[ecrea] Call for papers Journal of Information, Technology & Politics Special issue Online Campaigning

*Call for papers Journal of Information, Technology & Politics*

*Special issue*

*Online Campaigning and Election Outcomes in a European perspective*

Guest Editorial Committee; Karolina Koc-Michalska (Audiencia School of 
Management/CEVIPOF SciencePo Paris), Darren G. Lilleker (Bournemouth 
University), Ralph Negrine (Sheffield University), Thierry Vedel 
(CEVIPOF SciencesPo Paris), Rachel Gibson (Manchester University), 
Sylvie Strudel (Paris II-Pantheon Assas)

The field of political communication is burgeoning with works exploring 
the way in which digital technologies are employed and impact upon the 
implementation of election campaigns. Studies have shown the increase of 
use of websites, weblog tools, email, social media by political 
campaigns, as well as the use of similar platforms by citizens to 
communicate about elections and political issues more generally. 
Therefore it is indisputable that a lot of acts of political 
participation occur online and political parties, in particular during 
elections, seek to exploit the affordances of digital technologies to 
harness supporters and garner support. The question is to what effect?

Isolating any communication medium from others is complex and 
challenging, especially when attempting to isolate the effects of a 
medium on the attitudes and behaviours of an audience. Experimental 
research has developed understandings of the role that mass media, in 
particular Graber’s work on television, plays in exposing audiences to 
political ideas as well as influencing voter choices. Similarly work by 
Shah, Gil de Zuniga and others has also given insights into the power of 
websites, weblogs and social media for increasing engagement in 
politics, heightening the propensity to seek information and take part 
in a range of acts of political participation. Therefore, arguably, 
political science has laid the groundwork for understanding that media 
can impact on voter choices and that such impacts can be measured.

This special edition invites papers which add theoretically and 
empirically to academic understanding of what roles digital 
communication has on attitudes and behaviours within the context of 
elections in Europe (national, regional or European Parliament). We are 
especially interested to what extent theoretical and empirical work 
developed in a US context may be confirmed in countries with differing 
political systems, cultures and historical backgrounds.

Papers may focus on the following or similar questions:

- Can relationships be found between the visibility afforded parties or 
candidates by having a presence across digital platforms and vote share?;

- Can relationships be found between parties or candidates’ usage of 
digital platforms (for example the type of content posted or the levels 
of interactivity offered) and vote share?;

- In what ways does accidental exposure to party or candidate 
communication online impact upon the receivers’ levels of political 
engagement, propensity to seek information, participate in political 
acts or vote?;

- Does becoming part of an online community created by a party or 
candidate lead to increased levels of activism and how does party usage 
of digital platforms correspond to levels of supporter activism?

Papers can be based on experimental methodological designs as well as 
using tried and tested methodologies, and can be based upon qualitative 
or quantitative data. However research presented should be clearly 
underpinned with a strong theoretical framework and offer empirical 
evidence of there being a strong, weak or non-effect.

Proposed schedules:

General call for papers deadline: 10th July 2016

End- July: decision on a desk rejection

End September 2016: start revise and resubmit session

Karolina Koc-Michalska

Assistant Professor Communication School at Audencia Business School, France

Associated Researcher, CEVIPOF, Sciences-Po Paris

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