Call for proposals 2026
The Mediated Communication, Public Opinion & Society (MPS) Section 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.
Download this call for papers as a PDF file
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
The Mediated Communication, Public Opinion & Society (MPS) Section invites submissions related to the conference theme as well as other themes of relevance to the section's mandate. The section fosters and encourages knowledge, scholarship, theoretical debates and empirical work in the field of mediated communication as well as the changes new media and mediated communication (AI-mediated communication) induce on (non-)mediated communication, public opinion and society. It explicitly welcomes diverse epistemological positions and methodologies, encourages research from diverse socio-cultural and geo-political contexts and angles and research that addresses emerging issues in mediated communication.
Within the context of global transformations and changes in media, we particularly encourage work within the following areas:
- Digital (in)equalities and peripheral voices
- Communication across borders
- Representation and marginalised spaces
- The role of AI in digital transformation
- Human-Machine Interactions
- Algorithmic power and (in)equalities
- Media engagement practices
- Communicative dynamics and digital platforms
- Civic agency and media
- Public opinion
- Rethinking public spaces & public spheres
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts for papers to be presented in person at one of the Mediated Communication, Public Opinion & Society (MPS) Section’s conference sessions should be between 500 and 1000 words, including references. 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.
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.
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.
Languages
This section will receive and evaluate abstracts in English only.
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 Mediated Communication, Public Opinion & Society Section
Learn more about the work and scope of the Mediated Communication, Public Opinion & Society Section
Contact the Section
For further information about the Mediated Communication, Public Opinion and Society Section, its themes, submissions, and panels, please contact the Section’s team:
Karolína Šimková, karolina.simkova@fsv.cuni.cz (Charles University, Czech Republic)
Pengxiang Li, leepengxiang@hotmail.com (Minzu University of China, Beijing, China)
Xiufang (Leah) Li, leah.li@rmit.edu.au (RMIT University, Australia)
