[Commlist] call for participants: World Summer School “Communication, Information Integrity, Social Justice and Democracy”

Call for participants for the:

World Summer School “Communication, Information Integrity, Social 
Justice and Democracy”

 1) Definition

The World Summer School “Communication, Information Integrity, Social 
Justice and Democracy” is a three-day academic online event to be held 
from 21 to 23 October 2026. The official language of the activities is 
English.

Designed as a virtual initiative, the Summer School is aligned with the 
IAMCR Conference 2026 theme and will combine remote panels and 
roundtables, enabling broad international participation and fostering 
dialogue among senior scholars, early-career researchers, and master’s 
and doctoral students from diverse geographical, institutional, and 
epistemic contexts.

The proposal is grounded in the theoretical and normative framework of 
the IAMCR Working Group on Communication, Justice and Democracy (CJD), 
addressing communication as a central arena in struggles over 
information integrity, democratic governance, and social justice.

The activities involved people from the WG and also from the Latin 
American Association of Communication Researchers (ALAIC) and other 
entities indicated below.

In a global context shaped by platformization, algorithmic power, data 
extraction, media education, political polarization, and persistent 
inequalities in visibility and participation, the event seeks to examine 
how communication systems both reproduce and challenge power asymmetries.

The activities include debates on “peripheries and connections” through 
analytical and political lenses, rather than as fixed geographical 
categories. Peripheries are understood as relational positions shaped by 
history, political economy, race, gender, language, colonial legacies, 
institutional marginalization, and unequal access to communicative 
resources. At the same time, the concept of connections highlights 
transnational circulations of narratives, regulatory models, 
technological infrastructures, and resistance practices.

The event invites participants to reflect on how peripheral perspectives 
contribute to alternative understandings of democracy, justice, and 
information integrity, while also examining the tensions and 
possibilities created through global interconnections.It seeks to foster 
a critical dialogue on how knowledge produced from the margins can 
challenge dominant frameworks, illuminate overlooked experiences, and 
propose new conceptual and methodological approaches to addressing 
contemporary social, political, and communicative challenges.

Special emphasis will be placed on information integrity as a 
multidimensional concept encompassing disinformation and misinformation, 
platform governance, digital rights, media regulation, and media and 
information literacy. From this perspective, information integrity is 
not limited to the verification of facts, but also involves the social, 
technological, institutional, and cultural conditions that shape the 
production, circulation, and reception of public information. The event 
will therefore encourage participants to examine how unequal access to 
reliable information, algorithmic visibility, political polarization, 
and regulatory asymmetries affect democratic participation and public 
debate. It will also invite reflection on the role of education, civic 
engagement, and cross-regional cooperation in strengthening more 
inclusive, transparent, and accountable information environments.

Drawing on comparative and interdisciplinary approaches, the World 
Summer School aims to explore how information integrity is negotiated 
across different political, cultural, and regulatory environments, 
including, but not limited to, the Global South and European contexts. 
This focus resonates with ongoing international efforts to address 
disinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression and democratic 
participation.

The academic program will consist of thematic panels, paper sessions, 
and dialogical roundtables, in the format of a “summer school”, 
encouraging both empirical and theoretical contributions.

This summer school format presupposes student-centredness, multi-voiced 
feedback, and a sustained effort towards dialogue and respect for 
diverse perspectives and opinions, without diminishing the need for 
academic rigor and critical thinking.

In the first hours of each day, panels will feature academics who will 
give presentations and discuss topics directly or indirectly related to 
the research conducted by master's and doctoral students.

After a 2-hour break, students will present their research projects and 
receive constructive feedback from peers, senior researchers, and 
invited academics. This format will allow participants to refine their 
theoretical frameworks, methodological strategies, and research 
questions, while also learning from the diverse academic traditions and 
regional experiences represented in the event. The program will 
encourage horizontal exchange, collaborative discussion, and the 
development of academic networks among master’s and doctoral students. 
Cultural and social activities will also be promoted as part of the 
learning experience, fostering dialogue, integration, and long-term 
cooperation among participants.

