alexandru Balaș – SUNY Cortland

Prof. Dr. Sergiu Mișcoiu – BBU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paula Mureșan – BBU

Lect. Dr. Elena Grad-Rusu – BBU

Lect. Dr. Roxana-Maria Nistor – BBU

Assist. Dr. Ramona Alexandra Neagoș – BBU

Dr. Andreea-Bianca Urs – BBU

Dr. Gianina Joldescu-Stan – BBU

Editors: María-Cruz Negreira Rey, Jorge Vázquez-Herrero, José Sixto-García, Xosé López-García

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-43926-1

The book Blurring Boundaries of Journalism in Digital Media: New Actors, Models and Practices was recently published in its online edition by Springer Nature. The work was edited by Novos Medios researchers María-Cruz Negreira-Rey, Jorge Vázquez-Herrero, José Sixto-García and Xosé López-García and seeks to address the blurring boundaries that define contemporary journalism from various perspectives. The book brings together the contributions of 42 authors from 23 universities and eleven countries: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The volume is composed of 19 chapters, which are structured in six sections to address the principles of journalism today, sustainability strategies in the digital context, tensions between old and new players, the evolution of formats and narratives, adaptation to the mobile scenario and social media platforms, or the changes introduced by artificial intelligence.

The publication of the book is part of the activities of the R+D+i project Digital native media in Spain: strategies, competencies, social involvement and (re)definition of journalistic production and dissemination practices (PID2021-122534OB-C21). The work is a continuation of previous titles published in Springer, which also addressed a multifaceted approach to the conceptualization and evolution of digital journalism: Total Journalism: Models, Techniques and Challenges; and Journalistic Metamorphosis: Media Transformation in the Digital Age.

27 – 29 September 2024

Zakynthos, Greece

Deadline: March 31, 2023

https://dstfestival.org

The Greek Island of Zakynthos (Zante) constitutes a spot in time and space where the convergence of diverse sociocultural narratives takes place: Hugo Foscolos, Andreas Kalvos, Dionysios Solomos (national poet of Greece), and Andreas Vesalius are amongst the island's most notable cultural figures.

With that in mind, four Laboratories from three Greek Universities (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of the Aegean, Ionian University) have collaborated to organise the biannual International Digital Storytelling Festival (DST-Zakynthos)¹, between the biannual DST conferences.

DST-Festival celebrates the art of digital storytelling. DST-Festival is expected to constitute a space where the diverse community-driven digital stories can be communicated to the broader community, shared, and critically reflected upon by experts (artists, scientists, medical doctors etc.) and by the Festival participants (DST creators or not).

The 1st International Digital Storytelling Festival “We, The story” (DST-Zakynthos 2024) will be hosted by the "Foskolos" multi-purpose hall (https://cinefoskolos.gr).

DST-Zakynthos 2024 comprises a competitional and a non-competitional part. The competitional part of Festival is organized in six themes:

• Culture

• Education

• Environment

• Health

• Science – Research

• Society

Each creator may compete to any competitional theme (maximum two DSTs per creator in total).

Who can contribute with a DST to the Festival? DST is characterised by the creator’s truth, a personal narrative, crucially differing from a video clip or a short film. We accept any DST created within an acknowledged institution, organization etc. (accompanied with a respective verification Letter), or an Independently created DST (accompanied with a Letter briefly explaining the process of its creation). Each submission includes the DST (with the respective Letter), an Authorisation Letter (that the DST may be showed in public), and a Letter of Commitment (that the DST may be included in the Festival programme), payment of the handling fees (15 euros per DST). Detailed information about the procedures of entering the DST festival competition may be found at https://dstfestival.org, while queries may be sent to info@dstfestival.org.

Considering the non-competitional part, this year, the Festival will host a special session devoted to Greece, entitled “hiStories across the topos and the chronos.”

Furthermore, in parallel with the Festival, DST-workshops will be organized by DST-specialists for those who wish to experience the process of DST creating.

We invite you to join DST-Zakynthos 2024!

