ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

Journal of Language and Social Psychology (special issue) 

Deadline: August 1, 2025

Link to Journal CFP: https://journals.sagepub.com/page/jls/callforpapers

Editors: Dr. Andrea L. Guzman (Northern Illinois University), Dr. Bingjie Liu (Ohio State University), and Dr. Renwen Zhang (National University of Singapore)

Goals and Foci

How we study and understand the social psychology of language is rapidly changing with the growth of AI. This special issue of the JLSP focuses on scholarship that addresses the conceptual and theoretical questions regarding how artificial intelligence (AI) changes communication practices and research. We invite submissions from scholars in the fields of communication, psychology, linguistics, sociology, education, information science, health, computational social science, and others. We are especially interested in conceptual and theoretical contributions as well as empirical work that push the boundaries of our thinking on the impact of AI on communication mechanisms at fundamental levels. The goal is to provide thought-provoking scholarship that can further progress the study of AI’s implications for language and social psychology in the tradition of other special issues that have guided research on communication into a new era of inquiry (e.g., Journal of Communication - The Disciplinary Status of Communication Research, 1993; New Media & Society - Internet Studies: Perspectives on a Rapidly Developing Field, 2013; Computers in Human Behavior - Digital Interlocutors: Theory and Practice of Interactions Between Human and Machines, 2019; Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication - What is Computer-Mediated Communication?, 2020).

Artificial intelligence is defined as machines that can simulate human intelligence and perform tasks that would require human intelligence (e.g., Turing, 1950). With the rapid development of AI, such as natural language processing, machine learning, affective computing, and, more recently, large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, AI-based technologies are increasingly mediating and affecting language and communication in innumerable ways. Examples include, but are not limited to, “communicative AI” (Guzman & Lewis, 2020; Hepp et al., 2023) conversing with humans (e.g., chatbots, robots, smart speakers, AI companions) in human-machine communication (Fortunati & Edwards, 2020; Guzman, 2018), applications that enable AI-mediated communication (Hancock et al., 2020) by modifying human communication (e.g., Grammarly) or even communicating on behalf of humans (e.g., smart reply), and algorithms that make decisions on communication flows and exposure to messages (e.g., algorithms that moderate the content in news and social media platforms) and that connect communicators (e.g., matching algorithms in online dating platforms).

As a result, AI has brought changes to many communication practices and has inspired numerous empirical studies on the uses and effects of AI. Nevertheless, what AI-induced changes are meaningful and fundamental to the understanding of communication and to theory building about the social psychology of language? Communication is traditionally conceived as a uniquely human activity (Peters, 2012; Schramm, 1973), and most theories are developed based on the assumption that the participants of communication are only human agents. The involvement of AI thus pushes us to rethink the nature as well as the future of communication and human connection (Gunkel, 2012; Zhao, 2006). In other words, AI raises new questions regarding how we create meaning with, make sense of, and relate to each other. We encourage researchers, including both junior and established scholars, to join us in contemplating how existing concepts and theories are challenged, expanded, revived, and nullified, and what new concepts and theoretical perspectives are inspired, invoked, or necessitated by AI in the domain of language and social psychology and beyond.

Scope

We welcome submissions focusing on any type(s) of AI-based technologies, including narrow AI, machine learning, and GenAI, and the full range of applications (e.g., chatbots, virtual agents, algorithms), and any communication context or across contexts (e.g., intercultural, interpersonal, mass, political, organizational communication), communication processes (e.g., language use and effects, message production and interpretation, information access and processing, dynamics in dyads or small groups), from all research traditions and approaches. We also are interested in conceptual pieces that consider the larger philosophical and historical implications of AI for the study of communication and language.

Artificial Intelligence notoriously is an area of study that spans many different disciplines and fields, each with different definitions of what constitutes AI, as well as goals in studying AI. Furthermore, there are many different types of AI in use and development (e.g., narrow AI, generative AI) and applications (e.g., chatbots, programs for developing text, audio, and/or visual content, data processing, curation, information gathering, social listening, etc). For this special issue, we are open to the varying definitions and forms of AI.

