ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

International Centre for Ethics (IZEW), University of Tübingen

The professorship at the university of Tübingen is to be filled as soon as possible.

The Ethics Centre (IZEW) at the university of Tübingen is looking for an outstanding, highly motivated researcher to work on the ethics of scientific and technological innovation and to build a bridge between the various relevant disciplines. The professorship is to be filled as soon as possible.

The Ethics Centre (IZEW):

Ethical issues of technological innovation in research and development are one of the main topics that are investigated at the IZEW, always in close collaboration with the sciences. Research at the Ethics Centre generally is inter- and transdisciplinary (including third mission aspects) and not restricted to questions of applied issues within one single field. Therefore, we understand excellence in ethical research as a collaborative endeavour, encouraging scientists of various disciplines to reflect on concepts and methods of responsible research and innovation. The program of “Ethics in the Sciences” hence not only provides an excellent theoretical basis for interdisciplinarity but also for practical and collaborative research and teaching as well as capacity building. 

The position: 

The successful candidate should have expertise in application-oriented ethics with a focus on scientific and technological innovations. This includes the analysis of how culture, broadly understood as shared practices and knowledge, is affected by innovation while science and technology at the same time are shaped by their own cultures. A differentiated approach to methodologies of ethics in practice as well as insights into philosophy of science are expected. Furthermore, wide experience in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research including collaboration with the natural and life sciences, as well as with civil society, is required.

The preferred candidate is expected to conduct research on ethical questions related to innovative technologies, e.g., in areas of bionics, human-machine interactions, artificial intelligence and sustainability, in relation to issues of human autonomy, social accountability as well as personal, institutional and distributed responsibilities. A strong record in securing third-party funding for research projects as well as the willingness to participate in the executive committees and the lively working environment of the IZEW is expected. Interdisciplinary teaching in the field of ethics in the sciences at the Ethics Center as well as in cooperation with various departments and clusters of excellence is required. The position has a teaching load of nine hours per week during the semester.

The University is currently applying for Clusters of Excellence that cover a broad range of topics as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments. The successful candidate is expected to be open to networking with existing clusters and new cluster initiatives currently being applied for. S/he is point of contact for questions on ethical and cultural aspects of innovative technologies and their implications for society.

Formal requirements: 

Required qualifications include a PhD or equivalent degree as well as postdoctoral qualifications and teaching experience equivalent to the requirements of a full professorship.

The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. Female scientists, in particular, are explicitly invited to apply, as are applicants from outside Germany. Applications from equally qualified candidates with disabilities will be given preference.

General information on professorships, hiring processes, and the German academic system can be found here: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/213700 

The following documents are required: curriculum vitae and description of academic career, copies of degree certificates, list of publications, overview of research focus and a research concept including proposals for the integration of ethical reflection on scientific and technological innovations at the University of Tübingen (max. 3 pages), a teaching portfolio incl. list of didactic training (max. 5 pages), and three relevant publications. Applications should be sent in electronic form (one PDF file) to the centers executive board, vorstand@izew.uni-tuebingen.de, by January 30th, 2025. Enquiries may also be directed to this address.

Download the job advertisement here.

Deadline: December 15, 2024

Dean Dr. Raquel V. Benitez Rojas from the University of Niagara Falls Canada, is looking for collaborators for her new book to be published by Taylor and Francis Group about Virtual Reality.

Please send your CV and chapter proposal, which should be chosen from the proposal. Attached you will find the abstract and the index of the same. Proposals must be sent before December 15 to raquelbenitezrojas@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

In an era where digital landscapes are becoming increasingly intertwined with our daily lives, the creation, and production of virtual media have emerged as essential components of contemporary culture. "Beyond the Screen: Unveiling the Art and Science of Virtual Content Creation" delves into the multifaceted world of virtual content creation, exploring the fusion of creativity and technology that shapes the virtual realms we inhabit.

This book serves as a comprehensive guide for both aspiring creators and seasoned professionals, offering insights into the intricate processes involved in bringing virtual experiences to life. Drawing upon the expertise of industry insiders and innovators, it navigates through the fundamental principles and advanced techniques that underpin the creation and production of virtual media.

At its core, "Beyond the Screen" emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between artistry and technology in the realm of virtual content creation. It explores how artists harness the power of digital tools to sculpt immersive environments, craft compelling narratives, and evoke emotional responses from audiences. From concept development to post-production, each stage of the creative process is dissected, providing readers with practical strategies for realizing their creative visions in a virtual space.

