[Commlist] CFP: Special Audio Journalism Issue of Sur le journalisme/About Journalism

This is a *Call for Papers* for a *Special Issue of the international 
Open access Journal '/Sur Le Journalisme/On Journalism/Sobre 
Jornalismo./*//*The theme//is Le Journalisme Sonore/Audio 
Journalism'.* This peer reviewed, international journal publishes in 
four languages and is open access. NB: No fees are asked of writers.

The Special Issue Editors**are Prof. Christophe Deleu, Université de 
Strasbourg, France (Cuej/laboratoire SAGE); and Dr Virginia Madsen, 
Macquarie University, Australia (School of Communication, Society & 
Culture).

Contributors should read the following below and submit directly to the 
platform. *Final deadline for completed manuscripts *(between 30 000 et 
50 000 characters, including notes at the bottom of the page and a 
Bibliography) is* March 15, 2026. *

Send to (slj /at/ ulb.be) or direct on the website: 
https://revue.surlejournalisme.com/slj/about/submissions 
<https://revue.surlejournalisme.com/slj/about/submissions> Please 
indicate in the Subject Line of your message that you wish to submit to 
this Special Issue. Articles can be written in English, French, 
Portuguese or Spanish. All articles will be double blind peer reviewed. 
More on this journal: https://revue.surlejournalisme.com/slj/index 
<https://revue.surlejournalisme.com/slj/index>

////

*Details of the Special Issue on Sound Journalism*
This issue aims to study the specificities of sound journalism, i.e., 
journalism utilising sound to convey news, current affairs and other 
topical media content. Audio journalism might be defined firstly by its 
connection with the radio medium, but since the beginning of the 2000s, 
it can just as easily be placed in the podcast sector. Here sound is 
also the primary milieu and medium. Less expected perhaps, we find audio 
journalism invited into other Domains – the live show (think for example 
of documentary theater or verbatim theater), museum exhibits or sound 
walks: what this tells us is that the wide field of audio journalism can 
be disseminated in multiple ways.

Even as radio is more than 100 years old, it is worth emphasizing how 
few studies there are that are dedicated to sound journalism. More 
generally, and comparatively within the larger field of media studies, 
radio remains under-examined. In France this is so despite over 20 years 
of work by the Grer (French Group of researchers focused on the study of 
radio) (Antoine, 2016). Is this because radio and podcasts address our 
ears, and the eye dominates – with some studies indicating 80% of our 
‘cerebral faculties’ are dedicated to processing the visual (Alibert, 
2008)? Yet, both in its appearance and evolution, and indeed in its near 
revolution if we include the impact of the podcast, an invitation awaits 
to revisit the characteristics of sound journalism. As is so often the 
case, technological innovations appear to have enabled initial and 
subsequent creation and development: for example, the ability to 
transmit sounds across distances, and to listen to them (in an 
increasingly individual and mobile way over the course of these combined 
inventions).

We offer three Themes or Axes for your consideration:

*Theme/Axis 1: Specificities of audio journalism*
What does the activity of informing through sound mean? How does the use 
of sound, in its broadest sense, influence the transmission of 
journalistic content? This axis is an invitation to interrogate the 
materiality of sound in journalism: voices, audio extracts, broadcast 
devices, but also the specificities of writing for sound, the rapport 
between writing and orality, presentation norms, production for 
storytelling and broadcasting. Contributions may reflect on formats and 
radiophonic sub-genres (news-styled programs, news bulletins and news 
flashes, reportage, on air scripts and commentaries, audio ‘feature 
packages’, audio postcards, audio diaries and chronicles, interviews, 
press reviews…) but also on programming formats and time-slotted shows 
such as ‘mornings’ or ‘drive’ and audio magazine shows. Particular 
attention could be focused on the audio information and production 
chain: how does the sound reach the transmitters? Who is responsible ? 
What skills are involved ? The work of journalists and career pathways, 
whether on the air or behind the scenes, may be explored. Finally, the 
technical contexts and conditions for production may be another area of 
exploration: from the analogue period to the digital, passing through 
mobile editing, what technological evolutions have transformed working 
practices? What might be the consequences of compression or of the 
recent portability of audiofiles on the quality or nature of the news 
and content being produced? More generally, what has changed with the 
digital, in the production of audio journalism? (Deleu, 2012)