Proposed themes include: information disorders and democratic 
resilience; communication rights and social justice; platform regulation 
and accountability; media, extremism, and polarization; community, 
alternative, and public service media; digital citizen participation and 
depolarization; journalism and media education, decolonial, feminist, 
and Global South epistemologies; and the role of media education in 
strengthening democratic cultures.

Dedicated sessions for graduate students and early-career researchers 
will promote mentorship, feedback, and academic exchange. These spaces 
will offer participants the opportunity to present their ongoing or 
recently completed research, receive constructive comments from peers 
and senior scholars, and strengthen the theoretical, methodological, and 
communicative dimensions of their work. They will also help participants 
identify publication strategies, explore future research collaborations, 
and build academic networks beyond their home institutions. For recent 
graduates, the program will provide a valuable transition space between 
formal academic training and the development of a more autonomous 
research agenda.

As a consequence of universities´network, the initiative seeks to 
consolidate North–South and South–South dialogues, strengthen 
international research networks, and contribute substantively to the 
IAMCR CJD Working Group’s mission.

Ultimately, the Summer School aims to position communication scholarship 
as a key field for advancing social justice, democratic values, and 
information integrity in an increasingly unequal and interconnected 
world. It also aspires to strengthen collaborative networks among 
master’s and doctoral students, encouraging them to develop research 
that is not only theoretically rigorous but also socially relevant and 
attentive to the voices, experiences, and struggles of diverse communities.

2) Estimated number of participants: 60 PhD or Master’s students

3) Date and time: From 21 to 23 October 2026, being:

a)	From 5 am to 8 am and from 10 am to 1 pm, CST (Central Standard Time) 
– UTC-6, the time zone used in countries such as Mexico and Costa Rica;

b)	From 8 am to 11 am and from 1 pm to 4 pm (BRT), defined as UTC-3, the 
time zone used in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil;

c)	From midday to 3 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm, UTC, the time zone used in 
countries such as the United Kingdom and Portugal;

d)	From 1 pm to 4 pm and from 6 pm to 9 pm, UTC+1, the time zone used in 
countries such as South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Spain and Germany;

e)	From 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm and from 9.30 pm to 12.30 am, (IST) defined 
as UTC + 5:30, the time zone used in countries such as India and Sri Lanka;

f)	From 7 pm to 10 pm and from midnight to 3 am (CST – China Standard 
Time), which is UTC+8, the time zone used in countries such as China, 
the Philippines and Singapore;

g)	From 8 pm to 11 pm and from 1 am to 4 am, UTC+09:00, used in 
countries such as Korea and Japan;

h)	From 10 pm to 1 am and from 3 am to 6 am, defined as AWST; summer 
time, UTC+11:00, the time zone used in countries such as Australia.

If you have any queries regarding the timetable, we recommend checking 
the World Summer School website (www.alaic.org) and/or contacting the 
Organising Committee. Unfortunately, it is not possible to offer the 
course during working hours in all countries.

 4) Costs

For this inaugural edition of the World Summer School, registration and 
participation are free of charge.

 5) Schedule

 Registration for interested postgraduate students: From 18 May to 12 
June, following this Call and form available at:

 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Eny_JYTmcKxIkM_SRAyo3N_R-fL4EhnKogEmev97PMU

 Evaluation and selection of participants: From 15 June to 7 July

 Announcement of selected participants: 10 July

 World Summer School, online, from 21 to 23 October 2026, times above

 6) Selection criteria and certificate

Those interested in participating in the World Summer School should 
submit their personal details and information about their current 
postgraduate research via the link: 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Eny_JYTmcKxIkM_SRAyo3N_R-fL4EhnKogEmev97PMU

Below are the selection criteria for choosing participants. Each 
criterion is worth between one and ten points, with a maximum total of 
50 points. The Organising Committee’s decision is final and cannot be 
appealed:

 a) Research Problem (1–10 points)
 Present the problem addressed by your research and conclude the text 
by explicitly stating the research question that guides your 
investigation (maximum 500 words).

 b) Theoretical Framework (1–10 points)

 Describe the main theoretical foundations that support your research 
(maximum 500 words)

 c) Methodology (1–10 points)
 Describe the methodology used in your research. Please explain the 
methods, data collection techniques, data analysis procedures, 
participant groups and/or the corpus to be analyzed (maximum 500 words).

d)	Preliminary Results (1–10 points)
Describe the preliminary results of your research, if available (maximum 
500 words).

e)	Interest and Expectations Regarding Participation (1–10 points)
Explain why you are interested in participating in the World Summer 
School and describe your expectations regarding participation in the 
program.

