October 16-17, 2019

Edinburgh University, UK

Deadline: April 30, 2019

In the early 1980s, the establishment of Catalan, Basque and Welsh TV channels motivated several European scholars to investigate key concepts concerning minority language media and undertake important case studies. In 1992, the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages emphasised that public authorities have important responsibilities in this field. In the last two decades, the introduction of digitalisation and the Internet have developed a global world where the impacts, challenges and opportunities for minority language media have become increasingly complex. Despite these transformations, there has been little focused discussion and debate on the relationship between the digital and minority-language media.

This international conference is co-organised by the Basque Institute Etxepare and the University of Edinburgh and aims to exchange knowledge as well as promote collaboration between academics and professionals working on minority-language media.

We invite individual papers, pre-constituted panels or posters that engage with research and case studies on any of the following topics:

1. Communication and cultural policies

2. Media economics and the digital age

3. TV channels and online video platforms

4. Audience, genres and content analysis

5. Programming strategies and content commissioning

6. Production conditions and distribution opportunities

7. Commercialisation of programmes

8. Media education and language use

9. Nation, language and identity

10. Media and gender perspectives

Confirmed plenary speakers:

• Rob Dunbar, University of Edinburgh
• Josu Amezaga, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
• Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, Mercator Media
• Alan Esslemont, TG4 Irish TV General Director
• Itziar Azpeitia Iruretagoiena, Head of special projects - Basque Public TV (ETB)

Scientific committee:

1. Miren Manias-Muñoz, University of Edinburgh / University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

2. Aitor Zuberogoitia, University of Mondragon

3. Estibaliz Amorrortu, University of Deusto

4. Helen Kelly-Holmes, University of Limerick

5. Tom Moring, University of Helsinki

6. Tarlach McGonagle, University of Amsterdam

Organising committee:

- Miren Manias-Muñoz, University of Edinburgh / University of the Basque Country (UPVEHU), miren.manias@ehu.eus

- Garbiñe Iztueta Goizueta, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) / Etxepare Basque Institute, g-iztuetagoizueta@etxepare.eus

Conference Language: English

https://www.ed.ac.uk/literatures-languages-cultures/events/crowded-out-or-limitless-horizons

Abstracts should not be longer than 250 words and should be submitted before April 30th to the conference organisers at: miren.manias@ehu.eus

Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes for questions. Panels will be 90 minutes long, with three papers of 20 minutes and 10 minutes for questions. Registration information will be provided by the end of April.

See conference website for details: https://www.ed.ac.uk/literatures-languages-cultures/events/crowded-out-or-limitless-horizons