The potential topics for submissions are wide-ranging, and authors are welcome to reach out to the special issue editors with questions regarding relevant topics. Some possible areas of inquiry include: 

• How does AI change/challenge/redefine the nature of communication and its study?
  
• How does AI alter the psychological processes and outcomes of language use and effects?
  
• How does AI moderate the dynamics of communication, such as in human-machine communication and AI-mediated communication?
  
• What implications emerge from AI when considering information credibility?
  
• How does AI challenge or expand the key concepts or theories regarding communication? For example, how do we need to adapt existing theories, the meaning they create, and the effects and implications of social interaction (for self, organizations, society, etc.) to account for AI?
  
• In what ways might AI promote or hinder diversity, inclusivity, and fairness in language and communication practices?
  
• In what ways is AI unique as a communicator and mediator compared to previous technologies and human communicators?
  
• What new insights can AI provide regarding previous forms of communication, such as human-human communication and CMC, that may have gone unnoticed?
  
• How might AI induce a paradigm shift in the social psychology of language and related areas of study germane to communication? 

Timeline:

• August 1, 2025: Abstract due
  
• September 2025: Decisions on the abstract sent back to authors
  
• January 9, 2026: Full paper submission due, followed by peer review
  
• September 2026: Special issue to be published
  

Submission Format 

Abstract

We welcome extended abstracts (up to 500 words, excluding references) for both theoretical and empirical papers that examine how AI is reshaping communication in various contexts. The abstract should clearly state the focus of the manuscript and its contribution related to the topic of the special issue and explain the scholarly format it will take (e.g., theoretical, empirical). Be specific regarding the objectives and/or questions the manuscript will address and, if applicable, articulate pertinent details regarding the approach and method. Abstracts should be submitted via Google Form: https://forms.gle/XbPdLwpHiffr5YvZ6. 

Full Manuscript

Papers in the special issue will be consistent with the JLSP’s existing guidelines and requirements for papers.

Contact

Questions about submissions to this special issue can be addressed to Dr. Andrea Guzman (alguzman@niu.edu), Dr. Bingjie Liu (liu.11321@osu.edu), and Dr. Renwen Zhang (r.zhang@nus.edu.sg). 

Mediatization Studies

Deadline: June 30, 2025

We are pleased to invite researchers and scholars to submit articles for Volume VIII (2025) of the journal:  Mediatization Studies, published by Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin.

Mediatization Studies is the first international open access journal dedicated entirely to the theory and processes of mediatization. The journal is free of charge for authors and is currently indexed in ERIH Plus and positively recommended to DOAJ.

Preferred manuscript topics include: mediatization and mediated communication, human-machine communication, the role of AI tools in communication and media production. Both theoretical and empirical articles are welcome, as well as book reviews and conference reports. 

If you are interested in submitting but require more time, please do not hesitate to contact the Editorial Board – we are happy to consider individual circumstances.

 Languages accepted: English and Polish

No publication fees

Previous issues: https://journals.umcs.pl/ms/issue/archive

Registration & submission portal: https://journals.umcs.pl/ms/login

Author Guidelines: https://journals.umcs.pl/ms/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

We warmly welcome your contributions and look forward to your insights into the expanding field of mediatization research.

Revista Comunicando

Deadline: October 15, 2025

This thematic section of Revista Comunicando aims to create a broad space for debate and exchange of knowledge that, with eyes (and ears) set on the future, does not forget history or the urgency of caring for the memory of sounds.

Full text submission period: September 1st to October 15th, 2025

https://revistacomunicando.sopcom.pt/index.php/comunicando/announcement/view/19

University of Fribourg, Switzerland, Department of Communication & Media Research

Chair of Prof. Dr. Diana Ingenhoff

Start: September 1, 2025 (or by agreement)

Shaping digital strategic communication in the public interest — join us as a doctoral researcher and contribute to advancing academic insights that benefit organizations, governments, and society.

Position profile

• Research (50 %) – develop and execute a self-chosen PhD project in strategic communication (corporate or country); present and publish your findings.

• Chair activities (50 %) – contribute to ongoing empirical projects, assist with teaching (English MA courses; German BA courses if applicable), and support various administrative tasks.