The participants will only receive a participation certificate if I 
submit a paper that follows the Organizing Committee’s guidelines, 
attend the working groups online, and submit a participation report.

 7) Initiatives involved

a)	Organisers
IAMCR Communication, Social Justice and Democracy Working Group, Latin 
American Association of Communication Researchers (ALAIC), University of 
Brasilia, Sao Paulo State University (Unesp), and Federal University of 
Santa Catarina (Brazil).

b)	Supporters
CIESPAL, ECREA, AMIC, World Journalism Education Council (WJEC), 
SOCICOM, Intercom, Iberoamerican Organization of Public Defenders (OID. 
Capes (Brazil), Latin American Federation of Faculties of Social 
Communication (FELAFACS) and DAAD (Germany).

 8) Organizing and Scientific Committee and/or Instructors

Vaia Doudaki
Associate Professor at Charles University. Her work is driven by social 
constructionist approaches, focussing on the study of representations, 
discursive practices, and the social construction of identities and 
social phenomena, in media and communication. Her fields of study 
include: democracy, participation and communication; media, conflict and 
crisis; justice and communication; environmental communication; theory 
and practice of news-making and journalism.

Tanius Karam
Professor at the Autonomous University of Mexico City, México, 
specialized in media ethics, journalism education, and discourse 
analysis. His research addresses freedom of expression, media 
responsibility, and communication theory in Latin America. He has 
contributed to regional debates on journalism training and democratic 
communication.

Tania Rosas-Moreno
Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Loyola University Maryland, 
USA. Her research focuses on global journalism, media history, and Latin 
American media systems. She examines transnational media flows, 
representation, and press freedom.

Sivaldo Pereira
Professor at the University of Brasília (UnB), Brazil. His research 
focuses on digital communication, internet governance, data politics, 
and platform regulation. He works on issues related to disinformation, 
digital rights, and democratic accountability.

Santiago Gómez Mejía
Colombian scholar serving as Executive Secretary of FELAFACS. His work 
focuses on communication studies, digital strategies, and higher 
education innovation. He has designed graduate-level programs on 
artificial intelligence in education and digital political 
communication, promoting ethical communication, democratic values, and 
regional cooperation in Latin America.

Rafael González Pardo
President of the Latin American Federation of Social Communication 
Faculties (FELAFACS). His career integrates university governance, 
international academic cooperation, communication studies, and strategic 
institutional development across Latin America, especially in areas 
concerning the future of communication education in the digital age and 
epistemologies of communication.

Nico Carpentier
Extraordinary Professor in the Institute of Communication Studies and 
Journalism at Charles University and Visiting Professor at Tallinn 
University. His research focuses on media and democracy, participation, 
discourse theory, conflict studies, and community media, also using 
arts-based research. He is widely known for his contributions to 
participatory communication studies and critical media theory.

Milena Marra
Journalist, filmmaker, and researcher whose work focuses on audiovisual 
communication, documentary practices, and human rights. Her research and 
creative projects address memory, social justice, and the role of media 
in amplifying marginalized voices. She is engaged in academic and 
cultural initiatives that connect communication, art, and democratic 
participation.

Maximiliano Peret
Communication scholar specializing in digital media, journalism, and 
innovation. His research addresses new journalistic practices, 
technological transformations, and the relationship between 
communication and democracy. He collaborates in international research 
networks on media and digital governance.

Marta Rizo García
Research Professor at the Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México. 
She conducts

research on epistemology and communication theories, intersubjective 
communication, and the relationship between gender, communication, and 
emotions. Since 2018, she has served as Vice-Coordinator of the ALAIC 
Working Group on Theory and Methodology of Communication Research.

