ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

Communication & Society (Special Issue)

Deadline: January/March/July

Guest Editors Sandra L. Borden (Western Michigan University) Lluís Codina (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) María José Ufarte (Universidad Castilla-La Mancha)

Ethics is an area of increasing interest as the field of communication confronts new challenges brought on by the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is ushering in a new era of transformation for journalism and media content (Pavlik, 2023), while algorithms are increasingly determining editorial decisions (Porlezza, 2023), and content selection (Trattner, Jannach, Motta, et al., 2022). For this reason, Communication & Society will devote an annual special issue throughout 2024 to examine the implications from a dual perspective. First, AI has major ethical challenges. On the other hand, the potential impact of AI on production processes and practices in the field has yet to be fully explored.

Beyond the examination of particular AI tools and applications, this call for papers endeavors to make a contribution to the continuous discussion on essential and overarching concerns that could impact communication firms, clients, groups and audiences. In essence, it is about understanding the potential ethical and deontological challenges and issues that could have an effect on a diverse array of practices, production procedures, workflows and regulations for media journalists, audio-visual creatives, and marketing professionals. We are also interested in studies on the reception of AI news and contents by audiences.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Ethical foundations for the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the communication sector.

- Ethics, generative AI, and bias.

- Ethical implications for regulation, policy, and the use of AI in communication.

- Algorithmic literacy for communication studies.

- Generative AI and intellectual property / copyright issues.

- Audience habits and reception Studies: audience engagement and AI.

- AI in persuasive communication: advertising, PR, and marketing.

- Implications of AI for credibility in public communication and election campaigns.

- AI implications for public opinion and political communication.

- Creativity and AI: scriptwriting, photojournalism, art direction, cinematography,

graphics, post-production, soundtrack...

- Fake news and deepfakes: social media, truth and AI.

- Using AI for fact-checking.

- Professional challenges for communication professionals and AI: new products,

recruitment profiles and routines.

- Sustainability as a factor for ethical communication and AI.

- The impact of artificial intelligence on media policy.

- Quality vs. quantity in platform catalogs: AI, personalization and sustainable policies

in audiovisual content production. - Uses of AI in media management.

Paper submission deadline

Submissions will be accepted throughout the year. AI-related papers will be published in three consecutive issues: April, June and October. Articles should be submitted at least three months in advance of each issue to allow for the full peer review process. Authors should indicate in the “Author's Comments” section that the article is intended for this annual monograph in 2024.

Proposed articles must adhere to the journal’s style standards, which can be found at the following link: https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/communication-and-society/about/submissions

Edited by: Lisa Parks, Julia Velkova, and Sander de Ridder

Media backends--the electronics, labor, and operations behind our screens--significantly influence our understanding of the sociotechnical relations, economies, and operations of media. Lisa Parks, Julia Velkova, and Sander De Ridder assemble essays that delve into the evolving politics of the media infrastructural landscape. Throughout, the contributors draw on feminist, queer, and intersectional criticisms to engage with infrastructural and industrial issues. This focus reflects a concern about the systemic inequalities that emerge when tech companies and designers fail to address workplace discrimination and algorithmic violence and exclusions. Moving from smart phones to smart dust, the essayists examine topics like artificial intelligence, human-machine communication, and links between digital infrastructures and public service media alongside investigations into the algorithmic backends at Netflix and Spotify, Google’s hyperscale data centers, and video-on-demand services in India. 

A fascinating foray into an expanding landscape of media studies, Media Backends illuminates the behind-the-screen processes influencing our digital lives. 

Contributors: Mark Andrejevic, Philippe Bouquillion, Jonathan Cohn, Faithe J. Day, Sander De Ridder, Fatima Gaw, Christine Ithurbide, Anne Kaun, Amanda Lagerkvist, Alexis Logsdon, Stine Lomborg, Tim Markham, Vicki Mayer, Rahul Mukherjee, Kaarina Nikunen, Lisa Parks, Vibodh Parthasarathi, Philipp Seuferling, Ranjit Singh, Jacek Smolicki, Fredrik Stiernstedt, Matilda Tudor, Julia Velkova, and Zala Volcic

https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p087462

Edited by: Stephen Coleman and Lone Sorensen

This thoroughly revised second edition Handbook examines the latest knowledge and perspectives on digital politics. Through new content on digital populism, filter bubbles, algorithmic power, AI, non-Western digital politics, election communication regulation and right-wing alternative news media, contributors challenge the binary of cyber-optimism and cyber-pessimism and argue for a more nuanced understanding of political change.