• Participate in methods training and international conferences (funding provided). Requirements

• Excellent Master’s degree in Communication Science or a related social science field.

• Sound knowledge of empirical social research methods; confident in statistics.

• Excellent command of English; proficiency in German is preferred

• Motivation for academic work, reliability, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in our team.

We offer

• A full-time, five-year position at Switzerland’s only trilingual university (D/F/E).

• Access to didactic programs, advanced methods courses, language courses, and mentorship.

• Funding for conference travel and research stays.

• Close links to practice through societally relevant research with partners from business, government, and the non-profit sector.

Application

Please send one PDF (motivation letter, CV, certificates, and—if available—a sample of academic writing, e.g., your master thesis) by June 27 or until the position is filled to:

• Prof. Dr. Diana Ingenhoff – diana.ingenhoff@unifr.ch

• Jolanda Wehrli – jolanda.wehrli@unifr.ch

We look forward to your application.

University of Galway

We are seeking an experienced postdoctoral researcher to join the interdisciplinary project CLiME — Tackling Climate Misinformation in Ireland — led by Dr Brenda McNally and co-supervised by Professor Karyn Morrissey. The project explores how climate policy misinformation is produced and circulated through strategic political communication, particularly in elite discourses about decarbonising agriculture.

The researcher will analyse political, and interest group discourses and collaborate on co-producing recommendations for journalists and communications practitioners as well as media and education policy. You will contribute to stakeholder-facing resources and engage with a dynamic team including a PhD researcher and an international advisory board.

This is an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher with 3–4 years of experience and a background in critical climate communication, political communication, and/or misinformation studies. The role includes publication support, research-led teaching development, stakeholder engagement, and opportunities for training and international collaboration.

Candidates must hold a PhD and demonstrate expertise in qualitative or mixed methods research. Familiarity with Irish/EU climate policy or media systems is desirable.

Further details and application process: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/human-resources/links/011106/

University Cologne

With more than 6000 students from 93 countries, the German Sport University Cologne (GSU) is currently an outstanding university location both nationally and internationally. The GSU stands for proven research with a high volume of third-party funding and research-based as well as international teaching in sports practice and in all social and life science sub-disciplines of sport science. Research, teaching, and transfer are supported by the administration and central operating units with their services.

At the German Sport University Cologne, the Institute for Communication and Media Research is seeking to fill the following position as of April 1, 2026:

W3-Professorship for Communication and Media Sciences (female/male/diverse)

We are looking for an internationally recognized personality who represents the communication and media sciences in all its breadth in research and teaching. Special expertise is expected in the areas of „Digital transformation of media in sport“ and „Processes of change in sports journalism and media reporting in sport“.

The tasks of the professorship include collaboration in the Bachelor's, Master's, teacher training, and doctoral degree programs as well as in the academic self-administration of the university. The German Sport University Cologne pursues the goal of promoting (inter-) disciplinary and cooperative research. Accordingly, participation in joint research activities of the Institute and the University as well as the successful acquisition and implementation of third-party funded projects are an integral part of the professorship's remit.

Requirements for employment pursuant to § 36 of the Higher Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia are:

• Completed university studies
  
• Ph.D. or equivalent
  
• Appropriate pedagogical/educational skills,
  
• Post-doctoral qualification (habilitation) or equivalent academic achievements.
  

Applicants are expected to have:

• Expertise in the above-mentioned research fields: 1) Digital transformation of media practice and 2) Journalism research
  
• Relevant international and thematically broad publication achievements in the field of communication and media studies, preferably in the context of the professorship
  
• High level of expertise in quantitative and/or qualitative methods of empirical social, media or communication research
  
• Ability to develop and represent topics of sports communication and sports media in research and teaching
  
• Cooperation with media and sports practice organizations and transfer of scientific findings into practice
  
• Successful acquisition of, in particular, competitive third-party funding
  
• Experience with interdisciplinary and international research collaborations
  
• Positively evaluated teaching.
  
• Experience in the (further) development of study programmes and/or teaching formats
  
• Expertise in staff management and staff development
  
• Ability to connect to existing and developing research projects at GSU
  
• Experience in academic self-administration.
  