Mariana Ferreira Lopes
Professor at the University of Brasília, researcher in digital 
communication, journalism, and platform studies. Her work explores 
disinformation, algorithmic governance, and the impacts of digital 
technologies on democratic processes. She contributes to 
interdisciplinary projects on information integrity and media literacy.

Marcos Urupá
Communication scholar and activist working on diversity, inclusion, and 
media democratization. His research and professional activities focus on 
communication rights, social participation, and the representation of 
marginalized groups in media and public policies. He is actively engaged 
in national and international networks promoting equity in communication.

Luisa Ochoa
Professor of Communication at the Universidad de Costa Rica, 
specializing in journalism studies, media systems, communication policy, 
and gender studies in Latin America. Her research examines media 
governance, press freedom, gender representation, and the relationship 
between journalism and democratic institutions. She actively 
collaborates in regional and international academic networks focused on 
communication rights, gender equality, and journalism education.

Liziane Guazina
Professor at the University of Brasília (UnB), Brazil, specializing in 
political communication and journalism studies. Her research focuses on 
media and politics, election coverage, gender and representation, and 
the relationship between journalism and democracy. She has contributed 
extensively to debates on media systems and democratic accountability in 
Brazil and Latin America.

Lena Garbovtzky
Researcher in media and communication with expertise in journalism, 
gender, and political communication. Her work examines representation, 
media discourses, and the intersections between communication, power, 
and social inequalities. She has participated in comparative and 
international research projects.

Laura Martínez Águila
Researcher and professor specializing in journalism, communication 
policy, and freedom of expression. Her work explores media regulation, 
digital governance, and the role of journalism education in democratic 
societies. She participates in international networks dedicated to media 
reform, press freedom, and communication rights in Latin America and beyond.

Juliano Domingues da Silva
Professor of Communication and President of Intercom (Brazilian Society 
of Interdisciplinary Studies in Communication). His research focuses on 
media regulation, digital platforms, competition policy, and the 
political economy of communication in Brazil. He has also contributed to 
public debates and regulatory processes related to digital markets and 
media systems.

Jonas Valente
Researcher at the Laboratory of Communication Policies (UnB), he worked 
as a postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, 
University of Oxford, United Kingdom, and holds a PhD in Sociology from 
the University of Brasília.

Jairo Faria
PhD in Communication, researcher at the Community Communication Project 
(University of Brasília) and at the OUTROCAMPO Project (University of 
Tocantins). He was a postdoctoral researcher at the Erich Brost 
Institute (TU Dortmund). He currently pursues a Teaching Degree in 
Theatre at University of Tocantins (UFT).

Janara Nicoletti
Postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Siegen and a 
research fellow at the Erich Brost Institute for International 
Journalism (TU Dortmund). Her research addresses work precarity, 
journalists’ safety, and gender-based violence, particularly in Brazil 
and Latin America.

Jair Vega Casanova
Professor of Communication at Uninorte, Colombia, researcher in 
communication, citizenship, and social change in Latin America. His work 
explores community communication, participatory media, and communication 
for development. He has led international projects on media, democracy, 
and civic engagement.

Gabriel Kaplún
Uruguayan communication scholar, MSc in Education and PhD in Latin 
American Cultural Studies. Professor at the University of the Republic, 
where he currently coordinates the Laboratory of Participation and 
Technologies (ParticipaLab). He was President of ALAIC (Latin American 
Association of Communication Researchers).

Fernando Oliveira Paulino
Professor at the University of Brasília; coordinator of the 
Communication Policies Lab; president of the Latin American Association 
of Communication Research; and Co-Chair of the “Communication, Social 
Justice and Democracy Working Group.”

Eliseo Colón
Professor of Communication at the University of Puerto Rico and a 
leading scholar in cultural and media studies. His research focuses on 
media, globalization, popular culture, and the political economy of 
communication in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has published 
widely on communication theory, digital culture, and the transformations 
of contemporary media systems.

Diogo Lopes de Oliveira
Professor at the Federal University of Campina Grande, scholar in 
Communication and Journalism Studies, with research focused on media 
regulation, journalism education, and democratic governance. His work 
examines freedom of expression, public communication policies, and the 
institutional frameworks shaping journalism in contemporary societies. 
He collaborates in international academic networks dedicated to media 
freedom and communication rights.