Arranged around key themes, this Handbook investigates the meaning of digital politics and analyses the impact of new technologies and platforms on politics. Chapters consider the digital reconfiguration of civic practices, political institutions and journalism. Leading scholars provide original, incisive and provocative insights into cutting-edge issues, exploring how the expansion of digital technologies, channels and styles shapes political dynamics.

Providing a broad and in-depth overview of digital politics, this Handbook will be an invaluable resource for researchers, educators and students of politics, media and communication studies, journalism, technology and governance. It will also be essential reading for political practitioners, policy-makers and strategists seeking to better understand the digital world.

Link: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-digital-politics-9781800377578.html

June 30-July 4, 2024

Christchurch, New Zealand

The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) is pleased to announce the opening of the submission platform for its 2024 conference, to be held from 30 June to 4 July in Christchurch, New Zealand. Hosted by the University of Canterbury, the conference welcomes submissions in the fields of media and communication research from now until 7 February 2024. The central theme for 2024 is "Whiria te tāngata / Weaving people together: Communicative projects of decolonising, engaging, and listening," inspired by a Māori proverb about strength through common purpose.

IAMCR invites abstracts for its various thematic sections and working groups, as well as for two special segments: Flow34 and Pitopito kōrero. Flow34 focuses on academic audio/visual work, such as podcasts and videos that creatively integrate academic and aesthetic dimensions. Meanwhile, Pitopito kōrero is a special strand for short videos on the conference theme. While most of the conference will be in-person only, Flow34 and Pitopito kōrero are open for members who cannot attend the event in Christchurch.

The abstract submission system is now open, with a deadline set for 7 February 2024, at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts should be between 300 and 500 words, with a maximum of two submissions per author. The Flow34 proposals consist of an academic description and a basic script of the audio/visual work, with a maximum length of 750 words. Pitopito kōrero has a different procedure for submissions

The University of Canterbury, hosting the event, is renowned for its Media and Communication program, including Māori strategic communication. Christchurch, the host city, is noted for its blend of colonial heritage and modern architecture, rebuilt following earthquakes a decade ago. The event will take place at Te Pae, a new conference centre on the banks of the Avon river.

For more details and to submit your abstract, please visit the IAMCR 2024 conference website at https://christchurch2024.iamcr.org

April 17-18, 2024

Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania

Deadline: March 1, 2024

The Faculty of European Studies – Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, the Centre for Academic Succes – BBU, The Centre for African Studies – BBU, The State University of New York at Cortland and The University of Johannesburg, have the pleasure of announcing the organization of the 4th edition of the international conference Crisis Communication and Conflict Resolution, which will be held on April 17th-18th, 2024.

In crisis situations, effective communication and conflict resolution strategies are important aspects that cannot be disregarded. In order to address these challenges, this international conference aims to support academics, researchers, PhD and postgraduate students by offering them an opportunity to present their latest research results in the fields of:

• Crisis and Risk Communication
  
• Conflict Transformation and Resolution
  
• The United Nations and Conflict Resolution,
  
• The European Union and Conflict Resolution
  
• Dealing with Ethnic and Religious Conflicts
  
• Political Communication
  
• Institutional and Corporate Communication
  
• Environmental Communication
  
• Mass-media Communication
  
• Discourse Analysis
  
• Education and Learning
  
• Mediation in International Conflicts
  

The 2024 edition will be held in a hybrid format, both on-site and via virtual. Accepted papers will be published in a post-conference volume (e-book with ISBN).