*Axis/Theme 2: The political dimension of audio journalism*
Long before the rise of the Internet, radio enabled the real-time 
dissemination of information across the world, playing a central role in 
the circulation of news and in citizens’ access to information. However, 
this accessibility has always been conditioned by existing political 
regimes, which may authorize or restrict freedom of expression on the 
airwaves. This axis invites contributions that explore the tensions 
between audio journalism and political power through historical case 
studies (such as May 1968 or the free radio movement in France), 
postcolonial contexts (strategies of information control deployed by 
colonial states), or contemporary configurations — including current 
forms of censorship or state influence, as well as the development of 
populist radio stations seeking to shape democratic processes (Mort, 
2024). Contributions may also focus on investigative audio journalism by 
examining the place of inquiry within this field, as well as the 
editorial formats and production conditions that enable radio outlets to 
uncover and disseminate original information (for example, Secrets 
d’info on France Inter). Other contributions may explore the social and 
political functions of audio journalism across national or local 
contexts, including its role in fostering community cohesion, delivering 
service-oriented information (Neveu, 2019), and contributing to the 
structuring of the media landscape (McDonald & Starkey, 2017). Finally, 
this axis also invites close attention to issues of gender, diversity, 
and discrimination. To what extent do women's voices remain stigmatized? 
What forms of inequality persist in access to airtime and to positions 
of responsibility? Through analyses of discourse, training trajectories, 
or professional practices, contributions are encouraged to examine the 
power relations that structure the field of audio news production.

*Axis/Theme 3: New forms of narrative in sound journalism*
This axis of inquiry concerns the emergence and diversification of 
narrative formats in audio journalism, from the radiophonic documentary 
to news and other informational podcasts. From the early days of radio, 
longer forms such as radio magazine shows, ‘features’, fiction and 
documentaries evolved to complement live news, but remained in the 
minority except for some public service broadcasting (PSB) channels. The 
rise of podcasts from the 2000s built on those longer form programs 
already a characteristic of PSB outlets around the world, to revitalize 
further journalistic and other storytelling genres and forms (Madsen, 
2010; 2025), for example by re-introducing serial nonfiction formats, 
also making possible more personal, often introspective or immersive 
narratives (Madsen, 2013; 2018/2023). In the USA as France, the UK and 
Australia, successful radio media formats (like This American Life, 
Serial, The Daily, L’Heure du Monde, Code Source) and independent 
studios (Binge Audio, Novel, Louie Media, Gimlet, Nouvelles Écoutes, 
Arte Radio, Radiotopia, Inside Podcast and so many more) multiplied the 
proposals we have now available for listening. Genres and forms mixed 
and innovated as podcasting also attracted talented producers and 
storytellers who created compelling investigative series (Transfert, 
Cerno, Shame on You), from true crime exposés to challenging the courts 
and overturning some cases (Serial, In the Dark). Stories come in many 
forms, traditional journalistic formats with commentary, interviews (La 
Poudre, The Rest is Politics) to those of a more literary or speculative 
bent (S-Town, Radiolab, Love+Radio). Others offer alternative approaches 
or mix forms (Programme B, Les couilles sur la table, Un podcast à soi, 
Arkan’s 2025 Sweet Little Human; the Australian ABC series, No Feeling 
is Final). We anticipate contributions that examine the narrative, 
professional and economic specificities of these formats. Podcasts 
favour a more free and personal writing, marked by the “I”, often of a 
strong journalistic character, with a supple approach to duration and 
often serialization. Borrowing sometimes from fiction or at the level of 
storytelling, podcasts are giving rise to new debates around the 
spectacularisation of news and information.

