[Commlist] Call for chapters: Conjecture Journalism and Fake News

CALL FOR CHAPTERS
Conjecture Journalism and Fake News

Editors
Dr. James Aondowase. Ashiekpe Department of Mass Communication, 
University of Jos – Nigeria (jashiekpe /at/ gmail.com)
+2348032570218

Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu
Department of Mass Communication,
Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto - Nigeria (umarungwandu /at/ gmail.com)
+2348036437763

Today’s news media operate within an attention economy driven by a 
highbrid ecosystem wherein it is critical to capture the minds and 
emotions of audiences within a fraction of a second – a high-speed 
maneuver outpac- ing journalism of the past. Social media platforms have 
also become news content distribution channels with special challenges 
because these platforms have accepted little responsibility for the 
content itself.


Perhaps more difficult to discern within this new ecosystem - but no 
less problematic - is what has widely been labeled “fake news.” Fake 
news presents an emotionally resonant alternative to valid information, 
threatening audiences’ opportunity to become informed citizens and their 
participation in a functional democracy. A reli- able definition of 
“fake news” is difficult to formulate, and may even vary based on the 
individual audience member’s own ideological proclivities. Unlike the 
objective tone sought by most mainstream journalists, creators of fake 
news typically seek to strike an emotional chord that will spur 
audiences to react and to share the fake content.


The term “fake news” could refer to content produced with ethical 
intentions and distributed by reputable news organizations, but that 
inadvertently contains inaccurate information due to a simple error. The 
term could also refer to blatantly false, deliberately misleading, 
ideologically based content designed to manipulate audiences’ reactions 
and perspectives. There is a range of possibilities in between. To be 
sure, different kinds of news content may demonstrate varying degrees of 
accuracy/falsehood and ethical/manipulative intention, and diverse 
audience members may perceive these facets of content differently.


Fake news and its potentials to manipulate people’s emotional status has 
sparked a raging debate around the world regarding the concepts of 
information management, regulatory frameworks, the digital media space 
and aberration in journalism practice as well as associated issues of 
national security and right to freedom of information. The book intends 
to explore the diverse concerns and issues of conjecture and fake news 
within the framework of social, ethical, legal and economic framework of 
freedom of information as it affects nation- al security, public sanity 
and safety as well civil liberties and democratic practice with the 
following themes:
•	Framing Bias and Fake News
•	Freedom of Information, Free Speech and Fake News
•	Conjecture Journalism and National Security
•	Media Regulation, Censorship and Social Responsibility

•	Conjecture Journalism, Fake News and Journalism Integrity
•	Political Economy of Media Ownership and Conjecture Journalism
•	Public Relations and Speculative Journalism
•	Emotional Value Judgment and Fake News
•	Ethno-religious and Political undertones of Conjecture Journalism
•	Social and Legal Concerns of Misinformation and Fake News
•	Journalism Education, Media Literacy and Fake News
•	Political Narratives, Conjecture Journalism and Fake News
•	Social Media, Fake News and Misinformation
•	Legal Provisions and Limitations of Media Regulations
•	Media Rights, Fake News and Regulatory Frameworks
•	Fake News, Misinformation and Insecurity
•	Digital Platforms, Fake News and Public Service
•	Conjectures, speculations, Fake News and Misinformation
•	Fake News and Journalism Practice Aberrations


We invite chapter contributions that explore the issues in the outlined 
themes both at the micro and macro levels. The themes we have 
highlighted are by no means exhaustive; and we welcome any other 
contribution that provides theoretical and conceptual reflections on the 
issues and concerns of conjecture journalism and fake news.


Interested authors are to send in an abstract of not more than 350 words 
proposing their chapter contribution and theme or perspective of their 
contribution within the central theme of conjecture journalism and fake 
news. Authors of accepted abstracts will be issued 
contributor-guidelines and will be required to work within a specified 
time frame and submit their full chapters of not more than 8000 words 
for peer review.


The deadline for the 350-word abstract submissions is 20th December 2021.
(Along with the abstract, please add a short bio, including your name, 
affiliation and contact information).
The decision on the abstracts will be communicated by 20th January 2022 
and the full chapter submissions
(not more than 8000 words) will be expected by 20th April, 2022.
All submissions will go through a double-blind peer-review process.
The book is expected to be published at no cost to the contributors by 
July 2022.


Please submit your abstracts (with bios) or any questions you have to 
the editors:
<(bookproject /at/ gmail.com)>
<(jashiekpe /at/ gmail.com)>
<(umarungwandu /at/ gmail.com)>
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