IAMCR Newsletter - October 2026

Table of contents

Message from the President

IAMCR President Daya Thussu reflects on the 2026 conference in Galway, the diversity and vitality of IAMCR’s global membership, and emerging areas of research such as artificial intelligence.

He also looks ahead to IAMCR 2027 in São Paulo, which will mark the Association’s 70th anniversary, and highlights the work of IAMCR members, its Committees and Task Forces, and its Sections and Working Groups.

Read the full message here

IAMCR 2027 São Paulo

São Paulo

Hosted by the School of Communications and Arts at the University of São Paulo (ECA/USP) in partnership with the Associação de Apoio à Arte e Comunicação (ARCO), IAMCR 2027 will take place from 18 to 22 July 2027 under the theme Multilateralism, Democracy, Diversity: Communication for a More Just World.

For a glimpse of the host city, watch this short video highlighting the city’s vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality.

Call for papers coming in November 2026!
Stay tuned for updates

Message from Cláudia Lago

Chair of the São Paulo Local Organising Committee   

On behalf of the local organising committee, we are pleased to invite you to São Paulo for IAMCR 2027 from 18 to 22 July.
As we begin preparing for the conference, we look forward to welcoming media and communication scholars from around the world to Brazil. 

Read the full message here

IAMCR 2026 – Galway

Galway

With more than 1,700 participants from around the world and over 400 sessions, IAMCR 2026 in Galway brought together scholars for five days of academic exchange, discussion and networking.

We extend our thanks to the University of Galway, the Local Organising Committee, IAMCR members, presenters, volunteers and everyone who contributed to making the conference a success.

Message from Andrew'Ó Baoill

Chair of the São Paulo Local Organising Committee   

Míle buíochas (a thousand thanks) to all who joined us at the conference in Galway. It was certainly an invigorating experience to host, and I hope that you had a rewarding experience at the conference and during your time in Ireland.

Read the full message here

2026 Awards

Four awards were granted at IAMCR Galway 2026. Please join us in congratulating the awardees. Click on the links below to read more about the winners. They are:

  • The Herbert I. Schiller Award: Sanjay Jolly (University of Pennsylvania).
  • The Urban Communication Award: Ziran Zhao, Taesik Kim and Kun Sang (Monash University), Zihao Zhao (Communication Studies from Macau University of Science and Technology) and Sheng Lyu (Shanghai International Studies University)
  •  The Media Production Automation Award: Lingyu Chu, Lingbo Tu and Hang Li (Communication University of China) 
  • The Decolonising Digital Award: Mirca Madianou (Goldsmiths, University of London), Charlotte Hill and Hayso Thako (Chiang Mai University), Mark Rasquinha (Auckland University and Helen Sissons (Auckland University of Technology) and Brooklyne Gipson (Rutgers University) 

Travel Grants

In addition, 15 travel grants were awarded to support the participation of IAMCR members from low and middle-income countries at the Galway conference.

  • 10 grants were given to early-stage scholars, providing them with the opportunity to present their research and network with colleagues. Read their testimonies
     
  • 5 grants were awarded to IAMCR officers, who play a crucial role in organising the conference programme, enabling them to attend and contribute to the event. 

Islam and Media Best Paper Awards 2026

The IAMCR Islam and Media Working Group celebrated its sixth consecutive year of recognising outstanding research with the presentation of three Best Paper Awards at IAMCR 2026 in Galway.

The awards recognise contributions to the study of Islam, media representations and digital public spheres.

Read more

IAMCR Community & Activities

S/WG elections

Nine IAMCR Sections and Working Groups held leadership elections in 2026. We thank the outgoing Chairs and Vice-Chairs for their contributions and welcome the newly elected officers.

See the election results

To see the current leadership of any of IAMCR’s thematic sections and working groups select it from the list at Sections and Working Groups' page

International Women's Day 2026

The Gender and Communication Section and the Department of Media Studies at Notre Dame University–Louaize (NDU) organised an event to mark International Women's Day, exploring the representation and role of women in socio-political movements.

