[ecrea] Media and the Boundaries of Disclosure: Media, Morals, Public Shaming and Privacy

*Call for Paper Abstracts*

*Media and the Boundaries of Disclosure: Media, Morals, Public Shaming 
and Privacy*

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of 
Oxford is seeking abstracts of papers for possible presentation at its 
conference, “Media and the Boundaries of Disclosure: Media, Morals, 
Public Shaming and Privacy,” February 23-24, 2012.

This conference will explore conflicts between media and politicians and 
celebrities over disclosure of private information and behaviour. Media 
have historically had latitude to “name and shame” malfeasance of public 
officials and criminal behaviour, but disputes are increasingly emerging 
over disclosure of non-criminal personal behaviour, family life issues, 
sexual orientation, etc.

This conference is concerned with the extent to which privacy is 
warranted for activities outside the scope of their professional lives 
or when disclosure reveals duplicity related to reputations, brands, 
images and public personas built and conveyed through media by political 
and celebrity figures.

Abstracts of papers on sought on topics such as

· Media rationales for disclosure

· Media shaming rituals

· Media shaming as morality plays

· Media disclosure as stigmatic and reintegrative shaming

· Public shaming individuals and companies through social media

· Cultural difference in approaches to media shaming

· Shaming as a social and moral control mechanism

· Philosophical, psychological and sociological aspects of privacy, 
openness, and exposure

· Privacy of public figures in different legal frameworks

· Balancing right of freedom of the press with individual right of privacy

300-500 word abstracts outlining the topic, approach and theoretical 
bases should be submitted by *August 15, 2011*. Notification of selected 
abstracts will be made by September.

Submissions should be sent electronically or by post to:

Prof. Robert G. Picard

Director of Research

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

University of Oxford

Oxford OX2 6PS United Kingdom

(robert.picard /at/ politics.ox.ac.uk)