[Commlist] Call for Papers: From International News Flows to Platformization of Journalism. ICA preconference

*Call for Papers: *

*From International News Flows to Platformization of Journalism: Global 
News Diversity in Perspective*

Hosted by Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris &University of Leeds

*Date and Location*: Thursday 26 May, 2022 at La Maison de la Recherche 
of Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (4, rue des Irlandais, 75005 Paris)

An ICA preconference associated with the**Global Communication and 
Social Changeand Journalism Studiesdivisions.

/Decades of research has demonstrated inequalities and imbalance in 
international news flows. Such research focused on news agencies, radio 
and 24-hour international TV news channels as a site for the projection 
of state soft power (Mattelart, 2014; Schiller, 1976); indeed, since 
their inception, news agencies have been close to political and economic 
power (see for AFP, Lefebure, 1996). Nonetheless, regardless of the 
size, political and economic influence of those global media, they 
remain small players compared to US tech giants like Google and Facebook 
(Ihlebaek & Schanke Sundet, 2021). The platformization of news refers to 
the transformation of the platform-publisher relationship (Nielsen & 
Ganter, 2018), and is an approach which asks questions about the 
datafication of audiences, spaces for public deliberation and the 
differential responsibilities and accountability of the stakeholders 
involved (van Dijck et al., 2019). Platforms are not involved in news 
production, and news distribution is only (a tiny) part of their 
business. Described as a “corporate takeover of the digital world” 
(Smyrnaios, 2018), an oligopoly of platforms offers users access to 
information personalized and mediated by algorithms. Previous research 
about online news diversity demonstrates that more could mean less, 
where the abundant flows of news are contrasted with the lack of 
original news produced (Paterson, 2007; Rebillard & Loicq, 2013). The 
online flow of news from this view seems superfluous despite the promise 
of the internet to democratize and freely expand access to information 
and culture. How are platforms contributing to this dynamic when they 
mediate news? The question of algorithmically-mediated visibility and 
access to journalism has become central (Bucher, 2018) whereas 
advertising platforms became the matchmakers between declared, supposed 
and inferred tastes of audiences on one side and news supply on the 
other side. Privately owned infrastructures of public life, platforms 
exercise a tremendous market and political power on public speech and 
political expression. How accountable are tech giants regarding the 
construction and destruction of media economies and cultural industries? 
The power of platforms has led to calls for regulation to increase 
compliance with intellectual property laws, privacy laws (such as GDPR), 
antitrust, tax avoidance, and the dissemination of disinformation. A 
capability to disrupt news flow on a continental scale became clear in 
2021 when Facebook and Google were targeted by Australian legislation 
designed to ensure payment for the news they distribute. ///

/This one-day pre-conference on platformization of news seeks to answer, 
in light of previous research in critical political economy of 
international news flow, questions about the circulation of online news 
through platforms./

We invite *extended abstracts *(of no more than 800 words) pertaining, 
but not limited to, the following topics:

• How can we imagine a “free and balanced circulation” of online news 
which would not be market-oriented or politically-controlled by States, 
but empowering for citizens and public debate?

• In what ways does algorithmic control over the circulation of news 
influence public debate?

• Do YouTube and other platforms actively contribute to information 
diversity? If so, in what ways, to what extent and with what limits? Do 
newer platforms such as TikTok or Snapchat contribute more to news 
diversity than more established platforms?

• How has the pandemic altered our understanding of the domination of 
platforms over news flows?

• What opportunities exist to resist or reform the grip of global 
platforms over the circulation of news? Do citizens/consumers support 
restrictions or limitations on that influence?

*To participate:*

Please upload an extended abstract of no more than 800 words (excluding 
references) at the address below by *15 February, 2022*. Abstracts will 
be assessed by members of the scientific committee and outcomes will be 
communicated by 15 March, 2022. Full-length manuscripts (for discussants 
to provide feedback on) are due to Alan Ouakrat ( 
(alan.ouakrat /at/ sorbonne-nouvelle.fr) 
<mailto:(alan.ouakrat /at/ sorbonne-nouvelle.fr)>), by 6 May, 2022.

For more information and to submit an abstract go to: 
https://ica-globalnews.sciencesconf.org/ 
<https://ica-globalnews.sciencesconf.org/>.

For any questions, please contact: (alan.ouakrat /at/ sorbonne-nouvelle.fr) 
<mailto:(alan.ouakrat /at/ sorbonne-nouvelle.fr)>

Registration is required. Registration will be available through the ICA 
website from February 2022.

**

*Organizers:* Alan Ouakrat, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, France; 
Chris Paterson, University of Leeds, UK ; Franck Rebillard, Université 
Sorbonne Nouvelle; Jasmin Surm, University of Leeds

*Scientific committee: *David Hesmondhalgh, University of Leeds (UK); 
Florence Le Cam, ULB (Belgium); Tristan Mattelart, Université Paris 2 
(FR); Terhi Rantanen, London School of Economics and Political Science 
(UK); Marta Severo, Université Nanterre (FR), Nikos Smyrnaios, 
Université de Toulouse (FR).

*References*
Bucher T. (2018) /If . . . Then: Algorithmic Power and Politics/. 
Oxford: Oxford University Press.; Ihlebaek K.A. & V. Schanke Sundet 
(2021), “Global platforms and asymmetrical power: Industry dynamics and 
opportunities for policy change”, /New media & society/, 1-18.; Lefébure 
A. (1992), « Havas, les arcanes du pouvoir », Grasset, 410p.; Mattelart 
T. (2014), « Les enjeux de la circulation internationale de 
l’information », /Revue française des sciences de l’information et de la 
communication/, 5. DOI: 10.4000/rfsic.1145; Nielsen R. K. and S. A. 
Ganter. 2018. “Dealing with Digital Intermediaries: A Case Study of the 
Relations between Publishers and Platforms.” /New Media & Society/ 20 
(4): 1600–17.; Paterson C., “International news on the internet: Why 
more is less”, /The International Journal of Communication Ethics/, vol. 
4, n° 1/2, 2007, p. 57-66; Rebillard F. & M. Loicq (eds.) (2013), 
/Pluralisme de l’information et/ media diversity. /Un état des lieux 
international/, De Boeck.; Schiller H. I. (1976), /Communications and 
Cultural Domination/, New York, M.E. Sharpe.; Smyrnaios N. (2018), 
/Internet Oligopoly. The Corporate Takeover of Our Digital World/, 
Emerald Publishing, 191p.; Van Dijck J., D. Nieborg, and T. Poell. 2019. 
“Reframing Platform Power.” /Internet Policy Review/ 8 (2): 18.

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