Moreover, this book illuminates the dynamic landscape of virtual media, encompassing a diverse range of formats and platforms. Whether it be virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), or mixed reality (MR), each medium presents unique opportunities and challenges for creators. Through case studies and real-world examples, "Beyond the Screen" showcases the innovative ways in which creators leverage these technologies to engage with audiences and push the boundaries of storytelling.

In addition to exploring the artistic dimension of virtual content creation, this book delves into the technological innovations that drive the industry forward. From 3D modeling and animation to spatial audio and interactive design, it provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the tools and techniques at their disposal. Furthermore, it examines emerging trends such as procedural generation, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology, offering insights into their potential impact on the future of virtual media.

However, "Beyond the Screen" also acknowledges the ethical considerations and societal implications inherent in the creation and consumption of virtual content. As virtual experiences become increasingly indistinguishable from reality, questions of authenticity, representation, and privacy come to the forefront. By fostering a critical dialogue on these issues, this book encourages readers to approach virtual content creation with mindfulness and responsibility.

In conclusion, "Beyond the Screen: Unveiling the Art and Science of Virtual Content Creation" offers a holistic exploration of the creative and technical processes that define the virtual media landscape. Whether you are a novice enthusiast or a seasoned professional, this book serves as an indispensable companion on your journey to unlock the boundless possibilities of virtual expression. Through its blend of theory, practical advice, and thought-provoking insights, it empowers readers to transcend the confines of the screen and embark on a voyage of creativity in the digital realm.

INDEX

1. Introduction to Virtual Content Creation

2. History of Virtual Content

3. Understanding Virtual Environments

4. The Art of Virtual Content Creation

5. The Science Behind Virtual Reality

6. Tools and Technologies for Virtual Content Creation-Wael

7. Virtual Content Design Principles

8. Virtual Storytelling Techniques

9. Virtual Content Distribution Channels

10. Challenges and Future Trends in Virtual Content Creation

11. Glossary of Terms

12. References and Further Reading

Audencia Business School

The school of engaged and innovative management

Audencia educates responsible leaders prepared to address today’s social and environmental challenges. Through Gaïa, its school for ecological and social transition, and its unique approach to skill hybridization, Audencia combines academic excellence with applied research to create tangible, and measurable, impact within partnerships and key organizations. Join an institution that promotes sustainable and inclusive management, for its own staff, dedicated to shared progress and meaningful actions, for the benefit of all.

Feb.1st Q - 2025

PROJECT – PODTRUST (36 months)

PI Karolina KOC-MICHALSKA and Odile VALLEE

Mandatory requirements:

•  Capacity to conduct: Literature review,  survey (experiment is a plus) and qualitative interviews
  
•  Advanced knowledge in statistical packages R or Stata (or equivalent)
  
•  Interest in trust in political elites’ communication
  
•  Scientific level proficiency in English (writing)
  

Desirables criteria:

•  Ability to work with deadlines
  
•  Strong organizational skills
  

Place of Work: The hired candidate should reside (6 mths.) in France, with duties primarily online but required attendance at key meetings and workshops at Audiencia’s Paris Campus.

JOB - Description

By joining, along the project duration, our international team within the Trans-Atlantic Partnership for Democracy, Governance, and Trust; you will discover how digital communication impacts trust between citizens and political elites, focusing on marginalized communities. Using a multimethod comparative approach, the project combines elite interviews and survey experiments across Canada, France, Poland, and the UK to reveal strategies that enhance trust and address inequalities in political engagement.  Your missions:

• Review of scientific and non-scientific literature and survey meta-analysis 
  
• Help develop and implement methods for data collection and analysis 
  
• Process statistical analyses
  
• Prepare (co-author) conference presentations, high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and reports
  
• Administrative help for Project Management
  
• Research Assistant supervision
  
• No teaching
  
• Engage in other projects run by the Lab
  

SALARY (13 MONTHS)

~60 K Annual gross

~2.4 K Monthly net

MORE INFOS (HR BONUSES)

Executive staff status

+ Company health insurance

PROCESS

Submit a single PDF file with the email subject line "Postdoc position: PODTRUST." PDF should include a cover letter (max 1000 words on relevant research interests), your short CV, and 2-3 examples of scientific work (e.g., articles, chapters). 

Title your PDF package: PODTRUST_POSTDOC_YourName

 To: kkocmichalska@audencia.com

Deadline: December 17, 2024

Deadline: October 1, 2025

All submitted and accepted articles will be considered for inclusion in a special issue “Internet Histories Early Career Researchers”

Do you study the past? Perhaps you even do historical research and know the difference between the Internet and the Web, and even how to historically and technically explain them? Chances are this Call for Articles may be of interest to you...

