IAMCR - International Association for Media and Communication Research

The Political Economy Section looks forward to the next IAMCR Conference at the University of Minho, in Braga, Portugal, from July 18 to 22, 2010.

The general theme of the conference is Communication and Citizenship: Rethinking Crisis and Change. This theme is proposed in order for conference participants to interrogate emergent models of communication and to open innovative debates on mechanisms for empowering citizenship and participation.

Creative and alternative thinking on old and new dimensions of social participation is expected to shed light on contemporary uncertainties and deadlocks. The conference will focus on the complex and changing relationships between communication and citizenship.

The Political Economy Section welcomes papers that address the general conference theme, which is especially appropriate for political economic discussion and analysis. We also will consider papers that address the following themes:

• New theoretical developments in the study of political economy of communications
• Popular culture and political economy
• Political economy of the Internet, social media and other new media developments
• Issues relating to free culture/free economy
• Other relevant themes relating to the study of political economy of media/culture/communications

Please note the following deadlines:

• 31 January 2010: Deadline to submit abstracts. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT ON THE CONFERENCE WEBSITE. Abstracts will be conveyed electronically to the section heads.
• 15 March 2010: Section heads will notify applicants of the results of the selection process.
• 30 April 2010: Paper presenters to submit their completed papers via the conference website. Papers will be electronically transmitted to section heads.

For more information about the Political Economy Section’s conference program, please contact Section Head, Janet Wasko, at jwasko[AT]uoregon.edu.

During the conference, the Political Economy Section will meet to discuss activities and elect new officers. The tradition of the section is that the Vice President becomes the President of the Section. In line with this tradition, Helena Sousa is nominated for President. However, nominations for both President and Vice-President position are welcome. Please send nominations to Janet Wasko, address above.

The main Call For Papers and information about other conference arrangements are on the 2010 Conference Website.