Proposals can also explore still unstable economic models of podcasts 
(subscriptions, crowdfunding, acquisitions, closures like that of 
BoxSons and impacts on public service media models). These new forms 
invite us to think about the podcast as not only a new platform, but as 
a fully-fledged editorial space, bringing about reconfigurations of 
audio journalism.

*Submission Instructions:*
*Final deadline* for completed manuscripts (between 30 000 and 50 000 
characters, including notes at the bottom of the page and a 
Bibliography) is *March 15, 2026.* Send to slj@(ulb.beslj /at/ ulb.be) or 
direct on the website: 
https://revue.surlejournalisme.com/slj/about/submissions. Please 
indicate in the Subject Line of your message that you wish to submit to 
this Special Issue. Articles can be written in English, French, 
Portuguese or Spanish. All articles will be double blind peer reviewed.

These details are also found: 
https://revue.surlejournalisme.com/slj/libraryFiles/downloadPublic/23 
<https://revue.surlejournalisme.com/slj/libraryFiles/downloadPublic/23>

*Bibliography*
Abel, J. (2015). /Out on the wire. The storytelling secrets of the new 
masters on radio/. Broadway books.
Alibert, J.-L. (2008). /Le son de l’image/. PUG.
Antoine, F. (2016) (dir.). /Analyser la radio. Méthodes et mises en 
pratique/. De Boeck Supérieur.
Barnabé, R. (1989) (en collaboration, sous la direction de). /Guide de 
la rédaction. Les nouvelles radio et l’écriture radiophonique/. Éditions 
Saint-Martin.
Biewen, J., & Dilworth, A. (2017), /Reality Radio. Telling true stories 
in sound/. 2nd Edition.  University of North Carolina Press Chapell Hill.
Cappucio, A. (2024). /Les voix de la précarité. Impacts des conditions 
de travail sur les identités, les rôles et les pratiques 
professionnelles des journalistes « précaires » de Radio France/. [Thèse 
de doctorat en sciences de l’information et de la communication, 
Université Aix-Marseille].
Chardon, J.-M., & Samain, O. (1995). /Le journaliste de radio/. Économica.
Cuoq, J., & Gauriat, L. (2016). /Journaliste radio. Une voix, un micro, 
une écriture/. PUG.
Deleu, C. (2025 à paraître). /The/ /Daily/ ou la mise en voix du travail 
journalistique... /in/ Di Sciullo, F. & al. (Éds.). /Les podcasts 
natifs. Essor et incertitudes d’un nouveau média/, Paris. Éditions 
Panthéon-Assas.
Deleu, C. (2013). /Le documentaire radiophonique/. Ina Éditions/L’Harmattan.
Deleu, C. (2012). Extention du monde radiophonique et développement des 
nouveaux formats,/ in/ Glevarec, H. /Histoire de la radio. Ouvrez grand 
vos oreilles/. Silvana Editoriale. 81-87.
Glevarec, H. (2001). /France Culture à l’œuvre. Dynamique des 
professions et mise en forme radiophonique/. CNRS Éditions.
Dowling, D. (2024). /The podcast journalism. The promise and perils/. 
Columbia University Press.
Dujardin. F. (2025). Écrire avec les voix des autres : pratiques, 
poétiques, et politiques du documentaire sonore.  [thèse de doctorat en 
sciences de l’information et de la communication, Université Aix-Marseille].
Karpf, A. (2008), /La voix. Un univers invisible/. Éditions Autrement.
Larue-Langlois, J. (1989). /Manuel de journalisme radio-télé/. Éditions 
Saint-Martin.
Lesaunier, M.-É. (2023). Les podcasts natifs d’information en France : 
méthodologie pour un recensement de l’offre, /Les Enjeux de 
l'information et de la communication/, n° 23/6, 29-51.
Lindgren, M. (2016). Personal Narrative Journalism and Podcasting. 
/Radio Journal International Studies in Broadcast and Audio Media/, 14 
(1), 23-41. https://doi.org/10.1386/rjao.14.1.23_1 
<https://doi.org/10.1386/rjao.14.1.23_1>
