Emerging Scholars Network Section
Call for Proposals
The Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) Section invites the submission of papers for IAMCR 2027, which will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 18 to 22 July 2027, 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).
The deadline for submission is 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC.
Download this call for papers as a PDF file
Central theme
IAMCR conferences address many diverse topics defined by our 37 theThe conference theme, “Multilateralism, Democracy, Diversity: Communication for a More Just World,” asks what communication can contribute at a time when international cooperation is under strain, democratic institutions are weakening and societies are becoming more divided. For CAM, these concerns raise questions about who can shape public debate, who controls the infrastructures through which communities communicate, and how locally grounded media practices can inform struggles for justice across borders.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
Authors are encouraged to submit proposals related to the conference’s central theme of Multilateralism, Democracy, Diversity: Communication for a More Just World, particularly as it relates to the concerns and interests of emerging and early career media and communication researchers. The ESN also accepts proposals on a broad range of media and communication topics, including community media, media activism, media and identity, communication governance, and other topics.
As a section dedicated to the support and development of emerging scholarship, our section welcomes works in progress, work that creates frameworks for new ideas in research and teaching, and panels and special sessions addressing publishing, mentoring, academic work and academic jobs, innovative research methodologies, and language barriers in academia.
Joint sessions
We also welcome submissions for ESN joint sessions thematically linked to the Community Communication and Alternative Media, Communication Policy and Technology, Gender and Communication, or Participatory Communication Research sections. These joint sessions provide discussants and a mentorship-focused environment, encouraging early career scholars to engage beyond ESN and build connections across other sections.
If you would like to be included in one of the joint sessions, submit your abstract to ESN and identify the corresponding "topic" in the submission platform, (CAM/ESN joint session, CPT/ESN joint session, GEN/ESN joint session, or PCR/ESN joint session) and in the space provided for comments to the chairs.
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts should be between 800 and 1000 words, and must be submitted through IAMCR's submission system from 9 December 2026 through 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be considered.
Accepted authors will be invited to submit full papers prior to the conference at a later stage, though submission will remain optional.
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 co-author. Authors may not submit more than one abstract to any given section or working group nor may they submit the same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, 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.
Peer-review: Participation in the peer review of abstracts is expected from authors, although it is not a condition for submission or acceptance.
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 ESN or collaborating sections in joint sessions, and alignment with current trends or debates in the field.
Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria.
Languages
The Emerging Scholars Network accepts abstracts in English and in French. We encourage our members to include subtitles to their slides in the official languages of IAMCR, where possible.
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.
Accepted papers must be presented in person by the authors designated as PRESENTING authors in the submission platform. For co-authored papers, at least one of the authors must attend and present the paper. Only authors or co-authors of an accepted paper are permitted to present it. If none of the authors is able to attend and present, the paper will be removed from the conference programme.
Deadlines and key dates
The deadline to submit proposals is 12 February 2027, at 23:59 UTC.
Other key dates to keep in mind. Dates are subject to change.
About the Emerging Scholars Network Section
Learn more about the work and scope of the Emerging Scholars Network Section.
Contact the Section
Steph Hill
sh903@leicester.ac.uk
Wafa Khalfan
Wafa.Burenqain@Alumni.AUS.Edu
