[Commlist] CfP Conference Diversity in Media Societies

Call for Papers for the conference

*/*Diversity in Media Societies* /*

*Conference of the section International and Intercultural Communication 
(DGPuK) in cooperation with the mediendiversityhub/TH Köln, the 
Institute of Media Research and Media Education at TH Köln (IMM) and 
with the working group for Media Pedagogy and Media Didactics at the 
University of Cologne.*

*Venue: TH Köln/University of Applied Sciences, Cologne/Germany*

*Date:  27th - 29th October 2022*

Everyday life, culture and society are permeated by information and 
communication technologies and various forms of mediated communication. 
This is accompanied by a corresponding change both in public (global) 
communication and in the opportunities for participation and networking, 
as well as educational opportunities. Through the various actors who 
create public spheres parallel to professional journalism by means of 
digital media, diverse and increasingly complex forms of public sphere 
are emerging. This raises questions about the conditions under which 
different topics can be placed on the public agenda. For example, how 
are marginalized spokesperson positions and gender relations represented 
in these public spheres? Who speaks for whom and how, and who is heard 
in (established) media?

These questions are directly linked to considerations about the 
influence of the resulting public discourses on socialization and 
educational processes. After all, how can educational practice currently 
be shaped to enable and create diversity and equal opportunities in and 
by means of the media?

The conference addresses a critical understanding of the diversity 
approach, which can be used to address both Othering processes, power 
and inequality relationships in the media and the public sphere, as well 
as potentials for media and educational offerings. Together with 
approaches for diversity-sensitive media education and educational 
practices, we would like to analyze and discuss possibilities for 
participation in this way. Based on such a critical understanding of 
diversity, the interaction of various inequality factors can be examined 
in particular. Intersections with postcolonial, anti-racist, feminist 
and queer approaches as well as demands of people with 
disabilities/chronic illnesses prove to be fruitful. Consequently, 
diversity will be analyzed as a structural category as well as reflected 
upon as a theoretical concept. This also implies the self-reflection of 
scientific research and the concept-critical examination of the 
diversity concept. In particular, conference contributions are welcome 
that interconnect the following focal points:

*(1) Diversity in media culture and production *

The first focus asks about the media practice, communication and 
discourse formation of socially marginalized groups. The focus is on 
media practices (including resistance and empowering practices) that are 
used to create participation and articulation of one's own needs in 
institutionalized media and public spheres. In this context, questions 
about the formation of global/transcultural networks such as diaspora 
communities in digital spaces, as well as the networking of communities 
such as LGBTIQ+, who negotiate their affiliation(s) in and through the 
media or enter into political alliances, will be addressed. An 
international/transcultural comparative approach could deliver fruitful 
insights. Contributions on post-migrant self-organization and 
artistic-creative forms of communicative networking are just as welcome 
as those that examine communities that so far remain invisible in 
digital discourses. Central to this is the question of how and under 
what conditions socially marginalized communities (can) make their 
topics visible in which public spheres and what expertise they thereby 
contribute to broader discourses.

*(2) Media re-presentations of diversity in institutionalized media and 
their reception*

The second focus area is intended to bundle studies that ask to what 
extent social diversity can be perceived in the media. Numerous studies 
on the interactions of media reality and social reality raise questions 
about which media images prevail in news media, film and television, 
children's and youth media, online discourses as well as digital game 
worlds about different both marginalized and privileged groups? How are 
these perceived and/or countered? Which role do current debates on 
identity politics play here? To what extent are social differences and 
hierarchies produced or questioned in and through media images? In 
addition, questions about the connection between datafication and 
inequality are increasingly coming into view. It is also important to 
ask which concrete diversity measures are implemented in journalism and 
institutionalized media, and with what consequences.

*(3) Diversity & Media Education***

The third focus area deals with the changing demands on media education 
and upbringing. Cultural interests and opportunities for development, 
individual development opportunities, and social and political 
expression and participation are currently increasingly tied to 
digitality and digital infrastructures. Connected to the ample evidence 
that existing social inequalities and discrimination are amplified in 
media and media action, questions arise about the relationship between 
diversity and media education: In which media formats and media 
pedagogical contexts can exclusion mechanisms be observed? How are power 
and inequality relations produced in and through media action, but also 
(successfully) questioned? In what way does professional media education 
tie in with these findings and take diversity principles into account 
when designing media education concepts and materials?

The call for papers is addressed to researchers from communication 
science, media education and related disciplines as well as to media 
practitioners and corresponding initiatives/organisations. PhD students 
are strongly encouraged to submit paper proposals. Individual 
presentations (20 min), workshops (1.5 h) or presentations of 
initiatives/organisations (20 min) are possible. Abstracts in English or 
German (max. 2000 characters including spaces, excl. literature) can be 
submitted by *30* *April 2022 *to the following email address: 
(mediendiversity /at/ th-koeln.de) <mailto:(diversitymedien /at/ f03.th-koeln.de)>__

Research and scientific submissions will undergo a double-blind-peer 
review according to the following criteria: Relevance to the conference 
topic, relevance of the research question, theoretical foundation, 
appropriateness of the method or approach as well as the clarity of the 
presentation. Contributions from stakeholder initiatives/organisations 
should be closely related to the conference theme and precisely outline 
their respective media projects. Notification of acceptance of the 
contributions will be given by 15 July 2022. The actual conference 
/Diversity in Media Societies/ will take place from *27^th to 28^th   
October*. The conference is currently being planned as an on-site event; 
depending on requirements, the concept will be adapted.

Questions will be answered by Christine Horz-Ishak (TH Köln), 
(Christine.horz /at/ th-koeln.de)

On 29^th October a subsequent workshop on /Queer/Queertheoretical 
Perspectives in Media Education and Communication Science/ (in German 
language) will take place at the TH Köln. For those who are interested a 
separate registration is required. Further information can be found 
here: https://th-koeln.de/mw_queer <https://th-koeln.de/mw_queer>.


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