[Commlist] CfP for ICA Preconference 2021 on "Media Performance & Social Inclusion"

Call for Papers

ICA Preconference 2021: Media Performance & Social Inclusion

Sponsored by the Journalism Studies Division & the Political 
Communication Division

May 27, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST

Virtual conference (platform: Cadmore – same platform as used for the 
ICA main conference)

During the Covid pandemic it has become extremely clear that public 
communication may do both: contribute to the inclusion of people in a 
diverse society or amplifies the disintegration of society into groups 
serving particular interests. The preconference therefore aims at 
intensifying the discussion on media performance, initiated by two ICA 
preconferences in 2016 and 2017, but considering the main theme of ICA 
2021, it will focus on how media should act to support the inclusion of 
people in a diverse democratic society, and how media actually act.

Especially in times of crisis, when community is particularly important, 
but also beyond crises, media should promote tolerant and respectful 
coexistence of people instead of conveying "illiberal" notions of 
democracy which undermine basic democratic values. Given the different 
social contexts, cultural practices, media ecosystems and media use 
behaviors, which can be observed around the globe and even within one 
country, the preconference aims at discussing which factors and which 
media types enhance rather than limit the inclusive nature and quality 
of media content. Special focus is given on the relation between 
normative principles, which themselves are rooted in different 
conceptions and models of democracy, and the practices to which they 
correspond. Moreover, the complexity and hybridity of media ecosystems 
should be taken into account by discussing legacy media, social media, 
alternative media, and other types of media in their interplay when 
contributing more or less to social inclusion.

It is a particular concern of the preconference to bring together 
researchers from different backgrounds, including theoretically, 
methodologically, and practically oriented researchers, in order to 
exchange innovative ideas on the role of the media in promoting social 
inclusion. As a first step to achieving this, the preconference program 
will include input speeches by

* Nouha Belaid, Academic Program Manager of School of Communication at 
the Central University of Tunis and a co-founder of the Arab Journalism 
Observatory,

* Aeron Davis, Emeritus Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London, 
Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies (MCCS) (requested),

* Philip M. Napoli, James R. Shepley Professor of Public Policy at Duke 
University and a Faculty Affiliate with the DeWitt Wallace Center for 
Media & Democracy,

* Natalie J. Stroud, Professor of Communication Studies and Journalism 
at The University of Texas at Austin and the founding and current 
Director of the Center for Media Engagement in the Moody College of 
Communication.

Special emphasis is laid on

(1) contributions from countries around the world, particularly from 
countries or areas that have been insufficiently represented in the 
international literature until now;

(2) studies dealing not only with "legacy media" but also with all kinds 
of social and "alternative" media and their role in the overall media 
environment, and especially the interplay of these media types;

(3) concepts that focus on the relations between the various levels 
where quality can and should be measured (policy and regulatory 
frameworks, media system structures, newsroom investment, organizational 
standards, journalists' role perceptions, content characteristics, and 
user preferences);

(4) and reflections and practical examples why scholars should seek, or 
not seek, to "intervene" in public debate with their research findings 
supporting good practice in professional and civic journalism.

*** Important dates ***

January 13, 2021: Opening of online registration (along with the main 
conference; no special registration fee to attend the preconference)

January 25, 2021: Deadline for abstracts (500 words; without any 
identifying information, please upload to Easychair “ICA21-MPSI”: Log in 
to EasyChair for ICA21-MPSI 
<https://easychair.org/account/signin?l=03u0OXdSo5UhnJVKQXGkX2>)

February 12, 2021: Notification letters

May 5, 2021: Registration closes

May 13, 2021: Discussion paper due (5-10 pages)

*** Information ***

ICA announcement regarding the #ICA21 Conference: 2021 Virtual 
Announcement (ymaws.com) 
<https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.icahdq.org/resource/resmgr/conference/2021/ica21_virtualannouncement.pdf>

Preconference website: 
http://www.foeg.uzh.ch/de/forschung/Events/ICA-Preconference-27.5.2021.html 
<http://www.foeg.uzh.ch/de/forschung/Events/ICA-Preconference-27.5.2021.html>

The organizers can be contacted by e-mail and will be happy to answer 
any questions related to the preconference:

- Josef Seethaler, Austrian Academy of Sciences & University of 
Klagenfurt, 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 Center for the Public 
Sphere and Society ((linards.udris /at/ foeg.uzh.ch) 
<mailto:(linards.udris /at/ foeg.uzh.ch)>)

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