Call for Papers, Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture, 1/2010
'AMBIGUITIES of CENSORSHIP'
Unpopular ideas can be silenced, and inconvenient facts kept dark, =
without the need for any official ban. (George Orwell)
Censorship can be defined as the suppression of information exerted =
through any technique that prevents the public from being informed about =
what happens in the world. More than fifty years ago, in his lucid =
critique of media practices in Britain, George Orwell was already =
warning about the impact of less obvious forms of censorship on the =
flows of information. However, many academic studies have been focused =
on deliberate forms of censorships exerted by official means, for =
example by the state in totalitarian or anti-democratic regimes. =
Nevertheless, censorship has always been present in democratic countries =
as well, more subtle in nature and very often self-imposed.
This new issue of Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture is =
specifically dedicated to an international perspective from a range of =
disciplinary backgrounds on various practices of censorship that go =
beyond official forms of censorship.=20
Topics may include, but are not restricted to, the following:
- Self-censorship
- Bias
- Omission
- Under-reporting
- Corporate pressures
- Professional pressures
- Cultural and religious pressures
- Embedded journalism
- Security-related pressures
Together, these practices have a bearing on the failure of the media to =
cover crucial and sometimes controversial issues, therefore abridging =
freedom of expression.
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Manuscripts should be prepared in English in Microsoft Word, should =
adhere to the Manuscript Submission Guidelines =
(http://www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/media/camri/publications/manuscript=
-submission-guideliens =
<http://www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/media/camri/publications/manuscript=
-submission-guideliens> ) and should not exceed 8,000 words including =
notes and references. Manuscripts should be accompanied by an abstract =
of 100-150 words and up to six keywords. The manuscript must contain a =
separate title page that should include: the title of the manuscript; =
the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the author(s); full contact details of =
the author(s); the author's brief biographical information. All =
submissions are subject to peer review. Please send the manuscript as an =
email attachment to Benedetta Brevini ((B.Brevini1 /at/ westminster.ac.uk) =
<mailto:(B.Brevini1 /at/ westminster.ac.uk)> ) and Katharina Noetzold =
(k.noetzold /at/ westminster.ac.uk) <mailto:(k.noetzold /at/ westminster.ac.uk)> no =
later than 15 January 2010.
=20