Michail Meimaris Professor Emeritus, President of DST-Zakynthos 2024

Important dates

• Submissions: 01 March 2024 – 31 March 2024
  
• Decision to contributors: 30 April 2024
  
• Registration: 30 April 2024 – 31 May 2024
  

Organised by:

– Zakynthos Club For UNESCO

– Laboratory of New Technologies in Communication, Education and the Mass Media, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

– Mathematics, History, Philosophy and Didactics of Mathematics Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

– Learning Technology and Educational Engineering Laboratory, University of the Aegean

– Interactive Arts Laboratory, Ionian University

Co-Organised by:

– Region of Ionian Islands

– Université Paris 8

– MICA - Université Bordeaux – Montaigne

– University of Lapland

– Chaire UNESCO ITEN

– MSc Global Health-Disaster Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

– EU Jean Monnet Chair in Humanitarian Medicine and Response in Action (2020-2024)

– The Greek Film Archive Foundation (Tainiothiki Tis Ellados)

– StoryCenter (USA)

– Pilgrim Projects (UK)

¹ Prior to the International Festival, two national DST festivals have taken place in Greece:

• “When 01 meets narration: Digital stories” at the Greek Film Archive Foundation (9-10/12/2017, Athens)
  
• “When 01 meets the Storytelling: Discussions and digital stories” (17-18/3/2018, Zakynthos)
  

June 26-28, 2025

University of Graz, Austria

Deadline: February 20, 2024

CALL FOR PAPERS

What is critique? What can Critical Theory do for society? Which forms of critique may claim any relevance in late capitalism? How can a critical public opinion manifest itself in the 21st century? How can we distinguish critique from political ideologies and conspiracy theories? (see Fridays for Future, Querdenker, etc.) What characterises critical thinking? How can radical thought be rendered practically relevant?

The conference Theories and Concepts of Critical Theory takes place between 26 and 28 June 2025 at the University of Graz, and it approaches its main theme from various theoretical and practical perspectives. Based at the Faculty of Humanities, this interdisciplinary conference constitutes the second stage of the interdepartmental research project Radical Thought in the Anthropocene. The conference follows on from a first event that took place in 2023 and which was dedicated to different disciplinary approaches to Critical Theory.

We will bring the concept and idea of critique into productive constellations with a variety of concepts and categories pertaining to social and cultural theory. In doing so, and by highlighting fundamental societal and existential challenges of the 21st century, we will reflect upon the possibilities and potentials of a productive critique of society, especially concerning its implications for academic theory and lived practice. In view of the great global, societal, ecological and economic challenges, we will put to the test the social significance and practical relevance of cultural and social theory in the 21st century.

 Keynotes

• Rodrigo Duarte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

• Lydia Goehr, New York City, USA

• Sven Kramer, Lüneburg, Germany

• Michael Thompson, New York City, USA

Conference Board (University of Graz)

• Stefan Baumgarten, Department of Translation Studies

• Stefan Brandt, Department of American Studies

• Juliane Jarke, BANDAS Center & Department of Sociology

• Susanne Kogler, Department of Art and Musicology

• Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl, Department of Philosophy

Format

 The conference is held in a workshop format. Incoming abstracts will be assigned to the following three corresponding themes:

• Workshop I: Language, Translation, Society

This workshop compares and contrasts diverse forms and concepts of critique and communication, examining their viability in view of current societal challenges such as multiculturalism, multilingualism, migration and modern communication technologies. Amongst other things, we will address cultural readings and language-specific receptions of the first generation of the Frankfurt School, especially concerning their historicity, timeliness and their ‘afterlife’. We will also pay special attention to ideology critique and to critical approaches on technology. Further relevant categories include phenomena such as inter- and transculturality, deconstruction and text, medialisation and multimodality, globalisation and (digital) cultures as well as gender-specific issues.

• Workshop II: Materialism, Aesthetics, Politics

The question surrounding (artistic) ‘material’ concerns one of the key themes associated with Theodor W. Adorno’s aesthetic theory. It is also of central importance regarding the current reception of Critical Theory. Such questions surrounding the status, nature and conceptualisation of the material world not only challenge the Marxist origins of Critical Theory but also its concrete political and practical relevance. In this workshop, we will compare and contrast approaches in Critical Philosophy and Critical Social Theory, as well as approaches pertaining to (Historical) Materialism and (Neo-)Idealism. Of particular interest here is the relationship between New Materialisms and Critical Theory. Further relevant topics include (world) literature, digitalization and mediatisation, art and freedom (from ideology), (artistic) activism and politics.

• Workshop III: Humans, Spirit, World Relation

This workshop deals with the relationship between science and critique. Here, the role of the Humanities for critical thinking and the role of lived practice with positive future implications will be debated from self-reflexive and self-critical standpoints. Among other things, we will discuss in what ways scientific and academic thought echoes conceptualisations, theories and arguments from Critical Theory, and how science might be able to adapt them for a better life, for a radical “wild thinking” that may generate alternative realities, art worlds, even anarchist constellations. Dichotomous thinking, post- and transhumanist ontologies as well as Anthropology and History are further possible themes. The relationship between critique, reason and unreason, as well as between critique, indignation and resistance about the state of (world) social affairs will also be up for discussion.

