[Commlist] CFP: Political Studies Association, Media & Politics Group Annual Conference

*Political Studies Association Media and Politics Group Annual Conference*

**

*Centre for Research on Communities and Cultures*

*School of Creative Arts and Industries*

*Canterbury Christ Church University*

**

*15-16 December 2021*

*Location: Online***

**

*Conference Theme: ‘Standing Together? Communities, Media and Politics’ *

**

*Keynote Speakers:*

*Professor Karin Wahl-Jorgensen (Cardiff University)*

*Professor Claire Wallace (University of Aberdeen)*

Whether it denotes a city ‘standing together’ against terrorism, people 
reacting to racist acts, residents of a neighbourhood organising support 
mechanisms in the context of the pandemic, migrants setting up a new 
life away from their home countries, or protest groups attempting to 
effect some social change, the term ‘community’ has become a fitting 
notion to describe these and many other (literal or symbolic) gatherings 
of people.

A community can be defined by many characteristics, such as its context, 
its purpose or its identity. However, regardless of their particular 
features, communities are underpinned by one element that defines them 
and the social relations that exist within and around them: the 
community’s relations to power. Despite the traditional views of 
community as places of harmony and solidarity, tensions and disputes are 
rife within any social group, while individualism, self-interests, 
poverty, violence and fear remain a reality. Wherever there are social 
relations and interdependencies, there are also power imbalances that 
contribute to the emergence of divisions within the social fabric.

One of the social resources on which power is based is the privileged 
access to political discourse and communication. Despite the burgeoning 
literature that has examined the possibilities that social media provide 
for communities to challenge the trends imposed by mainstream media, 
there is a pervading need to uncover the complex and often subtle ways 
in which hegemonic power relations are discursively produced, and to 
examine the social, cultural or political wrongs that they sustain.

This conference will facilitate a space for thinking critically about 
the concept of communities and how it is used in political discourse and 
political communication in the digital and (post)pandemic context. 
Topics may include, but are not limited to:

  * Political discourses about and by communities
  * Communities in political communication
  * News and journalistic practices
  * Communities and the pandemic
  * Marginalised communities
  * Communities of protest and resistance
  * Online communities
  * Migrant communities and (post)colonial discourse
  * Communities and the past (heritage, memory, socio-political legacies)
  * Community, discourse and context
  * Community representation and self-representation
  * How specific communities use and create media
  * Post-truth, discourse and community
  * Social media and communities
  * Hybrid media systems and communities
  *

While the main theme of this conference is Communities, the *Media and 
Politics Group operates an open and inclusive policy, and papers dealing 
with any aspect of media and politics are welcomed*. This may include 
areas of political communication and journalism, but also includes a 
broader view of the political within such areas as online media, 
television, cinema and media arts, both factual and fictional. In 
addition to academic research, the conference will also welcome 
practice-based work in art, film and performance related to the area of 
media and politics.

*Deadlines and submission process:*

  * *Tuesday, 14 September 2021*: Deadline for abstract submission.
    Please send abstract proposals for 15-minute papers to
    (ruth.sanz-sabido /at/ canterbury.ac.uk)
    <mailto:(ruth.sanz-sabido /at/ canterbury.ac.uk)>. These should include the
    following: title and name, institutional affiliation and address,
    and email address, together with a paper title and abstract of no
    more than 250 words. Proposers should also indicate whether they are
    current postgraduate students.
  * Friday, 1 October 2021: Paper proposers notified of decision by
    conference committee. Conference registration opens. Details of
    online registration to follow: £20 conference registration fee for
    both PSA members and non-members; £10 for students/ precariously
    employed.
  * Monday, 8 November 2021: Deadline for presenters to register.
  * Friday, 12 November 2021: Draft programme released.
  * Wednesday, 15-16 December 2021: Conference dates.
  *

*About the PSA, conference prizes and financial support*

The Political Studies Association is the UK’s leading association in the 
study and research of politics. The Media & Politics Group 
<https://www.psa.ac.uk/psa-communities/specialist-groups/media-and-politics>is 
one of the Political Studies Association’s larger specialist groups.

The MPG is a welcoming and inclusive group. The conference welcomes 
contributions from both members and non-members of the Political Studies 
Association and of the Media & Politics Group.

/James Thomas Memorial Prize /

Full papers of a maximum of 2000 words submitted by postgraduate 
students will be entered into the James Thomas Memorial Prize. This 
annual award is presented to the most outstanding paper by a 
postgraduate student at the Media & Politics Group Annual 
Conference.Postgraduate students wishing to be considered for the prize 
should please note this in their submission. Please send full papers to 
Emily Harmer: (e.harmer /at/ liverpool.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(e.harmer /at/ liverpool.ac.uk)>by 1^st December 2021.

The Media & Politics Group has some funds to support postgraduate 
student participation in this event. Postgraduate students interested in 
applying for a conference fee waiver should please note this in their 
submission.

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