Madsen, V. and J. Potts. (2010). Voice-cast: The Distribution of the 
Voice via Podcasting. /The Grain of the Voice in Digital Media and Media 
Art/, edited by N. Neumark, R. Gibson and T. Van Leeuwen, 33-60. 
Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press
Madsen, V. (2013) ‘Your Ears are a Portal to Another World’: The New 
Radio Documentary Imagination and the Digital Domain. /Radio's New Wave: 
Global Sound in the Digital Era /edited by J. Loviglio and M. Hilmes, 
126-144. London; New York: Routledge.
Madsen, V. (2018). Transnational Encounters and Peregrinations of the 
Radio Documentary Imagination. /Transnationalizing Radio Research: New 
Approaches to an Old Medium/, edited by G. Föllmer and A. Badenoch, 
83-100. Bielefeld, Germany: Transcript Verlag. DOI: 
10.14361/9783839439135-008
Madsen, V. 2023. ‘Seus ouvidos são um portal para outro mundo’: a nova 
imaginação documental do rádio e o domínio digital./Novos Olhares,  
Revista de Estudos Sobre Práticas de Recepção a Produtos Midiáticos /12 
(2): 12-25. 
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2238-7714.no.2023.219918
Madsen, Virginia;. 2025. American Radio Art and the Documentary 
Imagination: Breakaway and Castaway Emissions from Broadcast to Podcast. 
In /Listen Up: Radio Art in the USA/, edited by R. Beyer and A. 
Thurmann-Jajes, 211-245. Bielefeld, Germany: Transcript Verlag.
Martin, M. (2006). L’année où la radio s’impose dans le grand reportage 
de crise. /Cahiers d’Histoire de la radiodiffusion/, 89, 59-68.
Martin, M. (2005). Paquebot « Normandie », Abid Adeba : Les premiers 
reportages radiophoniques au long cours. /Cahiers d’Histoire de la 
radiodiffusion/, 84, 103-111.
Martin, M. (2004). La presse et le premier reportage radiophonique du 
Tour de France. /Cahiers d’Histoire de la radiodiffusion/, 80, 168.177.
Martin, V. (2014). /Journalisme radio. La pratique au quotidien/. CFPJ  
Éditions.
Mccracken, E. (ed.) (2017). /The Serial Podcast and Storytelling in the 
Digital Age/. Routledge.
MC Donald, K., & Starkley, G. (2017). Évolution du journalisme 
radiophonique local : une étude de cas au Royaume-Uni. /RadioMorphoses/, 2.
Mc Luhan, M. (1964). /Understanding Media./ McGraw-Hill Book Compagny.
Méadel, C. (1994). /Histoire de la radio des années trente/, Anthropos/Ina.
Mercier, A., & Di Sciullo, F., & Lesaunier, M.-É (2022). L’irrésistible 
essor des podcasts d’information, /The Conversation/, 10 novembre 2022.
Mort, S. (2024). /Ondes de choc/. Éditions de l’Université de Bruxelles.
Neveu, E. (2019). /Sociologie du journalisme/. Éditions La découverte.
Payette, D., & Assogba, H. (2023), /Le journalisme audio/. JFD  Éditions.
Payette, D. & Brunelle, A.-M. (2007). /Le journalisme radiophonique/. 
Presses universitaires de Montréal.
Perrotta, M. (dir.) (2025). /Podcast in the Future of Journalism. 
Exploring Form and Format of Audio Storytelling in Digital News Media/. 
Romatre-Press.

Waldmann, E. (2025). /Le podcast comme objet littéraire/.//[Thèse de 
doctorat en langues et cultures des sociétés anglophones, Université 
Paris Cité].

Further enquiries (English language submissions), contact Virginia 
Madsen: (virginia.madsen /at/ mq.edu.au)


---------------
The COMMLIST
---------------
This mailing list is a free service offered by Nico Carpentier. Please use it responsibly and wisely.
--
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit http://commlist.org/
--
Before sending a posting request, please always read the guidelines at http://commlist.org/
--
To contact the mailing list manager:
Email: (nico.carpentier /at/ commlist.org)
URL: http://nicocarpentier.net
---------------