CALL FOR PAPERS
African and Arab Media Audiences:
Shared Agendas for Research
Conference jointly organised by the
Africa Media Series, Arab Media Centre and Audiences Group
Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster
Dates: 30-31 March, 2009
Venue: University of Westminster, New Cavendish Campus,
115 New Cavendish Street, London W1
THE TOPIC
Media research to date has largely neglected the
fast growing and diverse media audiences in
African and Arab countries. These countries
share painful histories of colonization and
broadly comparable experiences of
post-independence media development. Today they
share the challenge of adjusting to global trade
and investment regimes that affect local media
production and distribution systems but are
crafted elsewhere. Yet when we speak of media
reception in the Global South, we tend to think
in terms of isolated geographies: of 'Latin
America', 'Africa', or the 'Middle East'. By
contextualizing primarily in terms of place, we
overlook memories, issues and features that
media users in different regions have in common.
We foster artificial boundaries and separate
research agendas. As a result, opportunities for
productive joint debates about Arab and African media consumption are missed.
Blogs, chatrooms, social networking sites, and
the use of SMS indicate that African and Arab
audiences, like audiences generally, are highly
active in sending and receiving messages in
innovative ways. This conference, organised by
the University of Westminster's Communication
and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), will
explore this activity, taking in the old, the
new, and processes of change and transformation.
It draws on the combined resources of CAMRI's
African Media Series, Arab Media Centre and
Audiences Group. It focuses on media use and
media users in two overlapping regions, where
the culture and politics of former colonial
powers have combined with internal influences to
shape the audience experience in particular ways.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Conference papers are invited on audiences in
African and/or Arab countries and their
reception and appropriation of all types of
media. Papers are welcomed with or without
comparative dimensions. They may adopt
interdisciplinary approaches or be rooted
predominantly in one field or discipline.
Audience studies may segment the audience in
accordance with conventional demographic
categories, or they may offer alternative
perspectives on identity. Interactivity is a
potential theme, as is access to/use of digital
media generally, including the Internet and
mobile phones. Methodological questions will be high on the conference agenda.
PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION
The conference will begin during the afternoon
of Monday, March 30th and continue to the early
evening of Tuesday, March 31st. Plenary sessions
will be held for one keynote speaker on each
day. The remaining sessions will consist of
concurrent panels, except for one or more
plenary sessions dealing primarily with
theoretical and/or methodological issues. The
fee for registration will be £50, with a
concessionary rate of £25 for students. Online
registration will open in October 2008.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS
The deadline for abstracts is Monday, December
15th 2008. Successful applicants will be
notified by Tuesday, January 6th, 2009.
Abstracts should be between 150-350 words. They
must include the presenter's name, affiliation,
email and postal address, together with the
title of the paper and a brief biographical note
on the presenter. Two copies of the abstract
should be sent, one to Dr Tarik Sabry
(<mailto:(T.Sabry02 /at/ westminster.ac.uk)>(T.Sabry02 /at/ westminster.ac.uk))
and one to Dr Winston Mano
(<mailto:(W.Mano /at/ westminster.ac.uk)>(W.Mano /at/ westminster.ac.uk)).
The selection committee will comprise members of
CAMRI's Africa Media Series, Arab Media Centre and Audiences Group.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SELECTED PARTICIPANTS
It is recognised that research institutions in a
few African and Arab countries have very limited
funding for their staff to attend conferences
overseas. In order to encourage participation by
scholars who might be affected by financial
constraints and whose research fits the
conference theme, the conference organisers hope
to be able to offer fee waivers and travel
subsidies in selected cases. Anyone interested
in presenting a paper is advised to submit their
proposal pending further information about their
eligibility for a possible grant.
The University of Westminster is a charity and a
company limited by guarantee. Registration
number: 977818 England. Registered Office: 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW.