We look forward to receiving abstracts (max. 300 words) for 20-minute presentations on the above- mentioned topics and themes by 20 February 2024 under radikalesdenken(at)uni-graz.at. We are particularly looking forward to receiving contributions from doctoral candidates and early-career researchers! The abstracts must be submitted in anonymised form in English including a mini- biography (approx. 100 words).

The Conference Board will accept abstracts based on an anonymous selection procedure. Acceptance letters will be sent out in spring 2024. The conference will be streamed online. Selected contributions are expected to be published in English by Palgrave Macmillan.

Journal Mobile Media & Communication (JCR Q1, SPECIAL ISSUE)

Deadline: February 15, 2024

Guest editors: Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol & Sakari Taipale.

This special issue aims to explore the role of mobile communication in later life from theoretical and empirical perspectives. The more profound changes affecting older adults' inclusion/exclusion in the information society are mainly reflected in their use of mobile communication devices, particularly smartphones. Over the years, these pervasive changes have shaped older adults' social identity, family relations, and basic life conditions.

The premise of this special issue is the shared understanding that a large part of even recent research on later life and mobile communications is no longer valid, partly because it needs to incorporate the diversity of this life stage sufficiently. Hence, there is a risk that the understanding of older adults' mobile communication experiences becomes ossified and based on stereotyped and outdated knowledge. 

Important dates:

•     Abstract submission date 15 February 2024
  
•     Acceptance /rejection feedback 01 April 2024
  
•     Authors submit full papers by 30 September 2024
  
•     Peer Reviews completed/resubmissions in March 2025
  
•     Final acceptance by 15 September 2025
  

Relevant links:

CfP: https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontentl/mmc/Special%20Issue%20Proposal_%20Mobile%20communication%20and%20later%20life_%20from%20theories%20to%20empirical%20frescoes_06NOV2023-1699587686.pdf

Journal website: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/mmc

New book from Nordicom

Authors: Signe Sophus Lai and Sofie Flensburg

Download the book as open access or order a print copy here: https://www.nordicom.gu.se/en/publications/gateways

 Content:

Preface

Introduction

What we (think we) know

Biases of digital media

Agenda

Narrative 

PART I: DEPARTURES

Chapter 1. Follow the data

Epistemic crossroads

Structuring forces of digital communication

Towards digital communication systems

Chapter 2. Step-by-step: Comparing infrastructures, markets, & states

Step one: The Digital Communication System Matrix

Step two: The continuums

Step three: The indicators Future steps: A dynamic framework 

PART II: MAPS 

Chapter 3. Accessing the Nordic Internets 

Waves & wires

The rise & fall of incumbent empires

Governing access

The last mile & the last bastion 

Chapter 4. The backbone of communication

Mermaids & sea serpents

Expanding territories

The black-boxed backbone

Horizons & vertigos  

Chapter 5. Over-the-top applications 

Nordic application environments

Platform power

Gatekeeping the gatekeepers

Ruptures & tectonic plates 

Chapter 6. Bits of data, bits of power 

Surveillance architectures

The data asset

Datafication of welfare

Blocking the data hose? 

PART III: ROUTES

Chapter 7. A waltz 

Big Tech & the welfare state

At the mercy of the objects we study 

Chapter 8. Road to nowhere 

Comparing digital communication systems

Datafied welfare?

Evolving Internet regimes 

References

April 10, 2024

Sheffield, UK

Deadline: December 10, 2023

The ECREA Journalism Studies Section and the Young Scholars Network (YECREA) invite applications for the 4th Journalism Studies PhD Colloquium, which will take place on 10 April 2024 at the University of Sheffield.

The PhD Colloquium aims to connect up-and-coming journalism researchers and experienced colleagues in the field, and to provide mentorship to doctoral students. It is an opportunity for PhD researchers in Journalism Studies to present their projects, receive in-depth feedback on their work from established scholars, and network with senior scholars and peers in a friendly and supportive environment. Students will be paired with an experienced scholar, who will read a substantive piece of their work (a chapter or paper of 5,000-8,000 words) and give them feedback on the day of the colloquium.  

We welcome all theoretical and empirical PhD projects focusing on journalism research. We also strongly support submissions from PhD students at the start or middle of their projects as they benefit from feedback the most (although doctoral students at any stage of their PhD journey are welcome to apply).  

