[Commlist] Call for Abstracts - online symposium on Hallin and Mancini

“*Call for Abstracts: Online Symposium on Media, Politics, and Democracy 
in the Global South*

We are pleased to announce a call for abstracts / expression of interest 
for an online symposium to be held in June 2024, focusing on the 
intricate interplay between media, politics, and democracy in the Global 
South. Scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including but not 
limited to media and communication, African studies, Global South 
studies, and media and democracy, are invited to submit their original 
research abstracts of 300 words by May 22^nd 2024.

*Background:*

Hallin and Mancini's seminal work, "Comparing Media Systems: Three 
Models of Media and Politics" (2004), has provided a foundational 
framework for understanding the complex relationship between media and 
democracy. However, the landscape has evolved significantly since its 
inception, particularly in regions like the Global South. In South 
Africa, for example, a burgeoning democracy a mere decade ago, the 
dynamics between media, politics, and democracy have undergone profound 
transformations. Factors such as increased media diversity, the 
proliferation of digital platforms, and ongoing challenges to media 
freedom have reshaped the terrain.

The updated hybridisation model (Hallin et al., 2021) helps to 
understand media markets in terms of fragmentation but does not go far 
enough to explore and evaluate the influence of global and local 
politics in the media markets, particularly in the postcolony. 
Additional characteristics that affect the postcolony, particularly in 
the Global South and especially in Africa, should better outline ethics 
of media practice, the continued political interventions on journalistic 
integrity and professionalism, and the unique specifics of digital, 
language, and geographical access. Blanket models that are developed for 
and by Western theorists have a difficult application to Global South 
systems, even if some aspects fit with a squeeze.

The Hallin and Mancini (2004, 2012; Hallin et al., 2021) models are 
important and illuminating, but none fit exactly the media systems of 
postcolonial, Global South countries. The hybrid model is more 
appropriate and applicable, but even here the application is mixed. 
These models are a useful set of variables with which to understand how 
the media and political systems intertwine, but trying to ruthlessly 
force this system to fit into the blanket models would be best left for 
Procrustes, not communication theory. We suggest that it may be time to 
create a new, non-Western-centric typology of media markets that 
considers the intricate histories of postcolonialism, struggles of 
democracy, and a Fourth Industrial Revolution that steamrolls over some 
and yet simply leaves others behind.

*Theme:*

This symposium aims to critically revisit the applicability of Hallin 
and Mancini's Three Models theory in the context of the Global South, 
with a particular focus on postcolonial countries. We encourage 
submissions that engage with the following themes, or others:

1.            Critiques and Reassessments of the Three Models Theory in 
the Global South

2.            Comparative Analyses of Media Systems in the Global South

3.            Africanization and/or Hybridization of Media Models

4.            Postcolonial Trajectories of Media, Politics, and Democracy

5.            Digital Disruption and Media Dynamics in Emerging Democracies

6.            Development of new Media Models

*Submission Guidelines:*

We invite scholars to submit abstracts of no more than 300 words, along 
with a brief biography, by May 22nd 2024. Abstracts should clearly 
outline the research objectives, methodologies, and theoretical 
frameworks employed.

We expect the online symposium to develop into a Special Edition journal 
with Media and Communication in 2025. Accepted abstracts will then be 
developed into full papers by October 2024.

*Important Dates:*

Abstract Submission Deadline: May 22nd 2024

Notification of Acceptance: May 29th 2024

Symposium Dates: June 19th 2024

*Submission Instructions:*

Please submit your abstracts and biographies as a Word document to Dr 
Bernadine Jones at (b.l.jones /at/ stir.ac.uk) with the subject line: 
"Symposium Submission - [Your Last Name]". Authors will receive a 
confirmation email upon successful submission.

*Publication Opportunities:*

Selected papers presented at the symposium will be considered for a 
larger event in 2025 and subsequent publication in a special issue of 
Media and Communication, subject to peer review. No author payment is 
required.

*Contact Information:*

For inquiries and further information, please contact Symposium 
Organizers Dr Bernadine Jones ((b.l.jones /at/ stir.ac.uk)) and Prof Adrian 
Hadland ((a.hadland /at/ stir.ac.uk)).

We look forward to receiving your submissions and engaging in 
stimulating discussions on the evolving dynamics of media, politics, and 
democracy in the Global South.”

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