Desirable are

• References of own scientific activities to the context of sport
  
• English-language teaching skills
  
• Experience abroad in academic institutions.
  

The position entails a teaching obligation of 9 SWS.

International applicants are expected to be able to offer German-language courses within six semesters.

The German Sport University Cologne sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity. Increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching is one of the university's strategic goals; qualified female academics are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Women are given preferential consideration in accordance with the State Equality Act. Severely disabled persons and persons of equal status are very welcome and will be given preferential consideration within the framework of the statutory provisions.

The German Sport University Cologne offers an excellent academic environment, a wide range of professional development programmes, and support in balancing family and career.

Please send your application with the usual documents, in particular a description of your professional career, a list of publications, and a selection of important publications, quoting the reference number 2517 Prof-Kommunikation by 16. June 2025 in the form of a pdf file exclusively to the e-mail address bewerbung@­dshs-koeln.de.

Please also visit our homepage www.dshs-koeln.de. There, at www.dshs-koeln.de/datenschutz/, you will also find information on the handling of your personal data transmitted for the purpose of your application.

Digital Journalism (special issue)

Extended abstract submission deadline: July 1, 2025

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital journalism, adaptation has become a crucial strategy for survival and growth. This special issue of Digital Journalism seeks to explore the multifaceted nature of adaptation within the field, examining how the relevant actors and institutions of digital journalism proactively and reactively adapt to technological advancements, shifting audience behaviors, and the changing socio-political environment.

As a construct that has emerged out of biology, anthropology, and health sciences, we know that adaptation is crucial human skill. Yet as Sarta et al. (2021) argue, “scholars have used the concept of adaptation inconsistently across research traditions without always being able to push the research agenda beyond analogical reasoning” (p. 44). While there might be a notion that adaptation is a passive process, one that happens to, for example, journalists or journalism organizations, this is only one portion of the concept. Research primarily defines adaptation as a response or reaction to a force in that an “instance of adaptation is viewed as a modification” that occurs “in reaction (or response, for that matter) to an external or environmental contravention” (Sachs & Meditz, 1979, p. 1084; Giddens, 1999). In this way, adaptation is opportunistic and describes how an individual or organization or institution can choose change and but still engage in a range of different forms of adaptation (Sachs & Meditz, 1979). Adaptation in digital journalism can take many forms, from the integration of emerging technologies and platforms to the reimagining of practices and ethics. And there are a range of actors engaged in the adaptation in digital journalism, who may not be formally affiliate with journalism, and who conduct work relevant to the overall adaptation of the field (as with technologists, peripheral actors).

In our field, adaptation has been primarily considered through the lens of technology, yet the actors of digital journalism actively adapt to a range of actions, actors and contexts: changes in the audience (e.g. rising audience hostility), physical environment (e.g. COVID protocols, violence), personal circumstances (e.g. precarity, life changes, employment disillusionment), political environment (e.g. democratic backsliding), market changes, and others. Adaptation means actors at times engage in “adoption” of new processes, seeking to normalize them as a part of working routines (Perreault & Ferrucci, 2020). As actors have engaged in platformization, this means at times that they have adapted through the stacking of platform-specific skills, using the skills gained in adapting to one platform to jumpstart their adaptation to others. But at times actors also engage in “selection” of other processes to denormalise when they no longer serve (e.g. many journalists are stepping away from social media; Bossio et al., 2024). Research produced within the “emotional turn” (e.g. Wahl-Jorgensen, 2020) and “audience turn” (e.g. Costera Meijer, 2020) shows that, to stay relevant to changing audiences and new political and cultural contexts, actors reconsider/select old and actively adopt new processes and skills. For example, journalists have engaged in adaptation through personalizing their reporting, using authenticity, empathy, and passion as strategic skills, building emotional and trauma literacy, and redefining long-dominating cornerstones of journalistic professionalism, such as objectivity and impartiality.

