IAMCR 2016 - Post-Socialist and Post-Authoritarian Communication Working Group - CfP

The Post-Socialist and Post-Authoritarian Communication Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research looks forward to the next IAMCR Conference and invites submissions (both individual proposals and collective panels) for the 2016 conference to be held at Leicester, UK, from 27 to 31 July 2016.

Conference theme: "Memory, Commemoration and Communication: Looking Back, Looking Forward"

See the conference key dates and deadlines: http://iamcr.org/leicester2016/keydates

See all Calls for Papers for IAMCR 2016: http://iamcr.org/leicester2016/cfp

Visit the conference website: http://iamcr.org/leicester2016

In transitional post-socialist and post-authoritarian societies, discussions and reflections about memory, commemoration and communication are obviously of particular importance. It was exactly in these countries where people had to (re-)build collective identity after long periods of dictatorship. To put it differently, in regions with former communist, military, fascist or apartheid regimes, people see the past in different ways and invest them with different memories and ideas – at least as long as witnesses and former rulers and their opponents are still alive. There is ample of evidence on journalists’ and media’s agency in memory shaping processes.

The working group on Post-Socialist and Post-Authoritarian Communication welcomes papers and panels both related to the conference theme and beyond, including such topics as:

  • What is the capacity of media and communication’s role memory and commemoration processes in post-socialist societies, post-authoritarian societies or in transitional societies in general?
  • To what extent can media and communication shape memory processes?
  • What about the interrelationship between communicative and cultural memory?
  • In what ways does the academic discipline of media and communication research reflects of its very own past in post-socialist societies, post-authoritarian societies or in transitional societies in general?
  • Media structures and journalism cultures in transition
  • Mass media, journalism and politics in transitional/conflict/post-conflict societies

Contributions may include empirical research from a wide variety of terrains, or methodological and theoretical papers from a large scope of epistemological perspectives. The Working Group welcomes also contributions that cover other transitional societies than post-socialist or post-authoritarian societies. A joint session with another Section or Working Group might be organized in case of a relevant proposal of abstracts or panel.

Individual papers and panels are possible, but all proposals must be submitted through the online Open Conference System from 1 December 2015 – 15 February 2016. Early submission is strongly encouraged. There are to be no email submissions of abstracts addressed to any Section or Working Group Head.

Abstracts should be 300-500 words in length including the research objectives, theoretical framework and methodology and they will be peer-reviewed. Submitted abstracts will generally be evaluated on the basis of: 1) theoretical contribution, 2) methods, 3) quality of writing, 4) literature review, 5) relevance of the submission to the work of the section or working group, and 6) originality and/or significance of the work.

It is expected that for the most part, only one (1) abstract will be submitted per person for consideration by the Conference. However, under no circumstances should there be more than two (2) abstracts bearing the name of the same applicant either individually or as part of any group of authors. Please note also that the same abstract or another version with minor variations in title or content must not be submitted to other Sections or Working Groups of the Association for consideration, after an initial submission. Such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be automatically rejected by the Open Conference System, by the relevant Head or by the Conference Program Reviewer. Such applicants risk being removed entirely from the conference program.

Upon submission of an abstract, you will be asked to confirm that your submission is original and that it has not been previously published in the form presented. You will also be given an opportunity to declare if your submission is currently before another conference for consideration.

Presenters are expected to bring fully developed work to the conference. Prior to the conference, it is expected that a completed paper will be submitted to Section, Working Group, Session Chairs, and/or Discussants.

Important dates and deadlines to keep in mind:

  • 1 December 2015 Open Computer System (OCS) available for abstract submission
  • 15 February 2016 Deadline for submissions
  • 1 April 2016 Notification of acceptances of abstracts
  • 15 April 2016 Deadline to apply for travel grants and awards
  • 28 April 2016 Deadline to confirm your participation
  • 20 May 2016 Last day to register at discounted early-bird fee
  • 30 June 2016 Deadline for full paper submission
  • 7 July 2016 Final conference programme published on the website
  • 27-31 July 2016 IAMCR 2016 Conference

Post-Socialist and Post-Authoritarian Communication Working Group

Co-Chairs:

Anastasia Grusha
grusha.anastasia(at)smi.msu.ru

Katja Lehtisaari
katja.lehtisaari(at)helsinki.fi

Michael Meyen
meyen(at)ifkw.uni-muenchen.de

See the conference key dates and deadlines: http://iamcr.org/leicester2016/keydates

See all Calls for Papers for IAMCR 2016: http://iamcr.org/leicester2016/cfp

Visit the conference website: http://iamcr.org/leicester2016