Read more about previous awards at https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rint20/collections/best-paper-prize-early-career-internet-histories

Please see the full call for papers here: https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/early-career-researcher-award-2026/

Kind regards of behalf of

The Editors of Internet Histories

Asger Harlung,

Editorial Assistant, Internet Histories

Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research

Deadline: March 30, 2025

Twitter: @commejcr

Guest edited by: Christian Pentzold, Leipzig University, Germany; Anne Kaun, Södertörn University, Sweden; Stine Lomborg & Sille Obelitz Søe, both Copenhagen University, Denmark.

Much is at stake: The welfare sector across the EU faces growing demands and dwindling resources, with automation expected to bring about significant changes. Automated decisionmaking (ADM) is being proposed as a solution to improve efficiency in the provision of public goods and services by leveraging data-driven processes and reallocating resources to better support citizens’ well-being. Recent academic work, especially within the humanities and social sciences, has critically examined algorithms, datafication, and AI. These studies often emphasize the need for accountability in technical systems, focusing on data ethics, transparency, and regulatory oversight to safeguard human justice within ADM systems. Yet, real-world examples abound of human rights violations, including privacy breaches, biases in automated systems, and discriminatory outcomes. Cases such as the use of data for fraud detection, welfare distribution, and profiling vulnerable populations illustrate these issues globally. Consequently, concerns about the potential adverse effects of automation on various aspects of life—healthcare, welfare, labor, and the functioning of public spheres—have been raised by researchers, public figures, and the general public.

Stories about the implications of ADM for the welfare of citizens sometimes come to public scrutiny, such as a recent WIRED piece on the Danish welfare system turning into a ‘surveillance nightmare’. When these stories surface, they relay ADM as extraordinary and scandalous. But in fact, ADM for welfare provision is becoming ordinary, widespread, and is fundamentally changing the nature of public goods provision and public services, and thus the conditions for human flourishing. Some argue that ADM is critically altering European welfare states from being based on trust, equity and solidarity to being based on efficiency, control, and discrimination of vulnerable populations. This transformation is largely happening under the public radar. As governments try to ride the waves of automation and drive the exploitation of technological potentials and vast registers of data on citizens, we argue that it is urgent to have a critical and informed debate to shape the use of ADM in the interest of public values, and for the people. Indeed, this call comes at a moment when automation is changing the very notion of what communication and information is. Rather than being mainly about the rights and processes of creating and distributing messages, of speaking and being heard, data streams become significant assets and objects of interest no matter what they contain.

This Special Issue seeks to explore the impact of ADM on welfare and well-being from European perspectives. It starts from the position of those directly involved: the engineers and designers, the case workers who collaborate with these systems in welfare and service provision decisions, and the people whose data fuel the systems and are affected by automation efforts. The Special Issue aims to address the digital transformation of the citizen–state relationship by examining the development, data work, and human-machine collaboration within ADM, alongside the technological, social, and cultural dynamics that either facilitate or impede progress in automating welfare for the public good.

A people-centered approach builds on the idea that welfare in societies is fundamentally about fostering the conditions for the flourishing of everybody. Hence public goods and services provision becomes a question of justice and equity. When welfare is increasingly automated this consequently has implications for social justice for the people more generally and must be addressed through the lens of the people implicated in the process of automation.

The Special Issue is open to theoretical and empirical approaches. It invites senior as well as emerging scholars. Contributions can address, but are not limited to, the following aspects:

• Conceptualizations of automation, datafication, and communication
  
• Reflections on human flourishing in datafied and automated citizen–state relationships
  
• Public communication and discourses around datafication and automation for the public good
  
• Communicative and media practices around automation, datafication and artificial intelligence
  
• Case studies of ADM implementation in public administration and public service provision, including public service broadcasting
  
• ADM’s and AI-powered tools in newsrooms and their implications for journalistic practices and the public’s right to information
  
• Policies, norms, and regulations of ADM deployment and development
  
• Human rights perspectives on automation and public goods
  
• Resistance and civic actions against automated processes
  
• Impacts of ADM on employability in the media sector and beyond, and the shifting roles of human labor
  
• Environmental and climate impacts of ADM and AI deployment for public service provision and media production

There will be no publication fee.

Timeline and procedure

500 to 700 word abstracts should be sent to (christian.pentzold@uni-leipzig.de) by March 30, 2025. The abstract should articulate: 1) the issue or research question to be discussed, 2) the methodological or critical framework used, and 3) the expected findings or conclusions. Feel free to consult with the Special Issue Editors about your article ideas and potential angles or approaches.