Submission guidelines 

Interested PhD students should submit the following: 

• An abstract of 500 words outlining the 1) topic, 2) rationale, 3) theoretical approach, and 4) empirical application (if applicable). 
  
• A separate document with the name, affiliation, expected graduation date, and supervisor.  
  
• A ranked list of five potential respondents (please try to choose scholars likely to attend a section conference in the European context). 
  

Please send your submissions via email to Bissie Anderson (b.anderson4@rgu.ac.uk) no later than 10 December 2023. Submissions will be reviewed in a double-blind review process. 

Notifications of acceptance will be issued by 10 January 2024. 

We expect participants whose abstracts are accepted to submit a full paper (5,000-8,000 words) by 10 March 2024. Full papers are mandatory for participation as they will be sent to selected respondents. More information on the submission requirements will be sent to accepted participants via email.  

*PLEASE NOTE*: The PhD colloquium will take place in-person only and we are unable to accommodate requests for virtual participation. 

Timeline

• Sunday 10 December 2023 at 23:00 - deadline for submissions
  
• Acceptances announced by 10 January 2024 
  
• Full papers submitted by 10 March
  

June 6-7, 2024

Tilburg (the Netherlands)

Deadline (EXTENDED): February 9, 2024

Organizers:

• Niels Niessen, Tilburg University, the Netherlands
  
• Nuno Atalaia, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
  
• Rianne Riemens, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
  

Keynote speaker: Prof. Tiziana Terranova

This conference brings together critiques of how Big Tech invades all domains of public and private life, transforming those domains in the process. The conference explores how the humanities can contribute to a better understanding of this development. At the same time, we are interested in how humanities research changes in relation to this development.While critiquing Big Tech, it is important to acknowledge that for many, platforms like Instagram, Tumblr, and X (Twitter) are places of consciousness building and activism. It is also safe to say that without these platforms, movements like MeToo, Trans Liberation, and Black Lives Matter would not have happened the way they did. Yet while these platforms help liberate personal and collective life in some respects, ultimately they are not designed for emancipation, but to maximize user engagement. The conference examines the ways in which Big Tech interpellates people as users, through its technologies and its discourses. We will also discuss potential forms of resistance against this interpellation.

In proposing a humanities perspective on Big Tech, we tackle what we perceive as a crisis of the human form in the age of large-scale platforms, personalized AI, and the algorithmic condition.

Theorists including Patricia Ticineto Clough (The User Unconscious), Nick Couldry & Ulises Mejias (Costs of Connection), and McKenzie Wark (Capitalism Is Dead) have argued that Big Tech threatens the very integrity and sovereignty of individual and collective human existence. At the same time, the existence of both humans and non-humans is threatened by climate change and the continuous appropriation of the environment for the benefits of Big Tech and economic growth (as argues for example Mél Hogan in “Big Data Ecologies”). What does it mean to practice the Humanities in algorithmic societies facing political and ecological crises? How to understand the human subject and its relation to technology and the environment in light of these conditions? How to critique Big Tech’s understanding of the human subject, its extractive economic model and continuous infrastructural and spatial expansion, and its visions of the future? How to work towards alternatives?

The conference somewhat changes up the traditional conference format, creating more space for conversation and workshops. We ask for short 10-minute individual presentations. During the workshops hosted by the conference organizers, participants are invited to critically engage with the methodological, epistemic, and ecological implications of studying Big Tech. If you are interested in participating in the conference, please fill out this form. (https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/H-8AnSFOUBAa5xr17f4MLwF-QTa5AQXpQB-Olfw1Vys/).

We ask you to briefly describe (1) the topic of your presentation and ideally also your object of focus (if your paper is mostly theoretical, still provide an example of an object you connect to); (2) your intervention (the argument you plan to develop, or how you envision your contribution); (3) a brief reflection on methodology and how your contribution speaks to the changing humanities. In addition, please indicate your preference for the workshop you would like to attend on day 2 of the conference (How to design a user?; How to study big data ecologies?; How to de-Google Learning?). Finally, we ask participants to ideally participate in the full conference. On the evening before the conference (June 5) we will have an informal dinner (paid for by the organization) in the center of Tilburg. The conference itself will take place in De Nieuwe Vorst theater, also in the Tilburg city center.

To apply, please fill out the form on https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/H-8AnSFOUBAa5xr17f4MLwF-QTa5AQXpQB-Olfw1Vys/ 

For questions, please email bigtechconference@protonmail.com

Deadline for submission: 9 February. We will send out conference invitations by the end of February.