[ecrea] CFP Constructed | Constructive Journalism

*REMINDER*: Call for papers
Constructed|Constructive Journalism
8-9 December 2016
Brussels Institute for Journalism Studies (BIJU)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium

Deadline for proposals: 30 June 2016

Plenary speakers
Cathrine Gyldensted (Windesheimhogeschool Zwolle, The Netherlands)
Peter Bull (University of York, UK)

This conference aims at bringing together researchers from different 
backgrounds investigating construction in journalism.
We define construction in a twofold way. On the one hand, there is the 
perspective of journalism as an interpretive and discursive construction 
of social reality which goes back to postmodern and poststructuralist 
approaches. In this view, news is the product of linguistic and 
journalistic choices with possible ideological implications. A recent 
interpretation of this approach focuses on the deconstruction of the 
idea of the journalist as an ‘objective’ gatekeeper by pointing out new 
and hybrid roles like that of storyteller, activist or opinion leader. 
Likewise, the discursive construction of ‘reality’ has evolved along 
with the development of grassroots and participatory types of journalism 
  afforded by new media technologies. Contemporary analyses have 
responded to, and moved beyond postmodern and poststructuralist thinking 
by initiating a ‘both/neither’ dialogue between notions of 
deconstruction and reconstruction.
On the other hand, there is the perspective of journalism as a 
constructive activity. Whereas journalistic practice traditionally was 
defined as impartial and detached, many practitioners and scholars 
nowadays adhere to the vision that journalists should not only point out 
problems, but should also play an active role in proposing solutions. 
Also, in the constructive view, journalists should not ruminate the 
negative aspects of the news, but they should try to bring untold and 
affirmative stories. Constructive journalism draws on insights from 
positive psychology and reception studies and purports to frame news by 
involving and connecting audiences. Inclusion is an important topic 
within this perspective, not only as covered in political news but also 
in all other beats (sports, culture, lifestyle, etc.). Constructive 
journalism can be related to other approaches of journalism, such as 
slow journalism, hyperlocal, activist, citizen and peace journalism.

We want to encourage participants to engage in a critical discussion of 
constructed and/or constructive forms of journalism and to also consider 
possible overlap and tensions or interactions between both forms. Is 
constructiveness a construction just like objectivity, adversarialness, 
neutrality or neutralism? Does construction sometimes occur with 
constructive purposes? What are the boundaries between constructive 
journalism and biased forms of communication or even activism? The role 
of social media and alternative media in this process will be a special 
point of interest.
Inspirational literature:

Bull, Peter, Ralph Negrine & Katie Hawn (2014). Telling it like it is or 
just telling a good story? Editing techniques in news coverage of the 
British parliamentary expenses scandal. Language and Dialogue 4:2, 
213-233. Gyldensted, Cathrine (2015). From Mirrors to Movers. Five 
Elements of Positive Psychology in  Constructive Journalism. s.l., 
GGroup Publishing.


Although our institute is part of a linguistics department, we welcome 
submissions from all relevant disciplinary backgrounds approaching 
topics including but certainly not limited to:
* the construction of news in broadcast journalism as well as in the 
written and online press * the borderlines between constructive 
journalism, solution-oriented journalism and activism
* (linguistic aspects of) the representation of minority groups and the 
underprivileged
* psychological effects of good/bad news and of specific types of framing
* social media and journalism from a constructivist/constructive perspective
* alternative vs. mainstream media from a constructivist/constructive 
perspective

We welcome both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and analyses 
at process, product/text, and/or audience level.


All papers will be published (after the authors’ consent) in the 
electronic proceedings of the conference and we are planning to publish 
a selection of the papers in a volume and/or a special issue.
As there will be separate panel sessions for PhD students, junior 
researchers are warmly invited to participate.

The venue for the conference will be the Royal Flemish Academy of 
Belgium for Science and the Arts, Academy Palace – Hertogsstraat/ Rue 
Ducale 1 - 1000 Brussels, Belgium (next to the Royal Palace, in the 
heart of Brussels). (http://www.kvab.be/default.aspx?lang=en)

Conference fee (including pre-conference reception, lunch, coffee): € 
150 (regular participants), € 75 (PhD students).
Dinner will be organized on Friday 9 December and charged separately.


Please send a proposal of no more than 300 words (excluding selected 
references) together with your affiliation and a short biography (c. 100 
words) to (construjou /at/ vub.ac.be) by 30 June 2016. Decisions will be 
announced by 15 August.  Questions about any aspect of the conference 
should be addressed to (construjou /at/ vub.ac.be).

For updates on the practical organization, please check our website: 
http://www.vub.ac.be/en/events/2016/constructed-constructive-journalism.



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