Decisions will be communicated to the authors by April 30, 2025. Invited paper submissions will be due August 31, 2025 and will be submitted to christian.pentzold@uni-leipzig.de. They will then undergo peer review through Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research following the journal’s standard double-blind procedures. The invitation to submit a full article does not guarantee acceptance into the Special Issue. The Special Issue is scheduled for publication in summer 2026.

This call for abstracts is also accessible HERE.

Contact

Prof Christian Pentzold

Email: christian.pentzold@uni-leipzig.de

September 11-12, 2025

Cardiff University, UK

Deadline: February 14, 2025

Cardiff University invites submissions of abstracts of papers on all aspects of journalism to be considered for presentations at the 10th biennial Future of Journalism conference.

The event is hosted by the School of Journalism, Media and Culture (JOMEC), and it takes place at Cardiff University on the 11th & 12th of September, 2025.

The organisers especially encourage contributions addressing the theme of “Conflicting Journalisms: Resistance, Struggle, and Prospects.”

This includes, but is not limited to, papers addressing themes such as:

• The role of journalists and journalism in covering conflict, including war, repression, and political violence
  
• New forms of journalism used in covering conflict, such as open source intelligence
  
• The challenges created in reporting on authoritarian and populist political movements
  
• The difficulties of covering elections in polarised news environments
  
• Conflict in journalism created by the development and introduction of generative artificial intelligence
  
• The threat to journalism’s standards, normative behaviours, and the compromises to journalistic values in covering populism/authoritarianism
  
• Conflict as a news value
  
• The aesthetic of conflict in photojournalism
  
• The challenges created by reporting on and/or for minority communities
  
• The challenges of reporting systemic or existential changes, such as climate change
  
• The accommodations made by legacy news institutions under pressure and the impact on ideals of journalistic objectivity, quality, and fairness
  
• The impact of both online and physical abuse and threat to journalistic challenge to authority
  
• Journalists work environment: conflicts in the newsroom
  
• Ongoing conflict around the gendering of journalism and news
  
• Conflicting ethical frameworks
  
• The struggle between opposing forces as a rhetorical trope in journalism
  
• Beyond blame: using compassion and empathy to address conflicts
  
• The future of the field of journalism studies and conflicts over its value and values
  
• The implications for improving journalism education associated with these developments
  

Confirmed keynote speakers include Professor Seth Lewis, the Shirley Papé Chair in Emerging Media at the University of Oregon, and Jodie Ginsberg, Chief Executive of the Committee for the Protection of Journalists.

The deadline for abstracts (300 words maximum) is Friday, 14th February, 2025. Abstracts should be submitted online via the link HERE.

Queries can be emailed to foj2025@cardiff.ac.uk.

Arab Media & Society

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Arab Media & Society, the biannual journal of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism in the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo, is seeking submissions for our next issue on “Media & Conflict”.

The Arab world has been deeply affected by conflict and war. This complicated history positions the region as a crucial case study to examine the intricate relationship between media and conflict. Throughout the Arab world, the media landscape significantly shapes public opinion, controls narratives, and propagates ideological messages during times of conflict. This system of mediation includes state-controlled outlets, independent voices, alternative platforms, and other media outlets. Whether covering long-standing geopolitical struggles—like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—or more recent conflicts involving Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Algeria, and Morocco, the media plays a central role in constructing and broadcasting narratives surrounding these conflicts, which shapes our conception of these momentous events.

In recent years, the proliferation of digital media has infused novel complexity into the media-conflict dynamic. The rise of social media platforms, the ubiquity of smart devices, as well as the ease and instantaneous speed that content can be shared has fundamentally altered how conflicts are reported, perceived, and engaged with by both local and global audiences. Digital media has empowered grassroot movements, introduced novel forms of mis/disinformation, and altered the relationship between the public, the media, and state institutions. In a region where narratives are tightly controlled, digital media has disrupted traditional hierarchies while enabling new actors the capacity to reinforce or challenge established conflict narratives.

Issue 38 of Arab Media & Society aims to examine the role of media—both traditional and digital—through the lens of conflict in the Arab world. As such, we seek to explore the intersections of traditional and digital media with technology, ideology, and geopolitics by encouraging submissions that address how various forms of media (re)shape conflict narratives, media practices, and public engagement with war and conflict.

