The Diaspora and Media (DIM) Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of proposals for single papers and multi-paper panels. The conference will be held from 13 to 17 July, 2025 at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
The deadline for submission is 7 February 2025, at 23h59 UTC.
See the list of all sections and working groups and their remits
See the CfPs of all sections and working groups
The main theme for IAMCR 2025, "Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet", invites reflection about an era defined by environmental crises and social disparities- the need for effective communication championing environmental justice has never been more urgent. The theme highlights the critical intersection of diverse voices from various stakeholders and their collaborative action in addressing the pressing challenges of our time.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
The Diaspora and Media Working Group welcomes proposals that address the working group’s interest in diaspora and media. We are particularly interested in contributions that address key topics from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives. Now more than ever, academic work must address, from a critical perspective the need to rethink borders and boundaries, physical and imaginary. We seek research that addresses theory and practice, examine theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches, as well as analyze findings in lieu of their contribution to the field.
The Diaspora and Media Working Group aims to provide a fertile terrain for academic exchange, discussions and collaboration among the contributors. We encourage submissions that address diasporic transnationalism and media representation, (miss)representation, and auto-representation of migrants in the public sphere. We are also looking for research on new narratives in translocal contexts and the connective role of media spaces within diasporic groups.
Our Working Group welcomes contributions that explore any of the five sub-themes have been identified in the general CFP: “Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet"
Contributions could further be built on, but not limited to, the following key topics:
- Studies on digital diasporas that are contributing to the discussion on new approaches when studying migration, mobility, diaspora and transnational scenarios
- Theoretical studies on new trends in the era of neo-globalization and the consequences to migration studies
- Discussions on new methodological approaches to the study of diaspora and media in a post-digital era
- Studies on the relationship between borders, securitization, and the relationship with the climate changes and climate crises
- Precarization, labor, and labor migration between the Global North and South
- Rights, access to services for migrant populations post-pandemic and in the relation to the climate crisis
- Climate migrants and their relationship with the media: activism, representations and access to channels of assistance in climate disasters.
- Climate refugees: framings, problematizations and media discourses.
- Humanitarian Economics and its relationship with climate disasters: transparency, access to information and decision-making in the absence of climate displaced people.
- Discourses of sustainability vs. practices: accounts of the experiences of people affected by wind farms, for example.
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts must be submitted exclusively through IAMCR’s submission system from 3 December 2024 through 7 February 2025, at 23.59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be accepted.
Abstracts submitted to the Diaspora and Media Working Group should be about 800 words. 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.
Proposals are accepted for both single papers and multi-paper panels. Please note that there are special procedures for submitting multi-paper panels. You can find the detailed procedures when submitting your abstract online in the abstract submission system.
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
- Relevance to the section and current trends or controversies in its field
- Depth of knowledge of the research, theory and/or literature related to the proposed topic as evidenced in the submission
- Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria
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.
Languages
The Diaspora and Media Working Group welcomes abstracts in English, Spanish and Portuguese. English is preferred because we have a limited number of reviewers who can evaluate abstracts in other languages. However, we will accept abstracts in all three of IAMCR's official languages. We do ask that members correspond with the chairs in English, where possible.
Deadlines and key dates
The deadline to submit abstracts is 7 February 2025, at 23.59 UTC. For other key dates see https://iamcr.org/singapore2025/keydates. Dates are subject to change.
Contacts
For further information about the Diaspora and Media Working Group, its themes, submissions and panels please contact:
Sumana Chattopadhyay (sumanach@gmail.com)
Brian Pindayi (brianpindayi@gmail.com)
Jessica Retis (jessica.retis@gmail.com)
Sofia Zanforlin (szanforlin@gmail.com)
Join the DIM working group in social media: https://www.facebook.com/groups/499328720140317
