[ecrea] CfA: Lisbon Winter School_Theme: Media and Populism_January 2019

*/MEDIA AND POPULISM/**//*

*Lisbon, January 15-19, 2019*

https://ucpwinterschool.wixsite.com/ucp2019**

The* 1^st  Lisbon Winter School for the Study of Communication will take 
a comparative and global approach to the study of media and populism 
across time. *Jointly organized by the Faculty of Human Sciences 
(Catholic University of Portugal), the Annenberg School for 
Communication (University of Pennsylvania), the Faculty of Communication 
Sciences (University of Tampere), and the School of Journalism and 
Communication (Chinese University of Hong Kong), it aims to uncover what 
is familiar and distinctive about manifestations of populism around the 
globe.


*Call for Applications*

Populism is on the rise in different countries in the West and East, 
emerging anew in some countries, piggbybacking on existent power 
structures in others, increasing its representation in still others and 
unpredictably becoming a mainstream style of political communication in 
yet others. Even though populist movements have different 
characteristics, which vary according to the context in which they 
emerge, all share a style of mediated communication. Driven by a 
simplistic, black-and-white and polarizing discourse in which often a 
charismatic leader is presented as an embodiment of the people’s will 
against elites and established political and social institutions, 
populist discourse depends on the media to disseminate its sentiments, 
presenting its leaders as “of the people” and, simultaneously, the only 
ones capable of resolving existing problems and redeeming the nation 
(e.g. Müller 2016).

Marked by a specific style of communication between the leaders and the 
people that uses the media to create a shared community, populism is not 
only about the “emotional bond between populist players and significant 
segments of the population” (Block & Negrine, 2017: 183). Grass roots 
movements are used to cultivate anti-establishment sentiments and create 
a sense of proximity between populist leaders and their supporters. The 
media, however, are key because they connect and reconnect individuals 
to the patriotic, aggressive and emotional speeches used by populist actors.

In different historical periods the media have been used to disseminate 
hate speech against specific groups - the “others” – who are seen as the 
source of “our” problems. Written, visual, audio and audiovisual media 
have been instrumental in providing visibility to the “us versus them” 
discourse central to populist formations. The mechanisms for 
disseminating enmity have varied across time, though each is used to 
legitimize the need to protect the nation against those who are 
different. However, while classic populism was marked by the media’s 
manipulation, contemporary neo-populism is “suffused with populist 
media” that exist in a cultural environment “to which all politicians 
need to pay homage” (Waisbord 2003: 215). Scholars following this line 
of thought have associated the emergence of neo-populism with media 
rituals and practices that they believe allow populist discourses to 
become prevalent (Mazzoleni, 2003; Kramer, 2014). It is thus possible to 
argue that neo-populism is partially a product of how the media 
represent reality and that the media have transformed the coverage of 
politics into entertainment, focusing mostly on conflict and 
controversy, and giving more visibility to emotional discourses than to 
those discussing rational ideas.

Even though populist movements use the media to gain the attention of 
the public, their rise to power inevitably places journalists and other 
media practitioners in a vulnerable position. Just as authoritarian 
regimes consider journalism to be a simple extension of political power, 
populist governments tend to make the same assumption. They label the 
media as enemies of the people and journalists as “dishonest people”, 
thus challenging the liberal tradition of democracy that is grounded on 
freedom of speech and on the public scrutiny of those in office.

Drawing from this context, in which both right and left-wing populist 
movements make savvy use of the media while attacking its existence and 
practices, the 1^st *Lisbon Winter School for the Study of 
Communication***aims to discuss the role of the media in populist 
formations. How populists and media practitioners interact, how populism 
is represented in the media and how it uses media to connect with 
supporters and marginalize individuals voicing political discontent in 
different countries and across different time periods needs closer 
attention. The threat posed to freedom of information by populist 
movements is central here, but it is part of a larger information 
ecosystem that raises critical questions about the capacity of the media 
writ large – journalism, documentary, entertainment – to wrestle with 
issues and problems that trouble the core of populist appeal.


The *Winter School* invites proposals by doctoral students and post-docs 
that address, though may not be not be strictly limited to, the topics 
below:

·Interactions between populists and the media

·Populist strategies of media intimidation

·Representation of populist movements and actors in the media

·Digital media and populist grass roots movements

·Populist rhetoric and discourse

·Media practice and populism

·International circulation of populist ideals

·Hate speech and stereotypes

·Social media and populism

·Alternative facts

·Fake news

·Information under threat

·Satire and populism

·Impact of populism on citizenry

·….

The discussions will bring together scholars and graduate students from 
different geocultural locations, which will allow for the development of 
a transcultural perspective on these phenomena. Proposals focusing on 
western and non-western countries are welcomed.

*Confirmed Keynote Speakers/Lectures:*

Barbie Zelizer, Annenberg School for Communication, U Pennsylvania

Francis Lee, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Karin Wahl-Jorgensen, Cardiff University

Nelson Ribeiro, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Risto Kunelius, University of Tampere

Rolien Hoyng, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Sarah Banet-Weiser, Annenberg School for Communication, U Southern 
California

Silvio Waisbord, George Washington University

…

*Paper proposals*

Proposals should be sent to (winterschool /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(winterschool /at/ gmail.com)> no later than *July 15, 2018* and 
include paper title, abstract in English (300 words), name, e-mail 
address, institutional affiliation and a brief bio (max. 100 words) 
mentioning ongoing research.

Applicants will be informed of the result of their submissions by 
September 1, 2018.

*Full paper submission*

Presenters are required to send in full papers by November 30, 2018.

*Rules for presentation*

The organizing committee shall place presenters in small groups 
according to the research focus of their papers. Each present will have 
a maximum of 15 minutes for presentation in order to allow at least 15 
minutes for the discussion of each paper.

*Registration fees*

Participants with paper – 250€ for the entire week (includes lectures, 
master classes, doctoral sessions, lunches and closing dinner)

Participants without paper – €50 per session/day | 200€ for the entire 
week (lectures and master classes only)

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