Media and Conflict in the Arab World

Media and conflict are inseparable in the Arab world. Traditional media outlets—television, radio, and newspapers—are longstanding tools used by state and non-state actors to shape public opinion and construct ideological narratives during times of conflict. While these remain potent means of producing and disseminating narratives, the advent of digital media has drastically altered this formerly entrenched media landscape. The proliferation of social media platforms, online news outlets, and digital forums allow for faster, more diverse, and often unfiltered dissemination of information. As a result, conflicts are no longer simply reported in this new media environment, they are experienced, shared, and amplified through digital networks in real-time.

The rapid proliferation of digital media has established new mechanisms—for both state and non-state actors—that exert tremendous influence upon conflict dynamics in the Arab world. Governments increasingly rely on digital media as a tool to disseminate propaganda, psychological warfare, and engender domestic and/or international support. Simultaneously, grassroots movements, citizen journalists, and alternative media outlets utilize digital platforms to challenge official narratives, document human rights abuses, and mobilize resistance to state violence.

The widespread availability of smartphones, in combination with the power of social media, has transformed previously voiceless citizens into potential content producers. These novel digital networks have precipitated an unprecedented level of public engagement with both war and conflict. Images and videos depicting violence, suffering, and resistance circulate online and (re)shape how conflicts are perceived within the Arab world and globally. However, these platforms also provide a fertile breeding ground for disinformation, deepfakes, and the manipulation of public opinion, which may exacerbate existing tensions and fuel conflict. Given these developments, it is imperative to critically examine the role of all media—traditional, broadcast, and digital—in the (re)construction of conflict narratives, the mobilization of actors, and the transformation of media practices in the Arab world.

This issue seeks contributions that engage both theoretical and/or empirical approaches to better understand how media is transforming conflict dynamics, media practices, and public perceptions in the region. We invite scholars to explore the complex and evolving relationship between media and conflict in the Arab world.

Themes and Topics of Interest

Submissions may address the following themes, which aims to provide a broad framework for investigating media and conflict in the Arab world. Please note, this list of suggestions is not exhaustive. Submissions may be qualitative or quantitative as we encourage interdisciplinary approaches and critical analyses.

• The role of media in (re)framing conflict narratives: How do different media platforms shape narratives involving war and conflict in the Arab world? What are the dominant frames and how do they influence public opinion and/or policy decisions?
  
• Propaganda and disinformation in the media: How are state and non-state actors exploiting media to disseminate disinformation, propaganda, and psychological warfare? What tools are employed to manipulate public opinion and fuel conflict through traditional and/or digital platforms?
  
• Citizen journalism and grassroots media in conflict zones: What role do citizen journalists and alternative media outlets play in documenting and reporting conflicts? How do they challenge or reinforce official narratives and what impact do they have on the public’s perception of conflict?
  
• Ethical and legal challenges of reporting conflict: What are the ethical considerations for journalists, activists, ordinary citizens, and media outlets when documenting conflict? How do legal frameworks in the Arab world impact the ability of media to report on conflicts freely and accurately?
  
• The visual economy of war: How do images of violence, suffering, and resistance circulate through various media platforms? What are their psychological, cultural, and political impacts on audiences? How does the visual representation of war differ between traditional and digital media?
  
• Social media and the mobilization of conflict actors: How are social media platforms used by conflict actors to mobilize support, recruit fighters, and spread ideological messages? What role do digital networks play in (re)shaping the strategies of both state and non-state actors in conflict zones?
  
• Media coverage of humanitarian crises in conflict: How do media platforms cover the humanitarian aspects of conflict, such as displacement, refugee crises, and human rights violations? How do these platforms contribute to or detract from international humanitarian interventions?
  
• Safety in conflict zones: How has the rise of digital media impacted the safety and security of journalists, citizens, activists, and media workers in conflict zones? What new risks do digital platforms pose and what strategies can be employed to mitigate these risks?
  
• Media, public trust, and conflict: How do media platforms influence public trust in media outlets during times of conflict? How do audiences navigate misinformation and disinformation? What strategies can be employed to restore trust in conflict reporting?
  
• Gender and conflict reporting through media: How is the gendered dimension of conflict represented in media? What challenges do female journalists and activists face in reporting on conflict? How is the impact of conflict on women and marginalized groups portrayed?
  

Suggested Areas of Research:

• The role of media in shaping narratives of war and conflict.
  
• The authority of official/alternative narratives in conflict reporting.
  
• The circulation of propaganda and disinformation via media during conflict.
  
• The role of citizen journalism and alternative media in conflict zones.
  
• The ethical dilemmas in reporting conflict.
  
• The visual representation of war and violence across media platforms.
  
• The use of media for the mobilization of conflict actors.
  
• Humanitarian crises and the coverage of atrocities by media.
  
