[Commlist] CFP: Navigating Cross-Cultural Communication in the Digital Age

Call for Papers

Navigating Cross-Cultural Communication in the Digital Age: 
Opportunities and Challenges

  The First XJTLU-CUC Joint International Symposium for 
PhD candidates and Emerging Scholars

Suzhou, China, AND ONLINE

March 28-29, 2025


DEADLINE: December 15, 2024

We are delighted to announce the launch of an International PhD 
Symposium series, co-organized by the Department of Media and 
Communication, School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Xi’an 
Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou and the National Joint 
Research Institute of International Communication of Ministry of 
Education at the Communication University of China (CUC) in Beijing. 
This symposium aims to offer a unique platform for PhD students and 
early-career scholars (within three years of PhD graduation) to present 
research, engage with emerging and established scholars, exchange ideas 
with reputable journal editors and international publishers, and foster 
cross-disciplinary, and cross-institutional collaboration in the fields 
of media and communication and beyond.

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, the art of 
storytelling has evolved significantly. The advent of digital platforms, 
interactive gaming, and emerging technologies like virtual and augmented 
reality have radically transformed the narrative landscape, adding new 
dimensions to the way stories are told. However, the impact of these 
technologies on cross-cultural communication is a subject of ongoing 
debate. While some argue that technology fosters greater understanding 
and connection across cultures, others contend that it can reinforce 
stereotypes and exacerbate divisions. With this background, the 
symposium aims to critically examine the intersection of storytelling, 
technology, and cross-cultural communication, exploring both the 
challenges and opportunities these changes present.

We invite papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• The evolution of storytelling in the digital age and its complex 
impact on cross-cultural communication, including both its potential for 
fostering understanding and its risks.

• The role of social media in shaping narrative structures and audience 
engagement across cultures, with a critical examination of how these 
platforms can both connect and divide.

• The use of virtual reality and augmented reality in enhancing 
cross-cultural storytelling experiences, considering both their 
potential and limitations.

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential for automating and 
personalizing storytelling across different cultures, with a focus on 
ethical considerations and cultural sensitivity.

• The preservation and adaptation of traditional storytelling methods in 
the face of digital transformation, with a focus on maintaining cultural 
integrity.

• Cross-cultural storytelling as a tool for bridging cultural divides 
and fostering understanding, with a critical examination of the 
challenges and opportunities this presents.

• The intersection of journalism, storytelling, and technology in a 
global context, with a focus on the role of storytelling in shaping 
public discourse across cultures.

• Brand storytelling in the digital age and its implications for 
cross-cultural marketing, with a focus on the ethical considerations of 
cultural representation.

• Ethical considerations in digital storytelling, including issues of 
representation, consent, and cultural sensitivity, with a focus on the 
implications of technology in these areas.

• The impact of algorithms on how audiences engage with and discover 
stories that bridge cultures.

• The role of audience interpretation and participation in shaping 
cross-cultural narratives and dialogues, as well as the function of 
digital platforms in including or excluding various perspectives.

Confirmed Keynote Speaker

Prof. Daya Thussu, President of the International Association for Media 
and Communication Research (IAMCR), & Managing Editor of the Sage 
journal Global Media and Communication, Professor of International 
Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Scholarships

To support PhD candidates and early-career researchers, the organizing 
committee is offering a limited number of scholarships. These will cover 
travel and accommodation expenses (up to three nights) within China.

Applicants for the scholarship will need to submit a full paper for 
consideration.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions should be in English and adhere to the following guidelines:

• Abstracts should be approximately 250 words, including the title, 
authors' names, affiliations, and contact information.

• Full papers for scholarship application should be no more than 6,000 
words, excluding references.

• Panel proposals should include an abstract for the panel as a whole 
(max 300 words) in addition to individual abstracts for papers to be 
included in the panel. We also welcome proposals for innovative session 
formats such as roundtables, debates etc.

Submission Deadline

December 15, 2024

Submission and Inquiries

Please submit your abstract and any inquiries to 
(PhDSymposium2025 /at/ xjtlu.edu.cn) <mailto:(PhDSymposium2025 /at/ xjtlu.edu.cn)>

Registration

No registration fee is required. Participants, except for those awarded 
a scholarship, will need to cover their own travel and accommodation 
expenses.

Additional Information

Details regarding the venue, travel and accommodation will be announced 
in January 2025.

Important

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR PREFERENCE FOR PRESENTING ONLINE OR IN-PERSON WHEN 
SUBMITTING YOUR ABSTRACT.

Possible Outputs

Accepted papers may be considered for publication in a special issue of 
a leading international academic journal or an edited volume with a 
reputable publisher.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and to a stimulating and 
insightful symposium.

Central Organizing Committee

Prof. Xiaoling Zhang, Department of Media and Communication, School of 
Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU)

Prof. Deqiang Ji, National Joint Research Institute of International 
Communication of Ministry of Education, Communication University of 
China (CUC)

Dr. Xianwen Kuang, Department of Media and Communication, School of 
Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU)

Ms. Xiaomei Jiang, Institute of Communication Studies, Communication 
University of China (CUC)

Local Organizing Committee

Dr. Dharma Adhikari, Dr. David Kurt Herold, Dr. Rong Ma, Dr. Marco 
Pellitteri, Dr. Gejun Huang, & Ms. Heyang Hu, Department of Media and 
Communication, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi’an 
Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU).

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