Digital journalism bears meaningful similarities in this regard to other fields: journalists can anticipate change even if they don’t know what that change will entail. But conversely, and unlike other fields, journalists are often not provided the resources to ease adaptation. For this reason, this special issue seeks to center adaptability as a crucial journalistic professional skill; it is perhaps more crucial in journalism than other fields given that journalists consistently find themselves negotiating new circumstances and environments as a native part of their work.

This special issue invites contributions that investigate these adaptive processes, particularly those that challenge traditional norms and propose innovative approaches to journalism in the digital age.

We are interested in a wide and overlapping range of digital journalism actors–journalists, technologists, businesspeople, fact checkers, fixers, peripheral actors, news organizations, platforms, policymakers, regulatory bodies–and topics, including but not limited to:

• Technological Adaptation: How are relevant actors and organizations incorporating emerging technologies such as AI, VR, and blockchain into their workflows? What are the implications of these technologies for media integrity and audience trust? How have actors adapted through platformization and datafication?
• Emotional Adaptation: How are the actors of digital journalism adapting emotionally to changes within the media ecosystem to which they can have little effect? What are the means by which actors engage in selection in order to engage in emotional management? How can actors cultivate and actively employ emotional literacy to adapt to changing media landscapes and audience behavior, increase their relevance for broader audiences, and secure their unique role and place within the attention economy?
• Adaptation to Audiences: How are the actors of digital journalism adapting to changes in audience behavior and preferences? What strategies are being employed to engage diverse and fragmented audiences? How can actors actively go to meet their audiences, including young audiences, where they are?
• Normative Adaptation: How are ethical standards in media being redefined in the digital era? What new ethical dilemmas are emerging, and how are the actors of digital journalism addressing them? How have norms adapted to digitization?
• Economic Adaptation: How are news and tech organizations adapting their business models to ensure sustainability in a digital-first world? What innovative revenue streams are being explored?
• Cultural and Political Adaptation: How are the actors of digital journalism navigating the complex cultural and political landscapes of the 21st century? How are they addressing issues of misinformation, polarization, and censorship?

Submission Instructions

Extended abstracts should include an abstract of 500 words (not including references) as well as a full list of author(s) with affiliation(s) and abbreviated bio(s). Please submit your proposal to Dr. Gregory Perreault (gperreault@usf.edu) as one file (PDF) with your names clearly stated on the first page.

Full manuscripts should target a length of 7,000-9,000 words.

Timeline:

• Extended abstract submission deadline: July 1, 2025
  
• Notification on acceptance of abstract: August 1, 2025
  
• Deadline for full manuscripts: October 31, 2025
  

No payment from the authors will be required.

For questions, please contact one of the Special Issue Editors:

Gregory Perreault, University of South Florida
gperreault@usf.edu

Patrick Ferrucci, University of Colorado-Boulder
Patrick.Ferrucci@Colorado.EDU

Johana Kotišová, University of Amsterdam
j.kotisova@uva.nl

Dariya Orlova, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
orlova@ukma.edu.ua

November 20, 2025

Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (ESCS-IPL), Portugal

Deadline: June 20, 2025

Dear colleagues,

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the I LIACOM International Conference, under the theme “The (Un)Sustainability of the Media”, which will be held on November 20, 2025, at the School of Communication and Media Studies – Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (ESCS-IPL).

The event will feature the participation of French philosopher Gilles Lipovetsky as the keynote speaker, providing an in-depth reflection on the contemporary challenges of sustainability in the media ecosystem.

We also invite the academic and research community to submit communication proposals, in abstract form, until June 20, 2025, for the following parallel sessions:

1. Journalism: Sustainability in an ecosystem looking for solutions
   
2. Media Literacy and Communication: Challenges for Citizenship
   
3. Brands, Advertising, and Consumption in the Age of Media (Un)Sustainability
   
4. Mobilizing for Change: The Role of Public Communication Campaigns
   
5. Disruptions and continuities in communication professions
   

For more information about the conference and details on submitting proposals, please do not hesitate to contact us (conferencia.liacom@escs.ipl.pt), or visit the official conference website: https://liacom.escs.ipl.pt/en/conferencia-liacom/

We look forward to your participation and would like to thank you in advance for sharing this event with your networks and institutions.

