[ecrea] Preconference announcement & CfP: Reflections on Foreign Aid, Philanthropy and Change in Media Systems

*Preconference for the IAMCR, 15-16 July -- /Call for Papers and 
Expressions of Interest/*

*“Reflections on Foreign Aid, Philanthropy and Change in Media Systems”*

**

*Dates: 15-16 July 2017           Location: Cartagena, Colombia*

**

Please register and submit abstracts or statements of interest by May 
1^st 2017.

*Organizers:*

·*Paul Rothman and Nicholas Benequista, Center for International Media 
Assistance 
<https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiSu6343rXSAhXLB8AKHU7fDHIQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cima.ned.org%2F&usg=AFQjCNEVDf1ySrzqcaDIemO-mnvaibsVUw>, 
National Endowment for Democracy *

·*Chris Paterson and Jairo Lugo-Ocando, the Aid and Journalism Network 
Project <http://ajn.leeds.ac.uk>funded by the UK Arts and Humanities 
Research Council (AHRC) and the Department for International Development 
(DFID) with support from the University of Leeds *

·*Winston Mano and Susan Abbott, CAMRI, University of Westminster*

·*Anne Marie Hammer and Ricardo Corredor, Global Forum for Media 
Development*

*Overview: *

Media and Media Development are in flux. Digitalization, globalization, 
and a shift in paradigms and thinking related to democratization and 
democracy promotion have given rise to concerns and questions related to 
the value and purpose of media development programs and the influence of 
international aid on journalism. In addition, the environment for media 
development work has worsened under pressure from increasingly illiberal 
governments and a collapse of the traditional institutional and economic 
framework for independent media. To what extent has the diffusion of a 
particular model of journalism practice been central to the 
“modernisation” project in international development, and what 
alternatives to this approach are emerging?

This pre-conference will bring together academics and practitioners 
(donors, NGOs, and journalists) working on various aspects of foreign 
aid and philanthropy designed to support freedom of expression, access 
to information, and to contribute to improving journalism and 
information ecosystems. In collaboration with the AHRC/DFID funded 
research network “Aid and Journalism”, it will facilitate a conversation 
about the impact that foreign aid and development assistance has had in 
Latin America and Africa, and how this has affected the development of a 
critical and independent media sector.

The purpose of this pre-conference is to:

·Encourage the development of an international network of media 
development researchers.

·Foster collaboration, coordination, and networking between researchers 
– including applied researchers, practitioner researchers and academic 
researchers. Researchers from both social science and humanities 
traditions are welcome.

·Improve cross-cultural and historical understandings of the ideas and 
motivations that underpinned media development and international 
assistance targeted at journalism.

·Consider issues of how digitalization and technological developments 
have created the need to conceptualize media development.

·Problematize how a post-truth, post-fact era bears upon the world of 
media development and journalism

·Critically reflect on the issue of how to measure and assess the impact 
of media development and journalism assistance programs as well as to 
support the research and body of evidence that is being generated from 
both academics and practitioners.

In doing so, we hope that this pre-conference will contribute to 
scholarship that reflects today’s contexts, needs and realities in the 
field of media development. The pre-conference will consist of the 
sharing of papers, panel discussions, and a hackathon.  We welcome all 
who would like to take part in this pre-conference.  It is not required 
to submit a paper or speak on a panel to attend. There is no cost to 
take part in the pre-conference; however, we do ask that you register.

If you would like to present a paper or speak on a panel, we welcome 
contributions on the following topics:

·How has digital communications coupled with globalization presented 
both opportunities and challenges for media development?

·What is the goal of media assistance in a hyper-connected, digitally 
saturated world?

·What has been the role of development assistance in shaping 
journalistic approaches in Africa and Latin America, and what are the 
consequences?

·How has the prevalence of misinformation, hate speech, media bias, 
coupled with a world of citizen journalism and user generated content, 
impacted media development programs?

·What are the theoretical foundations and frameworks for the study of 
media development that are most relevant for the current context?

·How might we critically reassess the relationship between external 
influences on journalism and local cultures and practices of journalism?

·How can the media development community foster political change for 
more supportive environments for independent media?

·How do you measure media and journalism training programs that are 
rooted in online publications or social media platforms?

·Case studies from recent projects or programs that seek to contribute 
to development through a media or communications development lens.

If you have a paper or a panel idea on one of the above themes or if 
you’d like to suggest one that you think would be a good fit, we would 
love to hear from you.

*Hackathon on 16 July 2017 (half day): *

Following day one (July 15), we will have a half-day hackathon on topics 
and issues raised in this conference.  We will draw upon data sets, 
research, and real life programs of contemporary media development 
research.  We will also use this time to discuss and brainstorm in a 
creative and fun way how to improve partnerships, collaboration, and 
coordination between researchers, NGOs, donors, and the journalism and 
media communities.

Concurrently, members of the “Development Assistance and independent 
journalism in Africa and Latin America” research network will hold their 
second project meeting.  Details will be posted to ajn.leeds.ac.uk.

*If you do not wish to submit a paper to this pre-conference, we request 
that you submit a statement of interest that describes your research 
interests, relevant experience, and reason for participating in the 
pre-conference (500-word maximum).

**

*Cost: *There is no cost to attend this Pre-Conference.  All interested 
attendees are, however, required to register.   It is encouraged, but 
not required, to submit a paper.  We’ve outlined our ideas for what we 
are looking for in the call below.

**

*For further information on this Pre-Conference, to register, or to 
submit an abstract, please email: (MediaDevPrecon /at/ iamcr.org)*

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