Call for proposals 2026
The History Section (HIS) invites the submission of abstracts for its 2026 conference, to be held from 28 June to 2 July 2026 in Galway, Ireland, hosted by the University of Galway.
The deadline for submission is 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
Theme
IAMCR conferences cover a wide range of topics defined by our thematic Sections and Working Groups (S/WG). Each year, a central theme invites participants to engage in shared reflection across these diverse areas, fostering dialogue and collaboration.
The 2026 central theme, Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation, addresses the complexities of contemporary media systems in a polarised and interconnected world. By interrogating the tensions between centrality and marginality—whether geographical, cultural, political, or conceptual—this theme aligns with IAMCR’s commitment to fostering critical and inclusive dialogues across diverse perspectives.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
In line with this year's theme, the History Section especially welcomes proposals dealing with media and the history of peripheries, connections, and transformations. You may examine how an aspect of the main conference theme relates to the concerns of the History Section, or you may address a theme or sub-theme identified by the History Section in this individual call for proposals. Some of the topics that may be addressed are:
- History or role of media in resistance
- Histories of activist communication, or resistance, creativity, and innovation
- History of migration, and legitimacy of representation and recognition
- History of marginalised spaces, marginality, hybridity, decolonialism, or feminism in media
- History of geographic, economic, cultural, or political margins in media
- History of media and communication systems and global media landscapes
- History of geographical and conceptual boundaries and interventions across media
- History of the dissemination of scientific knowledge and scientific uncertainty through media
- Histories of sustainability practices
- History and representation of the Sustainable Development Goals in media
- History of enviornmental journalism and representation of climate change narratives
- History of environmental awareness and cultural narratives
- History of digital inequalities and interconnected world
- History of polarisation, and the tensions between centrality and marginality
- History of critical and inclusive dialogues across people or diverse country perspectives
- History of glocal/global transformations
- History of cross border dialogue, uncertainty, and the periphery
- History of established centres of power
- History of alternative frameworks for power, identity, and community
- History and impact of major global policy changes across geographical, political, cultural, or conceptual themes
We look forward to your contributions to the History Section for the IAMCR 2026 - Galway Conference. We also welcome papers and panels dealing with other historical dimensions of media and communication research, including but not limited to the following topics:
- National and international histories of the press, broadcasting, film and digital media
- Media and conflict, including histories of war reporting
- Media and the dissemination of fear and hate
- Media and the mediation of risk
- Terror and the media
- Journalism history (including alternative types of journalism)
- History of health communication
- Communicating pandemics and other health threats in different historical contexts
- Media and populism in different historical contexts
- Histories of technologies of surveillance and control
- Misinformation, disinformation, fake news and propaganda
- Technologies and promises of human progress;
- Uses of big data in different historical settings;
- Collective memory of political, social and cultural transformations and events
- Histories of international/global communication
- Soft power and the media
- Biographical research of media executives, producers and journalists
- Methodologies for research in communication history
- Media and communication research and digital archives
- History of communication theory
- Media and temporalities
- Media archaeology
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts for papers to be presented in person at one of the History Section’s conference sessions should be between 800 and 1000 words. They must be submitted exclusively through IAMCR’s submission system from 28 November 2025 through 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be considered.
Submissions to HIS do not have to address this year’s central theme, but they are expected to be thematically relevant to the WG’s areas of scholarly interest.
It is expected that each person will submit only one abstract. However, no author’s name should appear on more than two abstracts, either individually or as part of any group of authors and authors should not submit more than one abstract to any single section or working group. The same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, must not be submitted to more than one Section or Working Group. Such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be rejected. Authors submitting the same work to multiple Sections or Working Groups may be removed entirely from the conference programme.
The History Section welcomes student participation under certain conditions.
- Undergraduate students may submit proposals only if they are accompanying their professors or supervisors for face-to-face presentations as (co)authors. The professor/supervisor’s presence is mandatory.
- Both Graduate and Undergraduate students are expected to submit a full paper by the deadline set by IAMCR. Student presentations without a submitted paper may be withdrawn from the conference programme.
Evaluation criteria
Submitted abstracts will generally be evaluated on the basis of:
- Technical merit
- Readability
- Originality and/or significance
- Use of or contribution to theory
- Depth of knowledge of the research, theory and/or literature related to the proposed topic as evidenced in the submission
- Relevance to the section and current trends or controversies in its field
Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria. The History Section may use additional criteria and may assign different weights to the above criteria.
Languages
The History Section accepts individual or multi-paper abstracts and programme sessions and panels in English, French and Spanish. Presentations in English, French, or Spanish supported by self-arranged interpreters are also fine. However, our experience shows that slides prepared in English facilitate comprehension and discussion among researchers and participants of multiple nationalities.
Statement on use of AI tools
IAMCR does not encourage or condone the use of generative AI tools to prepare abstracts submitted for consideration for our conferences. IAMCR values originality, integrity, and transparency in academic work, and believes that human-authored contributions best support rigorous and innovative scholarship in media and communication research. Should an author choose to use a generative AI tool in the preparation of an abstract, we require that they include a clear statement within their submission disclosing the tool's use. This statement must specify: (1) the name of any AI tool used; (2) how the tool was used in preparing the abstract, and; (3) the reason for using the tool. Failure to disclose the use of generative AI in accordance with these guidelines may impact the evaluation and acceptance of the submission.
Intention to attend
Each abstract submitted to IAMCR represents a real cost to the Association and contributes to the workload of volunteer reviewers and organisers. As the number of submissions each year far exceeds the available presentation slots, we ask authors to submit only if they genuinely intend to attend and present their work at the conference if accepted.
Deadlines and key dates
The deadline to submit proposals is 3 February 2026, at 23:59 UTC. Other key dates. Dates are subject to change.
About the History Section
Learn more about the work and scope of the History Section.
Contact the Section
Chair: Anne F. MacLennan (amaclenn@yorku.ca).
Vice Chair: Wajiha Raza Rizvi (wajiharaza@fulbrightmail.org)
