Archive for 2023

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[Commlist] CfP - Journalism: "Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Academic Work on Journalistic Practice"

Wed Jul 26 16:12:52 GMT 2023





Call for Papers *Special Issue for Journalism: Theory, practice and criticism*
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*Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Academic Work on Journalistic Practice *

Guest Editors:

Anna Schjøtt Hansen, University of Amsterdam
Tomás Dodds, Leiden University
Claudia Mellado, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
Nadja Schaetz, University of Hamburg

Academic work and journalistic practices share a strong interconnection. Media organizations, on the one hand, depend heavily on educational institutions for educating and training prospective industry professionals and researching emerging trends and transformations in the media landscape. On the other hand, academics rely on news organizations to grant them access to valuable empirical data, which enables them to conduct their research effectively.

The relationship between academics and media professionals can be both complicated and conflictual due to the different cultural norms and objectives of the two fields. However, when successful, it can be highly rewarding for both parties. Tensions can emerge in varying ways. Scholars have pointed out how critical findings regarding media practices are often dismissed and lead to minimal impact on their daily practices. Equally, media professionals criticize scholars for being extractive in their data collection practices rather than collaborative or disconnected from the practices on the floor. Another tension can arise due to emerging ethical questions relating to the research. This can be especially problematic when academic work risks deepening pre-existing inequities and/or fails to protect disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

With an aim to address this gap, this special issue focuses on exploring the relationship between academia and journalism. Our goal is to showcase how academic research could impact and shape the professional field of journalism in a fruitful way and also highlight concrete methodologies for collaborations. We welcome submissions that cover different theoretical, methodological, and empirical topics and formats to provide a thorough understanding of this critical relationship and how to improve it in the future. With this aim in mind, we also encourage media professionals who work in this intersection to submit for this special issue, as it will be imperative to hear from the industry how they envision this relationship.

The special issue aims to bring together innovative, thought-provoking contributions from different national and regional contexts, exploring a range of topics, including, but not limited to: How can academic research better connect and dialogue with the current needs of professional journalism? (This could also include examples of how attempts at such connections have failed). How could academic research enhance journalistic reporting? (e.g., How can scholarly research contribute to uncovering complex journalistic stories, including exposing corruption and holding power accountable? How does academic research influence or assist in the journalistic coverage of scientific topics?) How are journalistic organizations appropriating or dialoguing with academic research? What could new models of data collection look like (e.g., combining interviews with other scholars or shared workshops)? How can universities and other educational institutions successfully collaborate with journalistic organizations? What are the limitations for possible collaborations between academia and journalism, including biases, conflicts of interest, and the accessibility of academic research for journalists? How does the dissemination of academic research in journalism impact public understanding? How can ethical challenges of journalism research be addressed and negative or harmful impacts be minimized? How can scholars adequately envision the impact of academic work on journalistic practice in grant proposals?


*Information about submission*

This is a call for extended abstracts (500-800 words) accompanied by a 100-150-word bio. Abstracts should be sent no later than September 4, 2023, to *(bridgingtheimpact /at/ proton.me)*.

Upon selection, scholars will be invited to submit full papers. We welcome two types of submissions. The first is case studies and methodological papers that highlight concrete challenges, best practices, or methodologies for collaborations and should be between 3,000 and 5,000 words, including references. The second is research articles that can be both empirical and conceptual. These should be no more than 8,000 words in length, including references. In your abstract, please state which of the formats you will provide.

All submissions are subject to full blind peer-review, in accordance with the peer-review procedure of Journalism. Manuscripts will be submitted through the journal’s ScholarOne website. Authors must indicate their wish to have their manuscript considered for this Special Issue. *No payment from the authors will be required*.

*Timeline*
September 4, 2023 – Deadline for abstract submission
September 18, 2023 – Notification to authors
January 18, 2024 – Deadline for submission of full papers
January 25, 2024 – Selected papers sent to full peer-review
March 7, 2024 – Decisions and revisions on papers
April 18, 2024 – Final version of each paper submitted by the authors

*Guest editors*
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*Anna Schjøtt Hansen*

Anna Schjøtt Hansen is a PhD Candidate in the Media Studies department at the University of Amsterdam. Anna has a background as a technological anthropologist, and during her master’s degree in Denmark, she became interested in the use and design of AI in the media sector – and particularly how qualitative decisions around AI are made during the processes of designing AI systems for media and the implications of these decisions.

*Tomás Dodds*

Tomás Dodds is an Assistant Professor in Journalism and New Media at Leiden University and a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. He is also a researcher in the AI, Media & Democracy Lab in the Netherlands and the Artificial Intelligence and Society Hub [IA+SIC] in Chile.

*Claudia Mellado*

Claudia Mellado is Professor of Journalism in the School of Journalism at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. Her research focuses on the study of journalism cultures, journalistic role performance, and comparative studies. She is the principal investigator of the cross-national study “Journalistic Role Performance” (JRP) Project.

*Nadja Schaetz*

Nadja Schaetz is a doctoral candidate and research associate at Universität Hamburg, where she does research on journalism under datafication, with a focus on communicative dimensions of inequality. She is particularly interested in the social and political implications of datafication and AI.


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