Supporting journals: Synergies Roumanie

Studia Europaea UBB

Conference languages: English and French  (Appel à communications)

Venue: Faculty of European Studies (1 Em. de Martonne St., Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Participation fees:

• virtual participation – free of charge
  
• on-site participation – 50 EUR (50% discount for students)
  

Important deadlines:

• March 1st, 2024 – deadline for title and abstract submission
  
• March 7th, 2024 – notice of acceptance
  
• October 2024 – deadline for final paper submission
  

All paper proposal forms (LINK) should be submitted to both e-mail addresses below:

delia.flanja@ubbcluj.ro & laura.herta@ubbcluj.ro

Organizing committee:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Delia Pop-Flanja – BBU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura-Maria Herța – BBU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adrian-Gabriel Corpădean – BBU

Prof. Dr. Bhaso Ndzendze – UJ

Prof. Dr. Alexandru Balaș – SUNY Cortland

Prof. Dr. Sergiu Mișcoiu – BBU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paula Mureșan – BBU

Lect. Dr. Elena Grad-Rusu – BBU

Lect. Dr. Roxana-Maria Nistor – BBU

Assist. Dr. Ramona Alexandra Neagoș – BBU

Dr. Andreea-Bianca Urs – BBU

Dr. Gianina Joldescu-Stan – BBU

Editors: María-Cruz Negreira Rey, Jorge Vázquez-Herrero, José Sixto-García, Xosé López-García

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-43926-1

The book Blurring Boundaries of Journalism in Digital Media: New Actors, Models and Practices was recently published in its online edition by Springer Nature. The work was edited by Novos Medios researchers María-Cruz Negreira-Rey, Jorge Vázquez-Herrero, José Sixto-García and Xosé López-García and seeks to address the blurring boundaries that define contemporary journalism from various perspectives. The book brings together the contributions of 42 authors from 23 universities and eleven countries: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The volume is composed of 19 chapters, which are structured in six sections to address the principles of journalism today, sustainability strategies in the digital context, tensions between old and new players, the evolution of formats and narratives, adaptation to the mobile scenario and social media platforms, or the changes introduced by artificial intelligence.

The publication of the book is part of the activities of the R+D+i project Digital native media in Spain: strategies, competencies, social involvement and (re)definition of journalistic production and dissemination practices (PID2021-122534OB-C21). The work is a continuation of previous titles published in Springer, which also addressed a multifaceted approach to the conceptualization and evolution of digital journalism: Total Journalism: Models, Techniques and Challenges; and Journalistic Metamorphosis: Media Transformation in the Digital Age.

27 – 29 September 2024

Zakynthos, Greece

Deadline: March 31, 2023

https://dstfestival.org

The Greek Island of Zakynthos (Zante) constitutes a spot in time and space where the convergence of diverse sociocultural narratives takes place: Hugo Foscolos, Andreas Kalvos, Dionysios Solomos (national poet of Greece), and Andreas Vesalius are amongst the island's most notable cultural figures.

With that in mind, four Laboratories from three Greek Universities (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of the Aegean, Ionian University) have collaborated to organise the biannual International Digital Storytelling Festival (DST-Zakynthos)¹, between the biannual DST conferences.

DST-Festival celebrates the art of digital storytelling. DST-Festival is expected to constitute a space where the diverse community-driven digital stories can be communicated to the broader community, shared, and critically reflected upon by experts (artists, scientists, medical doctors etc.) and by the Festival participants (DST creators or not).

The 1st International Digital Storytelling Festival “We, The story” (DST-Zakynthos 2024) will be hosted by the "Foskolos" multi-purpose hall (https://cinefoskolos.gr).

DST-Zakynthos 2024 comprises a competitional and a non-competitional part. The competitional part of Festival is organized in six themes:

• Culture

• Education

• Environment

• Health

• Science – Research

• Society

Each creator may compete to any competitional theme (maximum two DSTs per creator in total).

Who can contribute with a DST to the Festival? DST is characterised by the creator’s truth, a personal narrative, crucially differing from a video clip or a short film. We accept any DST created within an acknowledged institution, organization etc. (accompanied with a respective verification Letter), or an Independently created DST (accompanied with a Letter briefly explaining the process of its creation). Each submission includes the DST (with the respective Letter), an Authorisation Letter (that the DST may be showed in public), and a Letter of Commitment (that the DST may be included in the Festival programme), payment of the handling fees (15 euros per DST). Detailed information about the procedures of entering the DST festival competition may be found at https://dstfestival.org, while queries may be sent to info@dstfestival.org.

Considering the non-competitional part, this year, the Festival will host a special session devoted to Greece, entitled “hiStories across the topos and the chronos.”

Furthermore, in parallel with the Festival, DST-workshops will be organized by DST-specialists for those who wish to experience the process of DST creating.

We invite you to join DST-Zakynthos 2024!

