*POLITICAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION: MEDIA AND POLITICS GROUP*
*ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2012*
*UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE, LUTON, UK *
*1-2 NOVEMBER 2012*
*CALL FOR PAPERS*
The Political Studies Association is the UK's leading association in
the study and research of politics. The Media & Politics Group is one
of the Political Studies Association's largest specialist groups.
The primary theme of this year's conference will be 'Media and/or
Democracy' - the often problematic relationship between new and
contemporary media forms and the policies, processes and principles of
democracy - at a time in which the media have been lauded by some for
the revitalization of democracy and held responsible by others for its
impending demise. The conference will take a broad approach to this
topic, and encourages papers which approach this subject from
different disciplinary, methodological and national perspectives, and
which examine the impacts of contemporary media (both new and
traditional forms) upon practices and concepts of democracy. It is the
intention of the conference organisers to invite selected papers from
the conference as contributions to an edited collection on this topic.
While the conference is primarily themed around the relationship
between contemporary media forms and democracy, the Media & Politics
Group operates an inclusive policy, and papers dealing with any aspect
of media and politics are welcomed. This may include areas of
political communication and journalism, but also includes a broader
view of the political within such areas as online media, television,
cinema and media arts, both factual and fictional. In addition to
academic research, the conference will also welcome practice-based
work related to the area of media and politics.
The conference welcomes contributions both from members and
non-members of the Political Studies Association and of the Media &
Politics Group.
*Abstract submission*
Proposals for 15 minute papers or research posters should include the
following: title and name, institutional affiliation and address, and
email address; together with, a paper title and abstract of not more
than 300 words. Proposers should also indicate whether or not they are
postgraduate students.
Proposals should be sent by Friday 8 June 2012 to Dr Alec Charles at
(alec.charles /at/ beds.ac.uk) <mailto:(alec.charles /at/ beds.ac.uk)>. All
abstracts will undergo peer review and decisions on papers will be
given within 3 weeks of the submission deadline.
Full papers submitted by postgraduate students will be entered into
the James Thomas Memorial Prize. This annual award is presented to the
most outstanding paper by a postgraduate student at the Media and
Politics Group Annual Conference.
More information about the conference can be found at:
http://bedspsa.org.uk/
Registration for the conference will cost £80 (standard rate) or £40
(student rate). Registration includes refreshments, lunches and the
conference dinner which will take place on the evening of 1 November.
More information about the Media & Politics Group can be found at:
http://psamediaandpoliticsgroup.wordpress.com/
