May 25, 2024

Online

Deadline: April 26, 2024

We are pleased to announce a call for abstracts / expression of interest for an online symposium to be held in late May 2024, focusing on the intricate interplay between media, politics, and democracy in the Global South. Scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including but not limited to media and communication, African studies, Global South studies, and media and democracy, are invited to submit their original research papers.

Background:

Hallin and Mancini's seminal work, "Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics" (2004), has provided a foundational framework for understanding the complex relationship between media and democracy. However, the landscape has evolved significantly since its inception, particularly in regions like the Global South. In South Africa, for example, a burgeoning democracy a mere decade ago, the dynamics between media, politics, and democracy have undergone profound transformations. Factors such as increased media diversity, the proliferation of digital platforms, and ongoing challenges to media freedom have reshaped the terrain. 

The updated hybridisation model (Hallin et al., 2021) helps to understand media markets in terms of fragmentation but does not go far enough to explore and evaluate the influence of global and local politics in the media markets, particularly in the postcolony. Additional characteristics that affect the postcolony, particularly in the Global South and especially in Africa, should better outline ethics of media practice, the continued political interventions on journalistic integrity and professionalism, and the unique specifics of digital, language, and geographical access. Blanket models that are developed for and by Western theorists have a difficult application to Global South systems, even if some aspects fit with a squeeze. 

The Hallin and Mancini (2004, 2012; Hallin et al., 2021) models are important and illuminating, but none fit exactly the media systems of postcolonial, Global South countries. The hybrid model is more appropriate and applicable, but even here the application is mixed. These models are a useful set of variables with which to understand how the media and political systems intertwine, but trying to ruthlessly force this system to fit into the blanket models would be best left for Procrustes, not communication theory. We suggest that it may be time to create a new, non-Western-centric typology of media markets that considers the intricate histories of postcolonialism, struggles of democracy, and a Fourth Industrial Revolution that steamrolls over some and yet simply leaves others behind.

Theme:

This symposium aims to critically revisit the applicability of Hallin and Mancini's Three Models theory in the context of the Global South, with a particular focus on postcolonial countries. We encourage submissions that engage with the following themes, or others:

1. Critiques and Reassessments of the Three Models Theory in the Global South

2. Comparative Analyses of Media Systems in the Global South

3. Africanization and/or Hybridization of Media Models

4. Postcolonial Trajectories of Media, Politics, and Democracy

5. Digital Disruption and Media Dynamics in Emerging Democracies

6. Development of new Media Models

Submission Guidelines:

We invite scholars to submit abstracts of no more than 300 words, along with a brief biography, by April 26th 2024. Abstracts should clearly outline the research objectives, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks employed. 

We expect the online symposium to develop into a Special Edition journal with Media and Communication in 2025. Accepted abstracts will then be developed into full papers by October 2024.

Important Dates:

Abstract Submission Deadline: April 26th 2024

Notification of Acceptance: May 3rd 2024

Symposium Dates: May 25th 2024

Submission Instructions:

Please submit your abstracts and biographies as a Word document to Dr Bernadine Jones at b.l.jones@stir.ac.uk with the subject line: "Symposium Submission - [Your Last Name]". Authors will receive a confirmation email upon successful submission.

Publication Opportunities:

Selected papers presented at the symposium will be considered for a larger event in 2025 and subsequent publication in a special issue of Media and Communication, subject to peer review.

Contact Information:

For inquiries and further information, please contact Symposium Organizers Dr Bernadine Jones (b.l.jones@stir.ac.uk) and Dr Adrian Hadland (a.hadland@stir.ac.uk).

We look forward to receiving your submissions and engaging in stimulating discussions on the evolving dynamics of media, politics, and democracy in the Global South.

Sincerely,

Dr Bernadine Jones

University of Stirling