Read more

Information, Communication and News (ICAN8) Conference

The History and the Gender and Communication Sections collaborated with Delhi Metropolitan Education and the South Asia Communication Association on the eighth Information, Communication and News (ICAN8) conference, held on 16–17 April 2026 in India. Under the theme Media for People and Planet, the event explored the role of media and communication in sustainable development, social justice and gender equality.

Read more

SJTU-IAMCR Emerging Media Forum - Second Edition

The School of Media and Communication at Shanghai Jiao Tong University hosted the second SJTU–IAMCR Emerging Media Forum on 17–18 April 2026. Co-sponsored by IAMCR and supported by the journal Emerging Media, the event brought together international scholars to explore creative communication, emerging media and public engagement.

Communication, Social Justice and Democracy Working Group Conference

The conference Communicating Narratives, Imaginaries and Epistemes of Hope, which took place on 7 September 2026 in Prague, brought together scholars from Europe, Asia and America to reflect on the constructive force of hope and how communication, media, art and civic practices can shape visions of societal change, democracy, peace and justice.
Read more

Webinar Series

Over the past months, IAMCR Sections and Working Groups have organised webinars, book talks and discussions covering a wide range of topics in media and communication research.

Recordings of past events are available on the IAMCR Webinar Series page.

Recent webinars and book talks:

  • 26 January 2026 – Music Streaming around the World
  • 29 January 2026 – East Asian Media Culture in the Age of Digital Platforms (Book talk)
  • 10 March 2026 – Critically Capitalist (Book Talk)
  • 20 April 2026 – Inclusive Communication Symposium
  • 24 April 2026 – Comics and Politics
  • 13 May 2026 – Media and Disability

Publications

IAMCR/Wiley series

The Global Handbooks in Media and Communication Research series is published by IAMCR and Wiley Blackwell. This series emerged from a recognition that we need to foster the publications of key reference texts that build from and are relevant to global contexts.

We are pleased to announce the publication of two new titles in the series:

The Handbook of Journalism and Emotion

Edited by María T. Soto-Sanfiel and Virpi Salojärvi, this handbook brings together 60 scholars from five continents to explore the role of emotion in journalism, from theory and professional practices to content and audience engagement.

The Handbook of Health Communication in the Global South

Edited by Thomas Tufte, Vinod Pavarala and Eliza Govender, this handbook explores health communication from Global South perspectives, addressing health inequalities, community-led approaches, digital technologies and culturally relevant communication practices.

IAMCR members are eligible for a 30% discount on this or any other title in the series (valid until 31 December 2026).To access the discount send an email to GlobalHandbooks@iamcr.org

New Issue of The Political Economy of Communication

Volume 12, Issue 1 of The Political Economy of Communication, the Scopus-indexed journal of IAMCR's Political Economy Section, is now available.

This issue features research on climate change, economic inequality, Indigenous ecological knowledge and the political economy of artificial intelligence.

Read more

Members' books

IAMCR members are invited to announce their recently published books and book chapters to the IAMCR community and website visitors. Click here to see the most recent ones.

Renew your membership 

Renew your membership for 2027

Renew your IAMCR membership for 2027 and stay connected to a global community of media and communication researchers.

As a member, you can:

  • Join up to three Sections and Working Groups.
  • Access members-only resources and the membership directory.
  • Apply for IAMCR awards and grants.
  • Enjoy discounts on selected books and journals.
  • Participate in IAMCR governance and connect with colleagues through conferences and year-round activities.

Contact info@iamcr.org to renew your membership now

Institutional members: keep your research community connected

Institutional membership allows universities and organisations to connect their academic communities with IAMCR. A standard membership includes up to 10 representatives and 10 PhD Student Representatives, with access to Sections and Working Groups, member resources and international networking opportunities.

Your membership also supports IAMCR’s work in promoting academic freedom, professional development and international collaboration.Renew your membership and continue being part of the IAMCR community in 2027.

Contact info@iamcr.org to join as an institutional member or to renew your institutional membership now.