Deadline (EXTENDED): May 6, 2025
Editors: Dr. Emma Heywood, Dr. Richard Berry, Prof. Tanja Bosch and Prof. Kim Fox
Publisher: Peter Lang
Overview
This edited volume seeks to explore the evolving landscape of global audio production and use, with a particular focus on moving beyond Western-centric narratives. The book will bring together contributions from academics, practitioners, and organizations to highlight diverse perspectives on the theory and practice of radio, podcasting, and other audio media. It aims to foster a dialogue between practice and theory, engaging voices from the Global North and South and showcasing underrepresented practices, technologies, and cultures.
Call for Contributions
We invite submissions from scholars, practitioners, and organizations to contribute original chapters that reflect on the production, use, and impact of audio media globally. Contributions may explore the intersections of practice and theory, offer case studies, or provide evidence-based insights into audio production in diverse contexts.
Chapters may be theoretical (5,000–6,000 words) or shorter reflections by practitioners or organizations (1,000–3,000 words). Submissions from underrepresented regions, particularly the majority world, are highly encouraged.
Themes and Topics
We welcome proposals on (but not limited to) the following themes:
1. The Universality of Listening:
- How is audio experienced, produced, and consumed globally?
- Cross-cutting themes including culture, technology, gender, language, and community.
2. Global Perspectives on Production and Technology:
- Audio production in resource-limited settings (e.g., solar-powered devices, limited internet access).
- Innovations and adaptations in audio technologies across regions.
- Ethical questions and applications of AI in audio production: Is AI a Western obsession or globally relevant?
3. The Producer:
- Diverse roles and practices of audio producers, from community radio broadcasters to DIY creators and AI-generated content.
- Challenges and opportunities faced by local and community organizations.
4. The Place:
- The influence of geographic and cultural contexts on audio production and consumption.
- Case studies from the Global South, conflict zones, and areas with limited connectivity.
5. The User:
- Audiences and their evolving engagement with audio content.
- Radio as a tool for advocacy, education, and democracy—or propaganda and control.
- Generational perspectives: Is youth radio dead, and if so, who killed it?
6. The Purpose:
- Exploring the role of audio across organizational types: public service broadcasters, commercial media, community radio, and alternative platforms.
- State vs. public service broadcasting: tensions and challenges.
7. Audio and Podcasts in Global Markets:
- Podcasting as a cultural phenomenon and its industrial practices.
- How audio formats are converging with other media.
Submission Process
Please submit an abstract of 300–500 words along with a brief bio (150 words) detailing your background and expertise. Abstracts should clearly state the chapter’s objectives, methodology, and contribution to the field.
Deadlines
● Abstract Submission Deadline: Tuesday 6th May 2025
● Notification of Acceptance: Friday 23rd May 2025
● Deadline for submission of first draft: Monday 6th October 2025
● Full Chapter Submission Deadline: Monday 8th January 2026
Contact Information
Please send your submissions and any inquiries to theglobalaudiobook@gmail.com.
About the Editors
The book is edited by Dr. Emma Heywood, a senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Sheffield with expertise in radio journalism in conflict and humanitarian settings; Dr. Richard Berry, a scholar specialising in radio and podcasting as audio media; Prof Tanja Bosch, National Research Foundation Chair in the Digital Humanities at the University of Cape Town; and Prof Kim Fox who is an award-winning professor of practice in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at The American University in Cairo.
We look forward to your contributions to this exciting exploration of global audio practices!