April 9-10, 2026

University of Groningen, Netherlands

Deadline: August 22, 2025

Journalism has long been a field caught up in discussions of trends and changes. Technological changes, in particular, have been highlighted as well as changes in media structures, alongside changing political, economic, and social trends all playing out in changing societies. This has led - understandably - to a preoccupation within industry and scholarship with journalism's future, as it tries to navigate each new development to both stay afloat, economically, and stay relevant in the societies where journalism operates.

However, an overemphasis on novelty and change at the same time makes it “difficult to discern passing fads from deeper shifts” within journalism (Carlson and Lewis, 2019: 644). Behind each headline-grabbing development is a larger set of dynamics, from societal forces and public values to technological opportunities and business decisions. Highlighting and scrutinizing these dynamics provides a better understanding of the complex context that shapes the nature and pace of journalistic change and can elucidate structural impediments to, for instance, diversity, inclusion and representation, journalists’ wellbeing and mental health, and the ongoing contestations over journalism’s boundaries.

With this conference, we aim to weave together the threads beneath these trends, situating change in context with an eye towards journalism's future.

Scholars can opt for either thematic or open submissions:

1. Thematic submissions

The conference aims to bring together a diverse mix of scholars from the field of journalism studies. It invites papers that focus on key developments and trends in journalism and put these in a broader perspective. Both theoretical/conceptual and empirical contributions to journalism studies are welcome.

Submissions responding to the conference theme can address (but are not limited to) the following areas that are currently at the cutting edge of the field (cf. Westlund et al., 2025):
• Digital innovation, adaptation and changing journalism practices;
• journalism and algorithmic culture;
• datafication of audiences;
• journalism’s position in platform societies;
• hybrid storytelling forms;
• changing patterns of news use, news avoidance and non-use;
• spread of online mis- and disinformation;
• digital press and media criticism;
• epistemologies of digital news production;
• journalism, emotion and subjectivity;
• new business models for digital journalism;
• alternative media and peripheral journalistic actors;
• rise of anti-media populism;
• social media journalism;
• digital hate and online threats to the safety of journalists;
• novel methodological approaches to studying digital journalism.

Please emphasize in your abstract how you see your paper responding to the conference theme – "the threads behind the trends".

1. Open submissions
   While we encourage thematic submissions, we also hope to create an open forum for the latest research in journalism studies in its many facets. Contributors can also submit abstracts for open sessions, for which there are no thematic requirements. Again, both theoretical/conceptual and empirical contributions to journalism studies are welcome.

Submission guidelines

Abstracts should be no more than 500 words (excl. references, tables and graphs) and should be submitted no later than 22 August 2025 via this form.

The abstract must include an indication whether you submit to the conference theme or to the open panels. As we aim for a conference that provides extensive space for reflection, discussion and connection, we also ask you to indicate your preferred presentation format. This could include:
• A traditional research paper presentation in a thematically linked session
• A proposal for a pre-constituted panel
• Participation in a thematically-focused roundtable discussion
• High-density pitch sessions

Only one proposal per first author can be accepted (submitting further abstracts as co-author is accepted). Diversity in nationality, gender and country of affiliation can be prioritized in selection. Notifications of acceptance will be sent in early November 2025.

Submission will undergo scholarly peer-review and adhere to the newly established ECREA Journalism Studies section rule: For every abstract you are listed as an presenter/contributor, you are expected to review 2-3 abstracts (this applies to all authors on the paper).

The organizers will provide proof of conference attendance/presentation upon request.

PhD Colloquium

The day before the main conference, Dr. Sandra Banjac and Dr. Marilia Gehrke, together with the section’s YECREA representative Dr. Bissie Anderson, will organize the 6th ECREA Journalism Studies Section PhD Colloquium on 8 April 2026 at the University of Groningen. Further details about this event will soon be published on this webpage.

Conference Organization

The conference will be hosted by the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, organized by Dr. Joëlle Swart, Dr. Frank Harbers, Dr. Marilia Gehrke, Dr. Sandra Banjac and Dr. Scott Eldridge. The city of Groningen is two hours from Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport by train, and three hours from Bremen Airport by public transport.

