[ecrea] Call for Submissions - Gender, media freedom and access to information

Call for Submissions
Gender and Media Diversity Journal Issue 10
Gender, media freedom and access to information

Please contact GMDC Manager Saeanna Chingamuka for detailed guidelines
(gmdcmanager /at/ genderlinks.org.za) <mailto:gmdcmanager%40genderlinks.org.za>

The Gender and Media Diversity Centre (GMDC) seeks proposals for
contributions to its tenth journal that will enhance the development and
sharing of knowledge, best practices and debate around media diversity, as
well as promote probing, analytical and contextual journalism. The Gender
and Media Diversity Journal (GMDJ) is the biennial journal of the GMDC, a
physical and virtual resource centre based in Southern Africa, managed by
Gender Links with linkages in Africa and across the globe.

The tenth edition of the GMDJ will focus on the topic of "Gender, media
freedom and access to information." The theme is mainly informed by the 2011
Windhoek +20 celebrations of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting
Independent and Pluralistic Media that was adopted in 1991 to improve media
freedom in Africa. The May 2011 celebrations acknowledged the significance
of the declaration in improving media freedom in Africa. Media activists are
now turning their attention to another freedom of expression issue, access
to information.

Issue ten will explore various aspects of media freedom and access to
information. These include:
. How can gender be integrated into freedom of expression discourse
. The laws that are in place to enhance media freedom and access to
information
. what research has been done to bring to measure the gender disparities in
media content as well as access to information
. what interventions have been made to ensure that the media is accessible
to both women and men
. how can gender be mainstreamed in media and journalism training's media
law module and media freedom concepts
. can ICTs enhance access to information and provide an alternative platform
for women to be heard .
It will also raise some complex questions around gender, climate change and
media. As with all editions of the GMDJ, contributors are encouraged to
explore the gender and diversity dimensions of media freedom and access to
information.

Contributions are sought in the following broad categories, but are not
limited to:

. What's New - briefs on new research, initiatives in training and
education, policy initiatives, and IT developments relevant to gender, media
and diversity, and activism. (500 words each)
. Media watch - review of media programmes from a gender and diversity
perspective, reports on recent monitoring projects by gender and media
networks (750 words each)
. Talk back - opinion (750 words) and letters (250 words).
. Submissions relating to the theme for this issue (see below).

In focus Topic
Overview and in-depth articles are between 3000-3500 words including
references.

Deadlines:
Submission of abstract: 27 July
Deadline for submission of commissioned articles: 16 August
Deadline for revisions: 22 August