• The impact of digital media on journalistic safety in conflict zones.
  
• Public relations and crisis/conflict news management.
  
• The public trust/distrust in media during times of conflict.
  
• Gendered reporting of conflict across media.
  
• Censorship and media freedom in Arab conflict zones.
  
• The role of media in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts.
  
• The use of dehumanizing language or demonizing adversaries via media.
  
• The role of media as it pertains to inciting conflict and fostering peace and reconciliation.
  
• The role of diaspora and exile communities in shaping media narratives.
  
• The rise of disinformation and its impact on conflict resolution.
  
• Comparative analysis of traditional versus digital media in covering Arab conflicts.
  
• The intersection of media, ethics, and law in conflict reporting.
  

The above list is a non-exhaustive set for suggested areas of research. We welcome contributions that explore other dimensions related to media and conflict in the Arab region.

Deadline for Submissions

Authors interested in submitting their research for peer-review consideration must submit manuscripts by January 15, 2025.

Other submissions, including book and conference reviews, shorter (non-peer reviewed) research papers, and columns, should be submitted by January 31, 2025.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must be in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx), adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style, and have a maximum length of 10,000 words (including footnotes and citations).

Please include the author's name (as it should be published), their affiliation, and a brief abstract of no more than 150 words.

Please email all submissions to: editor@arabmediasociety.com

For further information regarding our publishing policies, kindly visit: www.arabmediasociety.com/publishing-policies/

Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding the call for papers, please contact: editor@arabmediasociety.com.

Thank you for your interest and support of Arab Media & Society. We look forward to your contributions to this timely and important issue.

Editors: Sameera Ahmed, Maha Bashri, Ahmed El Gody

Deadline: December 2, 2025

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan 

We invite chapter proposals for an edited volume titled “Contesting Colonial Legacies: Processes of Decolonization in Media Spaces”. This book aims to critically examine the enduring influence of colonialism on contemporary societal frameworks, ideologies, and structures, with a particular focus on the media’s role as a key discursive arena where colonial legacies are both upheld and challenged.  

The book will explore how media and communication can either perpetuate or transform colonial legacies in the contemporary era. Unraveling and confronting these legacies is essential for fostering societies that are just, inclusive, and equitable, and that celebrate diversity in voices, cultures, and knowledge. To consolidate the literature emerging from the Global South that addresses these issues, chapters will reference, amongst others, diaspora studies, subaltern and postcolonial studies, and identity and conquest/anti-conquest discourses. 

By bringing together these critical issues and perspectives in one volume, we aim to provide an extensive and interconnected framework for understanding experiences of neocolonialism in the 21st century. This book will create a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, activists, and the public to examine conditions that impact several aspects of our contemporary lives which are rooted in colonial histories. 

We particularly encourage contributions from the Global South/Global Majority that: 

• Critique prevailing ideologies in media’s discursive spaces 
  
• Study the media as a site for resisting and contesting colonial legacies 
  
• Develop a thorough understanding of how media relates to the continuation of colonial ideologies 
  
• Suggest practical strategies and share real-life stories that challenge narratives rooted in colonialism  
  

Themes 

We welcome submissions addressing one or more of the following themes: 

1. Knowledge and Education: Examining media education’s role in propagating or challenging colonial ideologies. 

2. Culture and Identity: Analyzing how media either reinforces or undermines dominant cultural norms and identity constructs rooted in colonialism. 

3. Sustainability Concepts and Practices: Exploring how media narratives influence perceptions of sustainability, environmental justice, and resource management, and examining alternative, decolonization-based approaches. 

4. Resistance Systems and Voices: Showcasing various forms of resistance, including grassroots movements, activists, alternative media, and indigenous knowledge, that confront colonial legacies. 

Submission Guidelines 

Chapters should blend theoretical insights with practical interventions, drawing on real experiences from individuals, communities, and organizations. 

Potential research methods include literature reviews, case studies, comparative analyses, and discourse analyses. 

Chapters should be between 6000-7000 words. 

Important Dates 

• Abstract Submission Deadline: Monday, December 2, 2024 
  
• Notification of Acceptance: Monday, December 30, 2024 
  
• Full Chapter Submission: Monday, March 31, 2025 
  
• Anticipated Publication: September 2025  
  

Submission Process 

Please submit a 300-500 word abstract and a 100-word author bio by December 2, 2024, to ccldecol@gmail.com. Abstracts should clearly state the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, and expected findings. Please also indicate which theme(s) your chapter will address. For any queries, please contact ccldecol@gmail.com. We look forward to your contributions for this important volume on decolonization in media spaces. 

