[Commlist] Call for papers: The 11th Annual Conference on the Safety of Journalists at OsloMet

*The 11th Annual Conference on the Safety of Journalists at OsloMet*

*Journalism Under Pressure – Reporting in Authoritarian Democracies*

*November 3 and 4, 2025, Oslo, Norway*

The research group MEKK at OsloMet, in cooperation with the Fritt Ord 
Foundation, is pleased to announce the call for papers for the 11th 
annual Conference on the Safety of Journalists. The conference will take 
place during the first week of November, in connection with the UN's 
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

Over the years, the MEKK conferences have become an important meeting 
point for professionals and organisations working on journalist safety. 
These gatherings have led to valuable academic partnerships and have 
resulted in collaborative papers, workshops, and publications, by 
bringing together practicing journalists, educators, and researchers.

*Theme for 2025 – Journalism Under Pressure – Reporting in Authoritarian 
Democracies*

*Converging Threats – Blurring Lines Between Democratic Backsliding and 
Authoritarian Façades*

We are currently seeing two parallel and concerning developments. On the 
one hand, some established democracies are gradually taking into use 
techniques often linked to authoritarian systems. These include 
surveillance technologies, SLAPP lawsuits, manipulation of media 
ownership, and regulatory restrictions limiting press freedom. On the 
other hand, authoritarian regimes increasingly adopt superficial 
democratic elements such as controlled elections or managed civil 
society organisations to appear more legitimate while keeping strict 
control.

The 11th annual conference on the safety of journalists will explore 
these developments through two connected research tracks. The goal is to 
bring together journalists and researchers from different countries and 
contexts to share strategies and knowledge that can support the safety 
of journalism under such pressure.

*Track One – Eroding from Within – The Updated Authoritarian Playbook in 
Democracies*

This track will explore how established democracies are undermining 
press freedom from within. Governments are using legal, economic, and 
technological tools to slowly weaken the protections that have 
traditionally supported journalism. Rather than using direct repression, 
these governments apply more subtle but very effective methods to 
control or reduce the influence of independent media.

Topics of interest may include:

  * Use of legal means such as lawsuits and regulatory complexity to
    target media
  * Surveillance technologies applied to journalists in democratic 
countries
  * Financial pressures including advertising and funding restrictions
  * Online harassment, trolling, and algorithmic visibility suppression
  * Environments encouraging self-censorship
  * Campaigns that aim to delegitimise critical journalism
  * Institutional and legal responses to democratic decline
  * Networks and alliances that offer support across borders

*Track Two – Democratic Façades – Working in Authoritarian Systems That 
Use Democratic Language*

This track will examine how journalists carry out their work in 
countries that use the appearance of democracy while functioning in 
authoritarian ways. These regimes often allow some opposition and media 
space, but within tight boundaries designed to maintain control and 
avoid true accountability.

Topics of interest may include:

  * Working under symbolic pluralism and managed political competition
  * Censorship strategies that avoid open bans but still limit freedom
  * Experiences of journalists working in exile
  * Securing communication and protecting sources in high-risk environments
  * Use of coded language and storytelling to bypass censorship
  * Avoiding co-optation by state-aligned actors
  * Making use of international institutions to protect journalists
  * Cooperation between journalists across authoritarian contexts

*Special Focus – Vulnerable Communities and Press Freedom*

This year’s conference will also pay attention to how violations of 
press freedom affect vulnerable groups. Journalists who belong to or 
report on these communities often face extra risks. We especially 
encourage proposals that include feminist, Indigenous, decolonial, and 
queer perspectives. Topics may include:

  * Attacks on journalists reporting on marginalised communities
  * Different treatment of journalists from minority backgrounds
  * Intersectional challenges and risks
  * Safe ways of reporting on sensitive topics
  * International cooperation and protection mechanisms

*Learning Across Contexts*

A main goal of the conference is to encourage learning across different 
political and cultural settings. By comparing tools, experiences, and 
reactions, we aim to support the development of better strategies to 
defend press freedom and journalists’ safety.

*Submission Guidelines*

Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words and be accompanied by a 
short bio. Please use our online form to submit by August 15, 2025. 
Include your full name, institutional affiliation, email address, and 
preferred track. The submission link is: _https://nettskjema.no/a/523194 
<https://nettskjema.no/a/523194>_

There is no participation fee, but attendees are expected to cover their 
own travel and accommodation.

*Scholarships*

A small number of scholarships are available for PhD students and 
researchers from low-income countries. These may cover travel and/or 
hotel costs. To apply, submit your abstract along with a short CV, 
nearest international airport, and a short statement explaining 
financial need. Usually, only one author per paper can be granted support.

Selected papers will be considered for a future peer-reviewed publication.

*Contact*

If you have any questions, write to us at 
(_safetyofjournalists /at/ oslomet.no) <mailto:(safetyofjournalists /at/ oslomet.no)>_

"The erosion of press freedom often begins not with dramatic crackdowns, 
but with subtle pressures that gradually reshape the landscape of free 
expression. Understanding these processes is crucial for protecting 
journalism's vital role in society." (UNESCO Chair on Freedom of Expression)


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