[Commlist] Call for papers: The safety of journalists in times of infodemics

The research group MEKK at Oslo Metropolitan University

**

Call for papers: *The safety of journalists in times of infodemics*, 
*Oslo 2 and 3 November 2021*

**

The term ‘infodemics’ had its breakthrough in 2020. The term – a 
combination of information and pandemics – describes a rapid and 
important spread of both factual and false information in a situation 
marked by uncertainty, also for those who are expected to disseminate 
information about the pandemic. In some countries journalists are being 
deprived of the right to report on the pandemic and experience increased 
risk associated with covering the governments’ social and economic 
policies. Several organizations working with the safety of journalists, 
such as Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) have repeatedly documented in 
2020 attacks and direct violence against journalists covering Covid-19. 
This includes both coverage of the actual situation at a given time, as 
well as for instance coverage of demonstrations against strict Covid 
measures.

Desinformation, so-called fake news and conspiracy theories were central 
topics in the public debate already before the arrival of the pandemic. 
Over the last year, the world has indeed experienced how dangerous it 
may get when there is a lack of safety in journalists’ work environment 
while disinformation and conspiracies about infection, actions and 
consequences flourish. The pandemic brought excellent conditions for 
disinformation and conspiracy theories to grow. They can contribute to 
weakening confidence in the media and can in some cases be increasing 
hostility towards journalists.

RSF’s survey for 2020 shows that as the number of journalists killed in 
war situations decreases, increasingly more journalists (2/3 of those 
who lost their lives) are killed in countries not at “war”, and more and 
more often while investigating sensitive issues. Those behind the 
attacks on journalists and free media are rarely prosecuted and we know 
little about who they are.

One of the conference tracks will be dedicated to gaining more 
information and knowledge about those behind threats against 
journalists, with an emphasis on times of pandemics and crises  We are 
particularly interested in studies of cases where journalists have 
joined forces to complete investigations started by journalists being 
harassed or even assassinated, aiming to keep stories alive, refusing to 
surrender to censorship. The conference will emphasize that protecting 
journalists and media workers, in addition to physical security, also is 
about their financial and legal security.

The purpose of the conference is to produce knowledge about measures 
that can improve the situation for journalists and journalism. This can 
be linked both to what journalists can do to protect themselves, both 
individually and in groups, and to collective and structural measures to 
protect journalists to end impunity for violence against them. The 
conference is also open for papers on more general safety issues for 
journalists and media workers.

We call for papers on topics such as (but not limited to)

  * Consequences of infodemics on the safety of journalists
  * Risks to journalists caused by false information
  * Digital security
  * Education and safety of journalists
  * The safety of journalists in authoritarian “democracies”
  * Effects of campaigns and other actions to improve the safety of
    journalists
  * Teaching safety in journalism education
  * Killing the journalist won’t kill the story – studies on
    collaborations in to protect journalism
  * Safety measures, both individually and collectively

We encourage studies with gender perspectives.

Paper presentations:

If you want to participate with a paper, an abstract of maximum 250 
words and a short bio focusing on possible earlier experience with 
research/practice in the field of safety of journalists/digital safety 
should be uploaded to https://nettskjema.no/a/201737 
<https://nettskjema.no/a/201737> before August 15, 2021. Please include 
your full name, institutional affiliation, and email. There is no 
registration fee and the participants are expected to cover their own 
costs for travel and accommodation.

A limited number of scholarships to cover flight and/or accommodation is 
available for Ph.D. students and researchers from low-income countries. 
Applications for scholarships should be submitted with the abstract 
together with a short CV.

The best papers will be considered for a forthcoming peer reviewed 
publication. Questions should be directed to 
(safetyofjournalists /at/ oslomet.no) <mailto:(safetyofjournalists /at/ oslomet.no)>

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