September 8-10, 2025 

Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey

Deadline: February 17, 2025

ECREA Radio and Sound Section

(ALSO: PhD pre-conference - 7 September 2025 - information will be circulated separately)

Media Department, Faculty of Communication, Istanbul Bilgi University, SantralIstanbul Campus 

This conference aims to examine the past, present, and evolving role of radio around the world within a dynamic global media landscape. We will highlight the transformation of radio from a static entity to an adaptive component of the larger media ecosystem, continually reshaping itself in response to socio-political, economic, and technological changes. In the early 20th century, radio played an important role in the establishment and development of nation-states — especially militarily, economically, politically, and linguistically. Today, it is ubiquitous in various forms, multi-faceted, and present throughout the world. With the advent of artificial intelligence and non-human presenters, along with rising public mistrust and the prevalence of disinformation, radio faces new pressures to evolve. Nevertheless, radio endures as a critical medium, especially during global conflicts, where it serves as a source or way of communication for the different parties to the conflict as well as for the diaspora communities. 

Starting from this premise, we invite papers that help conceptualise “radio” as a cog in a changing wheel and focus on the dynamics that have shaped, over time and across the globe, the role of radio, be these roles assumed, attributed, or presumed by both broadcasters and listeners and be these radios private, public, university, community, clandestine, political, and more. We seek papers which explore the resilience and ongoing transformation of radio, emphasising its vital role in a shifting media environment and welcome interdisciplinary perspectives. We also welcome papers that contribute to investigating the various roles and forms that radio has occupied, as well as the various topics it has tackled since its inception to the present day across different political, geographical, economic, and cultural contexts. We are particularly interested in exploring the contexts and reasons behind these evolutions.

Furthermore, we aim to understand how the materiality of what is sometimes too quickly labelled as “radio” has evolved. Our goal is to investigate radio's transition from live, real-time broadcasting to a platform that accommodates on-demand audio formats and genres, working alongside podcasts, streaming, and downloadable content. This evolution has rebranded the industry as "audio" or "sound media", showcasing new capacities for audiences to listen almost whenever and wherever they want, thanks to the Internet and associated technologies. 

We also welcome conceptual and theoretical proposals that address the place of radio and sound studies in academic landscapes. These fields are tackled by researchers from various disciplines, from engineers to art researchers, and are mobilised to explore many topics, from the role they could play in war contexts to their place in the artistic and cultural development of groups and nations.

Lastly, we invite practitioners in the fields of radio and sound studies who are eager to combine their reflections with those of academics. By merging practical insights with theoretical perspectives, we aim to foster a rich dialogue that bridges the gap between practice and research.

The conference will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and paper presentations that address the following themes related to the one or many main topic(s) of this conference:

RADIO AND SOUND: PRODUCTION, FORMATS AND PURPOSES

• Production 
  
• • Practices
  • Studies
  • Podcasting 
  • Ethnographies
  • Broadcast locations (e.g. prisons, hospitals, educational institutions, refugee camps, farms, armed forces, …)
  • …
• Formats
• • Information
  • Storytelling
  • Narratives
  • Musics
  • Sounds
  • Codes (non-talk)
  • Drama
  • Sound Creation
  • Documentaries, 
  • Talk shows, 
  • Podcast typologies
  •  …
• Purposes
• • Politics
  • Pedagogy and education
  • Awareness raising
  • Activism
  • Entertainment
  • (Dis)information
  • …

RADIO AND SOUND: MEDIUM IN CONTEXTS 

• Medium
• • Civic radio 
  • Free radio
  • Pirate radio
  • Alternative radio
  • Radical radio 
  • DIY radio
  • Not-for-profit radio
  • NGOs radio
  • Feminist radio 
  • Community radio 
  • Local / national / regional radio 
  • …
• Contexts
• • Radio in the global media landscape
  • Ownership, regulation and governance of radio
  • Freedom of speech
  • Political and economic constraints
  • Policies of broadcasting 
  • …

RADIO AND SOUND: AUDIENCES AND LISTENING 

• Audiences
• • Community
  • National
  • Transnational
  • Diasporas
  • Demographics within audiences
  • …
• Listening
• • Poetics of listening
  • Philosophy of listening
  • Politics of listening
  • History of listening
  • Listening as a cultural practice
  • Phenomenology of listening 
  • …

RADIO AND SOUND: TECHNOLOGIES 

• DAB, streaming or LTE broadcasting
• Podcasting distribution
• Sound platforms 
• Internet
• • Social media 
  • Radio as an app
  • (De)materialisation
  • Hybrid radio
  • …
• Artificial intelligence 
• • Radio production and reception
  • Trust, information and disinformation
  • …

RADIO AND SOUND: RESEARCH

• Radio and sound as research fields 
• Theories of radio and sound studies
• Political economy of the radio
• Radio and gender studies
• Methodological approaches to sound research
• Digital ethnography
• Digital methods
• Network analysis
• Archiving and oral history
• Radio history
• Journalism
• Radio journalism
• Radio art
• Sound art
• Aural culture and cultural aural expressions
• Reception studies 
• ...