Deqiang Ji
Professor of International Communication at the Communication University 
of China. He is the Deputy Dean of the Institute for a Community with 
Shared Future and a Research Fellow of the State Key Laboratory of Media 
Convergence and Communication at CUC. He was a visiting researcher at 
Simon Fraser University (2010–2011) and City University of Hong Kong (2009).

Danilo Rothberg
Professor at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil. His work 
focuses primarily on the sociology of communication, journalism theory 
and ethics, public communication, communication and politics, health 
communication, and the popularization of science.

Daniela Monje
Professor at the National University of Cordoba, Argentina, researcher 
in communication, media policies, and digital governance. Her research 
examines media regulation, information integrity, and the impact of 
digital platforms on democracy in Latin America.
She collaborates with regional and international academic networks on 
communication policy.

Cristina Gobbi
Professor of Communication at the State University of São Paulo and a 
leading scholar in Latin American communication studies. Her research 
focuses on media, education, and scientific communication, with strong 
engagement in international academic cooperation. She has held 
leadership roles in regional and global communication associations.

Claudia Lago
Professor at the University of São Paulo, where she teaches and 
researches journalism, communication, and diversity. Her academic work 
focuses on media representation, gender, race, intercultural 
communication, and epistemological perspectives in communication 
studies. She is widely recognized for her contributions to critical 
media studies and for promoting inclusive and socially engaged 
approaches to journalism and communication research in Brazil.
Claudia Lago has also participated in national and international 
academic networks dedicated to communication, democracy, and social justice.

César Bolaño
Professor of Communication and Political Economy of Communication at the 
Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Brazil. A leading scholar in 
critical media studies, his research

focuses on media industries, digital capitalism, and cultural production 
in Latin America. He is widely recognized for his contributions to the 
political economy of communication and for his leadership in 
international academic networks.

Camila Sánchez Delgado
Communication researcher focusing on journalism, media literacy, and 
digital cultures. Her work explores the role of communication in 
promoting democratic participation and social inclusion. She is involved 
in academic and civic initiatives on information integrity and 
communication rights.

Anderson Santos
Professor at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Brazil, and 
President of SOCICOM (Brazilian Federation of Scientific and Academic 
Communication Associations). His research focuses on communication, 
citizenship, public policies, and the social role of media. He is 
actively engaged in strengthening academic cooperation and promoting 
diversity and inclusion in communication studies

 9) Short description

Communication, Information Integrity, Social Justice and Democracy

This event will take place online from October 21 to 23, 2026. Its 
primary objective is to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration 
among senior scholars, early-career researchers, and master’s and 
doctoral students representing a range of geographical, institutional, 
and epistemic backgrounds. In addition to panel discussions and 
individual presentations, the event will offer interactive workshops and 
networking opportunities designed to encourage knowledge exchange and 
interdisciplinary engagement.

Grounded in the theoretical and normative framework of the IAMCR Working 
Group on Communication, Justice and Democracy (CJD), the event 
approaches communication as a central arena in contemporary struggles 
over information integrity, democratic governance, and social justice. 
In a global landscape shaped by platformization, algorithmic power, data 
extraction, political polarization, and persistent inequalities in voice 
and visibility, the Post-Conference seeks to critically examine how 
communication systems simultaneously reproduce and contest power 
asymmetries.

The concept of “peripheries and connections” is mobilized as an 
analytical lens rather than a fixed geographical distinction. 
Peripheries are understood as relational positions shaped by historical, 
political, economic, and cultural inequalities, while connections 
emphasize transnational circulations of narratives, regulatory 
frameworks, technologies, and resistance practices.

With a strong focus on information integrity, the program will address 
disinformation, platform governance, digital rights, media regulation, 
and journalism and media education through comparative and 
interdisciplinary perspectives. Organized in a summer school–style 
format, the event will include thematic panels, paper sessions, and 
roundtable discussions to strengthen international research networks and 
advance communication scholarship committed to democracy and social justice.

 10) Contact

If you have any questions, please email: (contactoalaic /at/ gmail.com), 
copying the message to: (paulino /at/ unb.br) and (fopaulino /at/ gmail.com)


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