IAMCR - International Association for Media and Communication Research

IAMCR’s new working group in Health Communication and Change is inviting submissions for the IAMCR 2009 Conference in Mexico City. The theme of the conference is "Human Rights and Communication".

Health Communication as a scientific discipline has grown significantly in the past years, establishing itself institutionally with academic courses and programmes worldwide. Traditionally. its focus was on individual behaviour change, with behaviour change communication as a central approach. The theoretical emphasis has primarily been on psychological and social-psychological issues rather than on communication issues.

Recently it has become clearer that ‘health’ cannot be seen as an isolated, abstract quality, but as the product of political context and social interaction. Consequently, a growing body of inter-disciplinary studies, drawing on cultural studies, critical theory, political science and broader conceptual approaches from the humanities and social sciences, is emerging. An increasing recognition of the contextual issues that influence health challenges has also indicated the need for culture-centred communication approaches where issues of agency, advocacy, accountability and social change are fundamental. Communication for social change approaches lie at the centre of this debate.

Against the background of these developments we invite papers for the new Working Group on Health Communication and Change. This first encounter will focus especially on the theoretical and conceptual re-thinking of health communication – moving it beyond the discipline of behaviour change communication and into a broader multi-disciplinary realm of communication with emphasis on social change.

Consequently, rather than emphasising case-based studies reporting on results of health communication processes, we wish to encourage conceptual papers that focus on epistemology, theory and methodology in health communication.

Both individual abstracts and panel proposals are encouraged.

Logistics & Deadlines

Joint sessions with other relevant sections and working groups can be organized. However, please note that IAMCR does not permit multiple submissions of identical abstracts to more than one section.

Abstracts or panel proposals should include: the name(s) of author(s) and professional title(s); institutional affiliation; and e-mail address/contact information.

The deadline for the submission of abstracts (500 words maximum) is February 16, 2009. You will be informed whether or not your abstract is accepted by March 29, 2009. The deadline for full papers is July 1, 2009.

Abstract Submission:

Please submit your abstract on-line at: http://www.iamcr2009mexico.unam.mx/ .

Alternatively, abstracts can be sent to the following. Please CC both co-chairs:

Please note that if your abstract is accepted, you may be called upon to facilitate or moderate one of the working group sessions.