December 16-17, 2019

School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds

Deadline: June 28, 2019

Political Studies Association ‘Media and Politics Group’ Annual Conference

Keynote address by Professor Michael Saward (Warwick)

Roundtable session on ‘What makes a good political performance?’ including Prof Candida Yates (Bournemouth), Dr Lone Sorensen (Huddersfield), Prof John Corner (Leeds) and Prof Stephen Coleman (Leeds)

We are delighted to be celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the PSA Media & Politics group at the University of Leeds in December 2019. Our conference theme this year responds to the growing body of research emphasizing the performative dimensions of political communication. The deadline for abstract submission is Friday 28 June 2019 (see full details below).

The changing nature of political communication raises questions about how the relationships between the actors in the classical ‘political communication triangle’ are dynamically articulated and constructed in the media. Concerns include the intensified professionalization of politicians’ communication; increased pressures to retain and engage audiences; populist challenges to the rules of the game; the observed tendency of news to represent politics as a strategic game; and the disconnection between citizens and politicians.

Politics is performed in a variety of media forms and genres, including political drama, cartoons and comedy. The theme of the conference on ‘political performance’ allows a broad call for papers which explore the contribution of the media, political actors, and citizens to mediated performances of politics, and encourages a focus on the potential consequences of these performances.

While the main theme of this conference is politics and performance, the Media & Politics Group operates an open and inclusive policy, and papers dealing with any aspect of media and politics are welcomed. This may include areas of political communication and journalism, but also includes a broader view of the political within such areas as online media, television, cinema and media arts, both factual and fictional. In addition to academic research, the conference will also welcome practice-based work in art, film and performance related to the area of media and politics.

Deadlines and submission process:

Friday, 28 June 2019: Deadline for abstract submission. Please send abstract proposals for 15 minute papers to leedspsampg@leeds.ac.uk. These should include the following: title and name, institutional affiliation and address, and email address, together with a paper title and abstract of not more than 250 words. Proposers should also indicate whether they are current postgraduate students.

Early August. Paper proposers notified of decision by conference committee. Conference registration opens. Details of online registration to follow: £120 conference registration fee for both PSA members and non-members; £60 for students/ precariously employed.

• Friday, 4 October: Deadline for presenters to register.
• Friday, 25 October: Draft programme released.
• Monday, 16 December: Conference starts in Leeds.
• About the PSA, conference prizes and financial support

The Political Studies Association is the UK’s leading association in the study and research of politics. The Media & Politics Group is one of the Political Studies Association’s larger specialist groups.

The MPG is a welcoming and inclusive group. The conference welcomes contributions from both members and non-members of the Political Studies Association and of the Media & Politics Group.

James Thomas Memorial Prize and postgraduate travel subsidies

Full papers of a maximum of 2000 words submitted by postgraduate students will be entered into the James Thomas Memorial Prize. This annual award is presented to the most outstanding paper by a postgraduate student at the Media & Politics Group Annual Conference.

The Media & Politics Group offers a limited number of travel subsidies (up to the value of £100) to support postgraduate student participation in this event. Postgraduate students interested in applying for these subsidies should please note this in their submission.

Conference organisers: Professor Stephen Coleman, Dr Julie Firmstone, Dr Giles Moss and Dr Katy Parry, School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds.

Contact: leedspsampg@leeds.ac.uk or mediaresearchsupport@leeds.ac.uk with any queries.