[ecrea] ICA Pre-conference: Media and Governance in Latin America

CALL FOR PAPERS

We are very pleased to announce that the call for papers for the 
official ICA Preconference MediaandGovernancein Latin America *is now open*.

*ICA Pre-Conference Media and Governance in Latin America: **Towards a 
Plurality of Voices*

24 May 2018 (Prague, Czech Republic)

68^th Annual International Conference Association (ICA)

*Description:*

The purpose of this pre-conference is to promote an intellectual 
exchange on the way the media interact with social, political, symbolic 
and technological changes in Latin America. More precisely, this 
preconference will analyze the role of the media in enabling the 
expression of a plurality of voices in the region. This ability is 
conditioned by existing communicational and structural legacies; by 
naturalized interactions between social political actors and 
institutions; by media policies and journalistic routines, as well as by 
the impact of digital and technological developments. We welcome 
submissions that explore innovative theoretical and methodological 
approaches to the role of the media in promoting pluralism.

The conference will explore the relationship between media and 
governance from a range of fields in social sciences and humanities, 
such as journalism studies, political communication, global 
communication, digital media, LGBT studies, political science, of 
discourse analysis, among others. We are interested in presentations 
that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• *Theories and Methods: *To which extent can comparative studies 
reinvigorate academic debates beyond the region? How can scholars build 
stronger theoretical and methodological tools for overcoming the “case 
study” fixation? What are the similarities and differences between the 
study of media and governance in Latin America and in the Global South? 
How can Latin American scholarship contribute to de-westernize media 
studies?

• *Media Systems, Pluralism, and Good Governance: *Are current media 
systems in the region fostering or hindering the expression of a 
plurality of voices? What is the relationship between media, governance 
and the promotion of a plural debate? How are the news media interacting 
with the state, the private sector, civil society and the public for the 
promotion of a plural debate? What is the role of the media in 
overcoming pervasive phenomena that hinder good governance, such as 
censorship, clientelism, populism, or the concentration of media ownership?

• *Media and Political Representation: *What journalistic practices and 
organizational dynamics favor the inclusion of a plurality of voices in 
Latin America? How are the news media addressing topics that affect good 
governance in the region, such as violence, inequality, or corruption? 
To which extent are digital communication platforms incorporating 
previously marginalized themes (such as racial, gender and class-based 
inequality) and actors (indigenous communities, women, LGBT minorities)? 
Whose voices are more visible when it comes to fostering more inclusive 
media policies?

• *Communication for Social Change: *What impact are agents of change, 
such as civil society groups, having in the media visibility of a range 
of voices and issues? How are online and offline digital platforms being 
used for giving voice and empowering previously marginalized 
communities? What is the impact of digital technologies and Internet 
access on social inequality, and how is the informational gap being 
addressed in the region?

*Goals:*

The main purpose of this pre-conference is to promote an intellectual 
debate on the role of the news media in the promotion of good governance 
in Latin America. By bringing together senior scholars and young 
researchers, this initiative seeks to provide a space of exchange about 
the theoretical and methodological relevance of current debates. This 
pre-conference aims to address academic debates in the field of global 
media, media and development, and the de-westernization of media 
studies. We are sure that it will provide a forum of exchange for 
scholars from all over the world, and will provide them the opportunity 
to discuss theoretical and methodological approaches, country-based case 
studies, comparative projects and academic collaborations in a 
multi-disciplinary setting.

*Keynote Speakers:*

*Silvio Waisbord *(George Washington University, United States).

*Rafael Obregón *(Communication for Development Section, UNICEF, United 
States).

*Florencia Enghel *(Stockholm University, Sweden).

*Martín Becerra *(Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina).

*Submission Process and attendance:*

The abstracts (350 words max) should be emailed to 
*(conference.mediagovla /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(conference.mediagovla /at/ gmail.com)> *by *January 30th*, 2018. 
Authors will be informed of acceptance/rejection decisions no later than 
February 10th, 2018. Accepted abstracts will be posted to the 
preconference website in advance. Authors are expected to attend the 
preconference and present in person.

Full papers of accepted abstracts that the author(s) wishes to be 
considered for publication should be submitted by 30th April, 2018 at: 
*(conference.mediagovla /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(conference.mediagovla /at/ gmail.com)>*. Paper submission details will 
be provided at a later date. Following the preconference, selected 
papers will be invited to contribute to a peer-reviewed thematically 
arranged volume to be submitted to an international publisher.

Please direct questions on submissions or any aspect of the preconference to

*(conference.mediagovla /at/ gmail.com) <mailto:(conference.mediagovla /at/ gmail.com)>*

For more information, please visit the official website:

*https://conferences.leeds.ac.uk/mgla2018 
<https://conferences.leeds.ac.uk/mgla2018/>*

*Special note: *

The cycle of conferences ‘Media and Governance in Latin America’ was 
created in 2014. The three editions of 'Media and Governance' have 
brought together over one hundred researchers in digital media, citizen 
media, investigative journalism and democratization. The conference has 
built a strong network of debate and has led to meaningful research 
collaborations. Furthermore, it has enhanced the role of British 
universities as a meeting ground for academics based in Europe and the 
Americas.

*Organizers:*

Ximena Orchard (Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile).

Sara Garcia Santamaría (University of Sheffield, United Kingdom).

J.A. Brambila (University of Leeds, United Kingdom).

Jairo Lugo-Ocando (University of Leeds, United Kingdom).

*Institutional allies:*

School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

Departamento de Periodismo, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile

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