Michail Meimaris Professor Emeritus, President of DST-Zakynthos 2024

Important dates

• Submissions: 01 March 2024 – 31 March 2024
  
• Decision to contributors: 30 April 2024
  
• Registration: 30 April 2024 – 31 May 2024
  

Organised by:

– Zakynthos Club For UNESCO

– Laboratory of New Technologies in Communication, Education and the Mass Media, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

– Mathematics, History, Philosophy and Didactics of Mathematics Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

– Learning Technology and Educational Engineering Laboratory, University of the Aegean

– Interactive Arts Laboratory, Ionian University

Co-Organised by:

– Region of Ionian Islands

– Université Paris 8

– MICA - Université Bordeaux – Montaigne

– University of Lapland

– Chaire UNESCO ITEN

– MSc Global Health-Disaster Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

– EU Jean Monnet Chair in Humanitarian Medicine and Response in Action (2020-2024)

– The Greek Film Archive Foundation (Tainiothiki Tis Ellados)

– StoryCenter (USA)

– Pilgrim Projects (UK)

¹ Prior to the International Festival, two national DST festivals have taken place in Greece:

• “When 01 meets narration: Digital stories” at the Greek Film Archive Foundation (9-10/12/2017, Athens)
  
• “When 01 meets the Storytelling: Discussions and digital stories” (17-18/3/2018, Zakynthos)
  

June 26-28, 2025

University of Graz, Austria

Deadline: February 20, 2024

CALL FOR PAPERS

What is critique? What can Critical Theory do for society? Which forms of critique may claim any relevance in late capitalism? How can a critical public opinion manifest itself in the 21st century? How can we distinguish critique from political ideologies and conspiracy theories? (see Fridays for Future, Querdenker, etc.) What characterises critical thinking? How can radical thought be rendered practically relevant?

The conference Theories and Concepts of Critical Theory takes place between 26 and 28 June 2025 at the University of Graz, and it approaches its main theme from various theoretical and practical perspectives. Based at the Faculty of Humanities, this interdisciplinary conference constitutes the second stage of the interdepartmental research project Radical Thought in the Anthropocene. The conference follows on from a first event that took place in 2023 and which was dedicated to different disciplinary approaches to Critical Theory.

We will bring the concept and idea of critique into productive constellations with a variety of concepts and categories pertaining to social and cultural theory. In doing so, and by highlighting fundamental societal and existential challenges of the 21st century, we will reflect upon the possibilities and potentials of a productive critique of society, especially concerning its implications for academic theory and lived practice. In view of the great global, societal, ecological and economic challenges, we will put to the test the social significance and practical relevance of cultural and social theory in the 21st century.

 Keynotes

• Rodrigo Duarte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

• Lydia Goehr, New York City, USA

• Sven Kramer, Lüneburg, Germany

• Michael Thompson, New York City, USA

Conference Board (University of Graz)

• Stefan Baumgarten, Department of Translation Studies

• Stefan Brandt, Department of American Studies

• Juliane Jarke, BANDAS Center & Department of Sociology

• Susanne Kogler, Department of Art and Musicology

• Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl, Department of Philosophy

Format

 The conference is held in a workshop format. Incoming abstracts will be assigned to the following three corresponding themes:

• Workshop I: Language, Translation, Society

This workshop compares and contrasts diverse forms and concepts of critique and communication, examining their viability in view of current societal challenges such as multiculturalism, multilingualism, migration and modern communication technologies. Amongst other things, we will address cultural readings and language-specific receptions of the first generation of the Frankfurt School, especially concerning their historicity, timeliness and their ‘afterlife’. We will also pay special attention to ideology critique and to critical approaches on technology. Further relevant categories include phenomena such as inter- and transculturality, deconstruction and text, medialisation and multimodality, globalisation and (digital) cultures as well as gender-specific issues.

• Workshop II: Materialism, Aesthetics, Politics

The question surrounding (artistic) ‘material’ concerns one of the key themes associated with Theodor W. Adorno’s aesthetic theory. It is also of central importance regarding the current reception of Critical Theory. Such questions surrounding the status, nature and conceptualisation of the material world not only challenge the Marxist origins of Critical Theory but also its concrete political and practical relevance. In this workshop, we will compare and contrast approaches in Critical Philosophy and Critical Social Theory, as well as approaches pertaining to (Historical) Materialism and (Neo-)Idealism. Of particular interest here is the relationship between New Materialisms and Critical Theory. Further relevant topics include (world) literature, digitalization and mediatisation, art and freedom (from ideology), (artistic) activism and politics.

