[ecrea] CFP African women in the media

From Dr Yemisi Akinbobola

I have had a number of enquiries about the focus of the upcoming 
symposium "African women in the media", and if submissions should come 
from African women only.

I am happy to clarify that we welcome submissions from anyone, and we 
now welcome submissions focused on African women in the media_ anywhere 
in the world_ (i.e. not just the UK), both in terms of inclusion and 
diversity within media industries, and the representation of African 
women in media content.

In view of this, we have *extended the submission deadline to 12 June 2017.*

*
*
*/African women in the media/*
*A Women’s Network Event Funded by MeCCSA Women's Media Studies Network*
*and*
*Birmingham Centre for Media and Culture Research (BCMCR),*
*Birmingham City University*
*Proposals are invited for a one-day symposium at Birmingham City 
University,*
*on Thursday 27**^th ** July 2017*
The symposium aims to bring together academics in the field of media and 
communications concerned with perspectives like media, diaspora, race, 
gender, and representation, with African women working in the media. The 
objectives are to engage in debates on issues affecting African women in 
the media, provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas between 
academia and industry, and opportunities for networking. The central 
questions the symposium will seek to answer are:

  * What challenges do African women working in the media face?
  * How are these challenges being addressed? How might they be?

The symposium is timely in the rise of right-wing populist politics, 
particularly in relation to debates around the representation of race 
and immigration in the news.
Several studies have demonstrated a lack of gender equality and 
diversity in the journalism industry in the UK. The IWMF’s Global Report 
of the Status of Women in News Media (2011:13) found that although 
female journalists made up 45% of the UK’s news media industry, “women 
face a glass ceiling that seems fixed at the junior professional level”. 
A 2016 report by City University London also found that only 0.2% of 
journalists in the UK are black.
Ethnic, diaspora and transnational media can and are helping to address 
issues around the alienation of ethnic groups in the mainstream media 
(Georgiou, 2004; Cottle, 2005; Cohen, 2008). However, the representation 
of women is still limited.
Therefore, we welcome scholarly papers, and practice contributions and 
screenings. Perspectives may include, but are not limited to:

  * News, gender and power
  * Intersectionality
  * Diaspora
  * Representation
  * Race and ethnicity
  * African feminism
  * Gender politics and production practices
  * Equality and diversity in the media
  * Identity
  * Transnational and ethnic media
  * Media Entrepreneurship
  * Fame

.
The long-term aim is to establish a permanent, action orientated, 
supportive, and, empowering network that bridges academia and industry. 
Click here <https://www.facebook.com/groups/Africanwomeninthemedia/> to 
join the African Women in the Media closed Facebook group.
*Keynote speaker:*
I am delighted to confirm Minna Salami as our Keynote Speaker. Minna 
Salami is the founder of MsAfropolitan <http://www.msafropolitan.com/>, 
a journalist, writer and speaker on African, Diaspora and feminist issues.
*Channel 4 taking pitches:*
Head of News and Current Affairs, Dorothy Byrne 
<http://www.channel4.com/info/commissioning/4producers/news> will be 
attending the symposium to take pitches for programme and news story ideas.

*Confirmed industry panelists:*

  * Muna Ahmed: BBC, and National Prison Radio
  * Yousra Elbagir: Freelance journalist (BBC Africa, CNN, Guardian,
    Huffington Post)
  * Kiri Kankhwende: Media Diversified
  * Dr Pauline Long: BEFFTA founder
  * Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi: Centre for Human Rights in Practice,
    University of Warwick

*PhD Bursaries:*
We will be offering a small number of travel bursaries for PhD students 
(up to a maximum of £50). If you would like to be considered for the 
bursary, please let us know.
Please send abstracts of 150 words including a short bio by *Monday 12 
June 2017* to:
Dr Yemisi Akinbobola ((yemisi.akinbobola /at/ bcu.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(yemisi.akinbobola /at/ bcu.ac.uk)>)


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