[ecrea] Call for papers - Comparing Media Systems in the Iberian Peninsula

Call for papers - Comparing Media Systems in the Iberian Peninsula

Special issue of the /International Journal of Iberian Studies/ 
(Intellect).**

In the last few years, comparative studies have quickly developed in the 
field of communication studies. Specifically, the publication of Hallin 
and Mancini’s /Comparing Media Systems/ has been a turning point in 
cross-national research into the structure, politics and performance of 
media systems. In this work, Spain and Portugal appear, alongside other 
countries, under the umbrella of the Polarized Pluralist or 
Mediterranean model. However, not all of the literature agrees with this 
classification. Equally, areas like those of journalism, policies, texts 
and audiences, to name just a few, remain largely unexplored from this 
comparative perspective.

The aim of this special issue is to stimulate debate on cross-national 
media research between Spain and Portugal. The Iberian perspective on 
media studies remains largely underdeveloped. However, in the context of 
increasing comparative research, it seems a logical step forward. Among 
others, relevant questions include:

- Is there space for an Iberian dimension in Portuguese and Spanish 
media systems?

- What are the difficulties faced by researchers when comparing the 
Spanish and Portuguese media systems?

- What is the research agenda for an Iberian perspective on media 
systems and its relationship to political, economic or cultural systems?

- What is the theoretical and empirical justification for Iberian research?

- How do researchers interpret similarities and differences found when 
studying both countries and their media production, distribution and 
consumption?

- Do media texts reflect the Iberian perspective? How do they reflect it?

- How do the different languages spoken in the Iberian Peninsula affect 
this Iberian dimension?

- What is the role of nations and regions within these systems and 
between them?

- What is the relationship and position of the Iberian media and 
communication space with other systems in the context of globalization?

To that end, possible topics include (but are not limited to): 
journalism practices and cultures, the structures of national 
broadcasting systems, transborder texts, experiences and practices, 
audience analysis, international communication, political communication, 
communication and cultural policies, and media theory and sociology.

Cross-national studies will be privileged. Only articles written in 
English will be sent out for review. Articles should be between 6,000 
and 8,000 words including notes and references. The submission 
guidelines can be downloaded from 
http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/MediaManager/File/IJIS%20Notes%20for%20Contributors.pdf.

The deadline for submissions is 20 September 2011. This special issue 
will be published in 2012.

For further information and submissions, please contact the guest 
editors at:

David Fernández-Quijada

Departament de Comunicació Audiovisual i Publicitat I, Universitat 
Autònoma de Barcelona

(david.fernandez /at/ uab.es)

José Luis García

Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa

(jlgarcia /at/ ics.ul.pt)