• Workshop III: Humans, Spirit, World Relation

This workshop deals with the relationship between science and critique. Here, the role of the Humanities for critical thinking and the role of lived practice with positive future implications will be debated from self-reflexive and self-critical standpoints. Among other things, we will discuss in what ways scientific and academic thought echoes conceptualisations, theories and arguments from Critical Theory, and how science might be able to adapt them for a better life, for a radical “wild thinking” that may generate alternative realities, art worlds, even anarchist constellations. Dichotomous thinking, post- and transhumanist ontologies as well as Anthropology and History are further possible themes. The relationship between critique, reason and unreason, as well as between critique, indignation and resistance about the state of (world) social affairs will also be up for discussion.

We look forward to receiving abstracts (max. 300 words) for 20-minute presentations on the above- mentioned topics and themes by 20 February 2024 under radikalesdenken(at)uni-graz.at. We are particularly looking forward to receiving contributions from doctoral candidates and early-career researchers! The abstracts must be submitted in anonymised form in English including a mini- biography (approx. 100 words).

The Conference Board will accept abstracts based on an anonymous selection procedure. Acceptance letters will be sent out in spring 2024. The conference will be streamed online. Selected contributions are expected to be published in English by Palgrave Macmillan.

Journal Mobile Media & Communication (JCR Q1, SPECIAL ISSUE)

Deadline: February 15, 2024

Guest editors: Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol & Sakari Taipale.

This special issue aims to explore the role of mobile communication in later life from theoretical and empirical perspectives. The more profound changes affecting older adults' inclusion/exclusion in the information society are mainly reflected in their use of mobile communication devices, particularly smartphones. Over the years, these pervasive changes have shaped older adults' social identity, family relations, and basic life conditions.

The premise of this special issue is the shared understanding that a large part of even recent research on later life and mobile communications is no longer valid, partly because it needs to incorporate the diversity of this life stage sufficiently. Hence, there is a risk that the understanding of older adults' mobile communication experiences becomes ossified and based on stereotyped and outdated knowledge. 

Important dates:

•     Abstract submission date 15 February 2024
  
•     Acceptance /rejection feedback 01 April 2024
  
•     Authors submit full papers by 30 September 2024
  
•     Peer Reviews completed/resubmissions in March 2025
  
•     Final acceptance by 15 September 2025
  

Relevant links:

CfP: https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontentl/mmc/Special%20Issue%20Proposal_%20Mobile%20communication%20and%20later%20life_%20from%20theories%20to%20empirical%20frescoes_06NOV2023-1699587686.pdf

Journal website: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/mmc

New book from Nordicom

Authors: Signe Sophus Lai and Sofie Flensburg

Download the book as open access or order a print copy here: https://www.nordicom.gu.se/en/publications/gateways

 Content:

Preface

Introduction

What we (think we) know

Biases of digital media

Agenda

Narrative 

PART I: DEPARTURES

Chapter 1. Follow the data

Epistemic crossroads

Structuring forces of digital communication

Towards digital communication systems

Chapter 2. Step-by-step: Comparing infrastructures, markets, & states

Step one: The Digital Communication System Matrix

Step two: The continuums

Step three: The indicators Future steps: A dynamic framework 

PART II: MAPS 

Chapter 3. Accessing the Nordic Internets 

Waves & wires

The rise & fall of incumbent empires

Governing access

The last mile & the last bastion 

Chapter 4. The backbone of communication

Mermaids & sea serpents

Expanding territories

The black-boxed backbone

Horizons & vertigos  

Chapter 5. Over-the-top applications 

Nordic application environments

Platform power

Gatekeeping the gatekeepers

Ruptures & tectonic plates 

Chapter 6. Bits of data, bits of power 

Surveillance architectures

The data asset

Datafication of welfare

Blocking the data hose? 

PART III: ROUTES

Chapter 7. A waltz 

Big Tech & the welfare state

At the mercy of the objects we study 

Chapter 8. Road to nowhere 

Comparing digital communication systems

Datafied welfare?

Evolving Internet regimes 

References