[ecrea] Conference Media and Politics: Discourses, Cultures, and Practices

Call for Papers
MEDIA AND POLITICS: DISCOURSES, CULTURES, AND PRACTICES
University of Milan (Italy), 27th-28th May 2015
The Department of Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication and 
the Contemporary Asia Research Centre of the University of Milan are 
pleased to announce the organization of an
international conference on "Media and Politics: Discourses, Cultures, 
and Practices" which will be held at the Polo di Mediazione 
Interculturale e Comunicazione on 27th-28th May 2015.
Description:
Media and politics have always been interconnected. On the one hand, the 
media represent a channel through which the promotion and discussion of 
policies is effected and various representations of power and ideology 
are conveyed. On the other hand, the media play an important political 
role of their own, but are at the same time subject to political choices 
that have an impact on their editorial line. In some contexts, their 
influence on public opinion also has an mportant political weight.
The connection between mass media and politics, which at times affects 
the selection of news and the way it is produced, can be identified in 
discourse choices, the use of specific textual genres,
representations with a cultural connotation, and also in the practical 
work of journalists and the reactions of the target public. Moreover, 
this connection can take various shapes, according to the
political framework, the geographical location, and the linguistic, 
social, and cultural contexts in which it is expressed. Finally, the 
channels used for communication can in some ways influence the
political value of the message being delivered.
In light of this premise, the relationship between media and politics 
can thus be analysed on distinct levels and from a variety of 
methodological perspectives. Adopting an intercultural and 
interdisciplinary approach, the conference seeks to explore the many 
facets of the relationship between various means of communication (print 
media, television, and Internet) and politics, through contributions 
covering its discursive, cultural, and professional aspects, and 
regarding diverse media contexts, such as Asia, America, Europe, and the 
Arabic World.
Possible areas of discussion include (but are not limited to):
1. Language of politics in the global media:
• Discourse analysis and textual genres
• Argumentation theory
2. Cultural or public policies conveyed through the media:
• City branding, identity, and modernity representations
• Welfare, health, and environmental policies
3. Media policies:
• Production processes and professional identities
• Influence on public opinion and soft power
Plenary sessions:
Plenary sessions will see the participation of:
*Geert Jacobs (Department of Linguistics, Ghent University, Belgium)
*Eric Sangar (Department of European & International Studies King's 
College London, United Kingdom)
*Jing Wu (School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, China)
Members of the peer committee will also be presenting their current 
research.
Paper Submission:
We welcome abstract submissions from scholars and experts in the 
abovementioned areas. Abstracts must be in English and no longer than 
300 words (including references and keywords).
Proposals must be accompanied by a bio sketch no longer than 100 words. 
Please send your proposals to <(media_politica2015 /at/ unimi.it)> by 20th 
March 2015.
Proposals must include, in the same document: title, preferred 
presentation language, name and surname of author(s), institutional 
affiliation(s), email and postal mailing address of author(s).
Panels will be conducted in Italian, English, French, and Spanish.
Important Dates:
Deadline for abstract submission: 20th March 2015
Notification of abstract acceptance: 1st April 2015
Program: 15th April 2015
Registration: from 1st to 30th April 2015
Conference: 27th-28th May 2015
Registration Procedures:
Participation is subject to registration. To register please send an 
email to <(media_politica2015 /at/ unimi.it)>. You will receive a registration 
form that must be completed and returned to the same email address by 
30th April 2015.
Conference Venue:
Università degli Studi di Milano, Polo di Mediazione Interculturale e 
Comunicazione, piazza Montanelli 1, Sesto S. Giovanni (MI), Italy.
Proceedings:
A selection of the papers presented during the conference will be 
published in an edited book or in a special issue of a peer-reviewed 
journal.
Peer Committee:
Paola Catenaccio, Giuliana Garzone, Alessandra Lavagnino, Chiara 
Molinari, Bettina Mottura.
Organizing Committee:
Emma Lupano, Bettina Mottura, Letizia Osti, Giorgia Riboni, Natalia Riva.
For any further information, please contact us at: 
(media_politica2015 /at/ unimi.it)
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MediaP0litics
Twitter: @Media_P0litics
The Call for papers is also available in PDF format (in Italian and 
English) at 
http://eng.mediazione.unimi.it/extfiles/unimidire/187001/attachment/media-politics-may-2015-call-for-papers.pdfok.pdf