If you have any questions, contact the conference organizing committee at journalismconferences@rug.nl.

Registration will open in November 2025. More information about the conference will be posted regularly on this webpage.

PLEASE NOTE: The conference will take place in-person only and we are unable to accommodate requests for virtual presentations.

Timeline

• Monday 12 May 2025 - submissions open
• Friday 22 August 2025 - deadline for abstract submissions
• Early November 2025 - acceptance notification and registration opens
• Before Christmas 2025 - first draft of the programme published
• Friday 27 February 2026 - deadline for delegate registration

Nordicom Revies (Special Issue)

Deadline: September 15, 2025

Franziska Marquart (University of Copenhagen) and Xénia Farkas (DIGSUM, Umeå Univesity) invite scholars from the fields of media, communication, political science, and related disciplines to submit extended abstracts for a special issue of Nordicom Review. This issue will explore the evolving landscape of visual political communication in the Nordic countries, focusing on comparative aspects, content, and effects of visual politics in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Editors:

Franziska Marquart (University of Copenhagen)
Xénia Farkas (DIGSUM, Umeå University)

Contact:

Franziska Marquart: fm@hum.ku.dk
Xénia Farkas: xenia.farkas@umu.se

Important dates:

Deadline for extended abstracts: 15 September 2025
Invitation to submit full paper: 3 October 2025
Full paper submission: 9 February 2026
Peer review processing: Spring 2026
Expected publication (Open Access): Early 2027

Background and aim

Visuals have always been central to political communication, shaping how political actors convey messages and how audiences interpret political realities (e.g., Graber, 1988; Lanzetta et al., 1985; Masters et al., 1986). Research has long recognised the unique cognitive and emotional power of visual information, acknowledging that images are processed and remembered more efficiently than verbal communication (e.g., Graber, 1996) and can influence political attitudes and behaviours (Grabe & Bucy, 2009). Despite early recognition of its importance, visual political communication has only gained sustained scholarly attention in recent decades (Farkas, 2023; Schill, 2012).

In addition, the rise of digital media platforms has fundamentally transformed the visual dimension of political discourse (Lilleker, 2019; Marquart, 2023). Political narratives are increasingly constructed and contested through images, memes, videos, and data visualizations. These developments call for research that do not only consider the general content, strategies, and effects of visual political communication, but also account for their broader societal embeddedness and implications for trust, engagement, and democratic resilience.

In the Nordic context, where political systems are marked by high levels of institutional trust, transparency, and democratic participation, visual political communication takes on distinctive characteristics. While the region is often associated with social cohesion and stable governance, it is not immune to political polarisation, populist rhetoric, and digital disinformation. Recent years have seen intensifying debates on immigration, identity, and climate change – all heavily mediated through visual content. At the same time, the widespread use of social media has enabled new forms of political expression by citizens, activists, and alternative media actors.

This special issue invites contributions that explore how visual political communication unfolds across the Nordic countries in this evolving digital landscape, assessing the production, spread, and impact of visual content across a range of contexts – from electoral campaigns and protest movements to policy advocacy and state communication. We are particularly interested in how visual strategies interact with core democratic values in the region, such as openness, inclusivity, and (political and media) trust. We welcome empirical studies, theoretical contributions, and methodological innovations that engage with visual political communication from diverse perspectives. Comparative and longitudinal designs are especially encouraged, as they can illuminate both shared trends and country-specific dynamics shaped by cultural, regulatory, and technological factors.

Ultimately, the aim is to deepen our understanding of how visuals contribute to the transformation of political communication in the Nordic region and what this means for democracy in a digital age.

