The Media Sector Development (MSD) Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of abstracts for IAMCR 2025, which will be held in Singapore from 13 to 17 July 2025, hosted by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University.
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
IAMCR conferences address many diverse topics defined by our 37 thematic sections and working groups. We also propose a single central theme to be explored throughout the conference with the aim of generating and exploring multiple perspectives. This is accomplished through plenary and special sessions, as well as in many of the sessions of the sections and working groups. The 2025 central theme is Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet.
In an era defined by environmental crises and social disparities, the need for effective communication championing environmental justice has never been more urgent. Our theme, Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet, 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 Media Sector Development Working Group invites researchers, scholars, and practitioners to submit abstracts for individual papers and panels for the forthcoming IAMCR conference “Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet". We invite you to submit papers and panels that push the boundaries of media development research, encouraging critical reflections and innovative ideas that respond to the conference theme as well as one of the four areas:
- Critiquing Traditional Normative Theories: Papers that challenge conventional normative theories of the press and propose new frameworks for understanding media development’s role in promoting freedom of expression and access to information. We are particularly interested in frameworks that are inclusive, and that consider the importance of localization and decolonization in media development practices.
- Media Development, Climate Justice, and Sustainability: Evidence-based and theoretical papers that explore the intersection between media development and climate justice. How and why does media development contribute to sustainable journalism and environmental advocacy? We invite contributions that provide empirical insights or theoretical reflections on this critical area.
- Evaluating Donor Strategies: Papers that critically assess and evaluate donor strategies and interventions in media development. We seek submissions that draw on case studies or theoretical arguments to explore the effectiveness, challenges, and outcomes of media development efforts, particularly in global majority countries.
- Advancing Theoretical Frameworks from Global Majority Scholars: Papers that help advance and showcase theoretical frameworks developed by scholars from the global majority. We are especially interested in understanding what these ideas mean for the practice of media development and their implications for reshaping the field.
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.
Abstract should be between 800 and 1000 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.
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 Media Sector Development Working Group is pleased to accept abstracts and panel proposals in English, French and Spanish.
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 inquiries, please contact the Media Sector Development Working Group Co-Chairs:
- Susan Abbott <susanabbott1@gmail.com>
- Nicholas Benequista <nickb@ned.org>
- Jairo Alfonso Lugo-Ocando <jlugoocando@sharjah.ac.ae>
- Winston Mano <W.Mano@westminster.ac.uk>
