[Commlist] Call for abstracts: Mediaflows Conference '24: Citizenship in the Digital Media Sphere

/Call for abstracts/

*Citizenship in the Digital Media Sphere*

*University of Valencia, Spain (September, 18-20th)*

The contestation among various political and social entities to exert 
control over communication channels within the public sphere encompasses 
the manipulation of agenda-setting and the domains in which such 
discourse transpires. This contention is exacerbated within the 
contemporary milieu characterised by a surplus of content, predominantly 
disseminated through electronic mediums, and public attention often 
indifferent to the criterion of informational quality. Regardless of 
their professional status, the purveyors of these messages—be they 
verified, misrepresented, or intentionally false—vie for the attention 
of identical audiences (Bennett & Livingston, 2022). Digital platforms 
have significantly augmented the accessibility, visibility, and sway of 
social, political, and institutional actors within and beyond the 
confines of political communication. Meanwhile, traditional media, 
having also staked a claim within this hybrid environment (Chadwick, 
2013), are experiencing a partial erosion of their influence over public 
opinion (Bennett & Iyengar, 2008). Within this paradigm, the strategic 
manoeuvres of incumbent and oppositional political leaders are 
profoundly shaped by the evolving dynamics of public expression and 
social discourse. These dynamics encompass a multitude of actors, 
effects, and communicative processes, collectively contributing to the 
intricate tapestry of public opinion (López García, 2017).


Political communication necessitates alignment with the prevailing 
societal issues and sensitivities that citizens seek to address or 
resolve. Public opinion does not materialise spontaneously but rather 
necessitates leadership both from above—within the political and power 
echelons—and from below —manifested through social entities such as 
groups, movements, or associations— (Grossi, 2007). Historically, the 
media assumed the responsibility of curating, accentuating, and 
directing attention towards specific topics, perspectives, and 
controversies, thereby shaping public discourse. Furthermore, they 
played a pivotal role in promoting, bolstering, framing, interpreting, 
and guiding certain concepts and symbols, subsequently becoming focal 
points for public deliberation and negotiation. However, with the advent 
of communicative capitalism (Dean, 2005), the centrality of social 
networks has engendered a diversification in the functions of the media, 
leading towards the emergence of a post-media public sphere (López 
García, 2022). Consequently, there has been a discernible attenuation in 
the traditionally mediating role of broadcasters, accompanied by a 
reconfiguration of the roles assumed by various social and political 
actors within the communication realm.


In this milieu, formerly confined to a predominantly passive role, 
citizens now assume a multifaceted position characterised by their 
engagement in the reception, generation, exchange, and dissemination of 
diverse forms of information (Calvo & Campos, 2021). The transition from 
passive audiences has led to scholarly inquiries reevaluating citizen 
involvement within the digital media sphere. This paradigm shift has 
given rise to various phenomena, notably, mobilisations catalysed by 
expressions of indignation and outrage (Killen, 2023). Through digital 
communication channels, such mobilisations validate experiences 
originating from peripheral public spheres, thereby acquiring the 
potential to permeate broader societal discourse, as exemplified by the 
phenomenon of angry voters. Conversely, a burgeoning segment of the 
populace increasingly shuns traditional news sources, gravitating 
instead toward entertainment products that espouse political fandom and 
epitomise pop politics (Mazzoleni, 2019).


This conference endeavours to juxtapose traditional and emerging 
manifestations of political leadership, strategy, and agenda-setting 
within a contemporary milieu characterised by intense competition for 
public attention and ideological filtration. Notably, social media 
platforms have assumed a pivotal role as conduits for disseminating and 
discussing political information in recent years. The overarching 
objective is to foster discourse that critically examines the intricate 
interplay between these spheres in political communication.


The structured program envisages the active participation of scholarly 
experts specialising in this domain alongside pertinent representatives 
from the political and social arenas. Beyond merely scrutinising the 
interconnections between the agendas of diverse stakeholders and the 
traditionally ascribed hegemony of mass media—both traditional and 
digital—the conference aspires to comprehend the underlying mechanisms 
driving the clash of interests and socio-political forces as reflected 
in their thematic priorities and dynamics within the public domain. 
Moreover, the conference seeks to delve into controversies emerging 
across various spheres of societal life (Palau & López-García, 2022).


*_Thematic lines:_*

  * The role of the public in the digital media sphere.
  * Participatory democracy and audience democracy.
  * Social activism in the digital era.
  * New opinion leaders and their impact on public discourse.
  * Theoretical approaches to citizen participation.
  * Building the public agenda in the digital environment.
  * Radicalisation, extremism and anti-democratic threats.
  * Challenges of media intermediation.
  * Social and political consequences of polarisation.
  * Information disorder and journalism deterioration.

*_Important Dates:_*

  * Deadline for abstract submissions: *February 21st to May 15th.*
  * Notification of accepted/rejected papers: *June 1st.*
  * Final program release: *June 15th.*

*_Abstract Submission Guidelines:_*

  * Abstracts (max 500 words) in Word format, including title and keywords.
  * Must align with at least one thematic line.
  * Accepted in Valencian/Catalan, Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
  * Anonymous evaluation process.

*_Registration:_*

  * Fee: *120 euros*; reduced rate of *80 euros for pre-doctoral
    students* and unemployed researchers.
  * The conference *provides two grants for pre-doctoral researchers*,
    covering travel, accommodation, and registration fees.
  * Attendance and presentation registration is mandatory. Certificates
    will be issued bearing the signatures of all paper authors,
    contingent upon their presentation of research at the congress.

*_Publications:_*

  *

    Accepted papers may be submitted for evaluation to contribute to a
    monograph in an indexed journal or a book by a leading publisher.


*_Contact:_*

  *
    Comprehensive details and contact information for the conference can
    be found on its official website:
    https://eventos.adeit.es/112074/detail/congreso-mediaflows-2024.html
    <https://eventos.adeit.es/112074/detail/congreso-mediaflows-2024.html>.


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