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Visual strategies in political campaigning: The use of imagery, video, and branding by parties, candidates, and campaign teams during elections and referenda
  
• Visual activism and protest culture: How activists, movements, and civil society actors use visual media to mobilise, resist, and advocate for change
  
• Memes, infographics, and short-form videos: Emerging visual formats on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X, and their role in shaping political discourse
  
• Influencers as political communicators: Exploring how digital influencers shape political discourse through visual content, for example, through agenda-setting, issue advocacy, or political endorsements, particularly in addressing youth audiences
  
• Personalisation and performance: The visual representation of political leaders, including aesthetics of authenticity, relatability, trust, and authority
  
• Disinformation and visual manipulation: The role of images and videos in spreading misleading or false political content, including deepfakes and edited footage
  
• Algorithmic visibility: How platform logics and recommender systems shape the prominence and reach of political visuals
  
• Public service and institutional communication: Visual strategies employed by state institutions and public broadcasters to engage citizens and maintain trust
  
• Crisis communication: Studying the visual strategies employed during political conflicts, economic, environmental, or health crises, and their effectiveness in managing public perception and behaviour
  
• Ethics and accountability: Addressing ethical considerations in the creation and dissemination of political visuals, including issues of consent, manipulation, and the responsibilities of content creators
  

We welcome submissions employing a wide range of theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches, including (but not limited to) qualitative visual analysis, content analysis, computational methods, discourse analysis, and mixed-method designs. Interdisciplinary perspectives from political science, media and communication studies, sociology, visual culture, and digital humanities are particularly encouraged.

Procedure

Please send an extended abstract of no more than 750 words to both fm@hum.ku.dk and xenia.farkas@umu.se by 15 September 2025. The abstract should outline the main theme and approach of the intended paper and mention how it fits with the overall theme of the special issue.

Authors invited to submit a full manuscript (6,000–8,000 words, excl. references) will be notified by e-mail when all abstracts are assessed by the editors. Also, authors who are invited to submit a full paper will be invited to an online seminar where the rationale for the special issue and the steps that follow will be discussed in more detail. All submissions should be original works and must not be under consideration by other publishers.

After the initial submission and review process, manuscripts that are accepted for publication must adhere to our guidelines upon final manuscript delivery. You may choose to use our templates to assist you in correctly formatting your manuscript.

Read the full instructions for authors and download a manuscript template

References

Farkas, X. (2023). Visual political communication research: A literature review from 2012 to 2022. Journal of Visual Political Communication, 10(2), 95–126. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1386/jvpc_00027_1
Grabe, M. E., & Bucy, E. P. (2009). Image bite politics: News and the visual framing of elections. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195372076.001.0001/acprof-9780195372076
Graber, D. A. (1988). Processing the news: How people tame the information tide (2nd ed). Longman.
Graber, D. A. (1996). Say it with pictures. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 546, 85–96. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1048172
Lanzetta, J. T., Sullivan, D. G., Masters, R. D., & McHugo, G. J. (1985). Emotional and cognitive responses to televised images of political leaders. In S. Kraus, & R. E. Perloff (Eds.), Mass media and political thought. Sage.
Lilleker, D. G. (2019). The power of visual political communication: Pictorial politics through the lens of communication psychology. In A. Veneti, D. Jackson, & D. G. Lilleker (Eds.), Visual political communication (pp. 37–51). Springer.
Marquart, F. (2023). Video killed the Instagram star: The future of political communication is audio-visual. Journal of Visual Political Communication, 10(1), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.1386/jvpc_00024_1
Masters, R., Sullivan, D., Lanzetta, J., Mchugo, G., & Englis, B. (1986). The facial displays of leaders: Toward an ethology of human politics. Journal of Social and Biological Systems, 9(4), 319–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-1750(86)90190-9
Schill, D. (2012). The visual image and the political image: A review of visual communication research in the field of political communication. Review of Communication, 12(2), 118–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/15358593.2011.653504

About the publisher

Nordicom is a centre for Nordic media research at the University of Gothenburg, supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Nordicom publishes all works under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, which allows for non-commercial, non-derivative types of reuse and sharing with proper attribution. All works are published Open Access and are available to read free of charge and without requirement for registration. There are no article processing charges (APC), and authors retain copyright.

Nordicom Review is an international peer reviewed journal devoted to new Nordic media and communication research. In 2023, Nordicom Review recorded a Journal Impact Factor of 2.0, a CiteScore of 2.8, and an H-Index of 23.

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Read the call for papers here:

https://www.nordicom.gu.se/en/latest/news/call-papers-visual-political-communication-nordic-region-strategies-narratives-and