[ecrea] CfP: ICA Preconference on "Media Performance & Democracy"

CALL FOR PAPERS

ICA Preconference: Media Performance & Democracy: Defining and Measuring
the Quality of News

Sponsored by the Political Communication Division

Time: June 9, 2016, 1.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.

Location: Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk (Conference hotel)

Deadline for submissions: January 20, 2016

There is a broad consensus that the quality of democracy depends on the
quality of the information communicated to the public by the media. But
opinion is divided on the nature of such quality and the criteria by
which it should be measured, including the question on which levels
quality should be measured (content, organizational characteristics,
financial commitment, media system structure, audience preferences), and
how the various levels interact. However, in times of accelerated
changes in media production, distribution and consumption, it seems to
be more important than ever to define reliable and valid measures of
“media performance” (as Denis McQuail has labeled the idea of media
quality in the public interest), to discuss how awareness of media
quality can be fostered in today’s society, and to reflect on the role
academics should play in this process, e.g. by implementing large-scale
projects on the democratic quality of news that aim to stimulate debate
not only in academia but also in public.

The preconference therefore aims to discuss topics like (but not limited
to)

* adjusting and defining news quality concepts in accordance with
changing notions of democracy and expectations of citizens,

* the relations between media structures, organizational standards,
newsroom investment and content characteristics,

* different quality demands for different news media and different
styles of journalism,

* and implementing quality criteria in editorial and educational practice.

The preconference would like to bring together researchers from
different backgrounds, including theoretically, methodologically, and
practically oriented researchers, both inside and outside academia, in
order to exchange innovative ideas for the further development of
research on media performance.

Abstracts of 500 words (without any identifying information) must be
uploaded to https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=mpd2016 (“MPD 2016”)
by January 20, 2016. All submissions will be blindly peer-reviewed and
acceptance notifications will be sent out on February 15, 2016.

The preconference is open both to presenters and non-presenters, but
authors of accepted abstracts are expected to attend the preconference
and present their work. Registration opens on January 15, 2016.
Participation fee (including coffee break) is $ 40 USD.

Contact: Josef Seethaler, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for
Comparative Media and Communication Studies ((josef.seethaler /at/ oeaw.ac.at)
<mailto:(josef.seethaler /at/ oeaw.ac.at)>); Linards Udris, University of
Zurich, Research Institute for the Public Sphere and Society
((linards.udris /at/ foeg.uzh.ch) <mailto:(linards.udris /at/ foeg.uzh.ch)>)

______________

Dr Josef Seethaler

Deputy Director

Institute for Comparative Media and Communication Studies (CMC)

Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna | University of Klagenfurt

Postgasse 7/4/1 | 1010 Wien | Austria

Phone +43-(0)1-51581-3110, 3116 | Mobile +43-(0)699-15345243 | Fax
+43-(0)1-51581-3120

www.oeaw.ac.at/cmc <http://www.oeaw.ac.at/cmc>



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