The conference situates radio and sound studies within the broader contemporary media landscape and aims to start a dialogue with, and accept contributions from platform studies, Internet studies, sound studies, social media studies, critical political economy of the media, media history, digital media management, cultural studies, production studies, ethnography, and social sciences.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Deadline for abstract submissions: 17 February 2025
  
• Notification of acceptance (and announcement of Early Bird date): 31 March 2025
  
• Publication of Programme: w/c 28 April 2025
  

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Proposals for individual papers and panels can be submitted until 17th February 2025 through the conference website’s platform, which will be https://ecrearadioandsound2025.org/ The submission system will be available from early January 2025. Abstracts should be written in English and contain a clear outline of the argument, theoretical framework, and, where applicable, methodology and results. Individual abstracts and panel proposals should be between 300 and 500 words. In the case of a panel, proposals should contain a short summary of the panel and include the 4 or 5 individual contributions (with the title and author’s names of each contribution composing the panel.

SPECIAL ISSUE OF THE RADIO JOURNAL: INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN BROADCAST & AUDIO MEDIA 

We will invite delegates of the Conference to submit their full papers no later than February 2026 to be selected for a special issue of the Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast & Audio Media, edited by Intellect (www.intellectbooks.com/radio-journal-international-studies-in-broadcast-audio-media), to be published in the second issue of 2026.

For further information, please contact the organising committee at this email address: radioandsoundconference@gmail.com

Guest editor: Veronika Hanáková

Read the issue (open access) here: https://iluminace.cz/en/magno/ilu/2024/mn2.php 

The central question of this special issue of Iluminace (2/2024) is: What if we shifted our perspective, asking not how computers have transformed moving images, but rather how audiovisual media represents the imagery and iconography of computers themselves? This issue delves into the complex and often contradictory portrayals of "computer labor"—work facilitated by information technologies, whether executed by humans, machines, or through human-machine collaboration—in film and television.

The concept of computer labor serves as a lens to examine how computing technologies shape representations of work. This approach allows for an analysis that moves from depictions of specific moments of the machine or human at work (or both) to broader inquiries into how productivity, value, and even rest are defined within digital frameworks. Tracing the iconography of computer labor in audiovisual media also uncovers the roles of geographical, cultural, social, and economic influences, revealing how technological labor is produced and understood within varying contexts.

By following these representations, this issue underscores the transformative impact of digital labor and highlights the significance of its localized expressions and historical contingencies, encouraging readers to consider how audiovisual representation of digital work shapes and reflects our broader social and cultural landscapes.

This issue features both written papers and audiovisual essays. The lineup includes: 

• Veronika Hanáková: Configuring Computer Labor in Film and Audiovisual Media: An Introduction to a Special Issue
• Steve F. Anderson: Envisioning the Interface
• Daniel O’Brien: The Allure and Threat of the Cine-Computer: A Supercut of Onscreen Computers in Speculative Screen Fiction
  
• Occitane Lacurie: Ordinatrices: About the Negative Spaces of Early Computing
  
• Simone Dotto: Do Corporate Films Dream of Cybernetic Governance? Computers (as Metaphors of) Industrial Labor and Society in Olivetti-Sponsored Films
  
• Matěj Pavlík: Techniques and Technologies to Compensate for Powerlessness
  
• Tibor Vocásek: Who Is Awful? Black Mirror and the Dystopian Imaginary of AI Labor
  
• David Álvarez: Nostalgia Isn’t What it Used to Be: On Vaporwave’s Glitched, Aspirational Aesthetics 

And book reviews: 

• Ondřej Zach: Karlovarský festival jako platforma kulturní výměny i zbraň hybridní války (Jindřiška Bláhová, ed., Proplétání světů: Mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary v období studené války) 
• Veronika Hanáková: Seriously Unserious: Theoretical Implications of the Gimmick for Film and Media Studies (on Sianne Ngai, Theory of the Gimmick: Aesthetic Judgment and Capitalist Form)

More:

Website: https://iluminace.cz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ILUMINACE 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/videographic_archives/