[Commlist] Call for Papers: 'Media Reform in Post-Conflict Societies: AI Governance, Digital Resilience, and Democratic Transformation'

Call for Papers: Journal of Digital Media & Policy

Special Issue: 'Media Reform in Post-Conflict Societies: AI Governance, 
Digital Resilience, and Democratic Transformation'

(Volume 19.1 – March 2028)

#JDMPJournal

View the full call here>>

https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-of-digital-media-policy#call-for-papers 
<https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-of-digital-media-policy#call-for-papers>

For more information on the CHMK Forum click here>>

https://forum.chmk.org/ <https://forum.chmk.org/>

Guest Editorial Team

Lead Guest Editor: Dr. Shwan Adam Aivas, Associate Professor of 
Communication, Culture, and Media Studies, Sulaimani Polytechnic 
University (SPU), Kurdistan Region of Iraq; Founder & Chair, Kurdish 
Media Watchdog (CHMK); General Coordinator, CHMK National Forum Series 
<https://forum.chmk.org/>.

Co-Guest Editor: Dr. Tom Mills, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Policy, 
Aston University (Subject to confirmation).

International Advisory Editor: Dr. Des Freedman, Professor of Media and 
Communications, Goldsmiths, University of London (Subject to confirmation).

(Final advisory board membership is subject to formal confirmation by 
the Journal and invited scholars.)

Rationale and Scope

Across post-conflict, transitional and emerging democratic societies, 
media systems are undergoing profound structural transformations driven 
by rapid digitalization, political restructuring and the accelerating 
integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These developments present 
critical opportunities and acute challenges for democratic 
communication, institutional accountability, media pluralism and public 
trust.

This Special Issue is directly linked with the academic proceedings and 
roundtable deliberations of the 3rd CHMK National Forum for Media 
Reform, hosted at SOAS, University of London, on 8–9 July 2026. While 
selected presenters and panelists from the London forum are highly 
encouraged to expand their presentations into full peer-reviewed 
manuscripts, this Call for Papers is equally open to global scholars, 
policymakers and practitioners working within the broader scope of 
transitional media policy.

Using the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) as an anchor reference case, 
while actively encouraging comparative, cross-regional scholarship from 
the Global South and other societies in transition—this issue explores 
how media reform agendas are evolving in response to technological 
innovation, institutional governance deficits and shifting paradigms of 
information production and consumption.

As platformization, algorithmic distribution systems and generative AI 
increasingly reshape contemporary public spheres, regulators, 
journalists and civil society actors are confronted with unprecedented 
questions regarding media governance, information integrity, digital 
rights and systemic resilience.

This Special Issue aims to synthesize theoretically informed, empirical 
and policy-relevant research that advances scholarly understanding 
across three interconnected dimensions of media reform:

1. Regulatory and Institutional Transformation: Examining the 
development of independent, transparent and accountable regulatory 
architectures capable of navigating complex digital environments while 
fiercely safeguarding freedom of expression, democratic participation 
and human rights.

2. Digital Infrastructure, Security and Information Integrity: 
Investigating emerging threats associated with cybersecurity, state and 
non-state disinformation, deepfakes, algorithmic amplification, 
automated propaganda and computational approaches to content verification.

3. Professional Sustainability and Ethical Media Practice: Exploring 
viable pathways toward sustainable journalism, media pluralism, newsroom 
resilience, professional ethical codes and alternative funding models 
within highly polarized or fragile political economies.

Suggested Themes

We invite original research articles, comparative studies, policy 
analyses and interdisciplinary contributions addressing themes 
including, but not limited to:

  *

    The Political Economy of Media Reform in Transitional Societies

  *

    Media Ownership, Market Concentration and Democratic Accountability

  *

    Public Service Media (PSM) and Alternative Governance Models

  *

    Digital Regulation, Platform Governance, and Human Rights

  *

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Transnational Media Governance

  *

    Generative AI, Deepfakes and Information Integrity

  *

    Computational Fact-Checking and Automated Verification Systems

  *

    Disinformation, Social Cohesion and Democratic Stability

  *

    Cybersecurity and Societal Resilience in Digital Media Systems

  *

    Media Literacy, Digital Citizenship and Educational Reform

  *

    Hate Speech, Online Harms and Linguistic Integrity

  *

    Journalism Ethics, Professional Standards and the Safety of Journalists

  *

    Media Reform in Post-Conflict and Emerging Democratic Contexts

  *

    Decolonial and Comparative Perspectives from the Global South

Submission Guidelines

Submitted manuscripts must:

  *

    Represent original, baseline, and unpublished research.

  *

    Demonstrate clear theoretical, empirical, and/or policy-relevant
    contributions.

  *

    Engage deeply with contemporary international debates in media
    policy and structural reform.

  *

    Adhere strictly to the Journal of Digital Media & Policy author
    guidelines and style sheet.

  *

    Full manuscripts should typically range between 6,000 and 8,000
    words, inclusive of references. Authors are directed to consult the
    journal’s official submission portal for comprehensive formatting
    and referencing instructions.

Peer Review Process

All submissions will undergo initial editorial screening by the Guest 
Editors, followed by a rigorous, double-anonymised peer-review process 
in strict accordance with the Journal of Digital Media & Policyeditorial 
policies and international scholarly publishing standards.

Indicative Timeline

11 June 2026: Official Launch and International Circulation of the Call 
for Papers

11 September 2026: Deadline for Abstract Submissions (~500 words) and 
Short Author Biography

11 October 2026: Notification of Abstract Acceptance & Invitation for 
Full Papers

11 March 2027: Deadline for Full Paper Submission

11 June 2027: Peer Review Feedback Returned to Authors

11 September 2027: Submission of Revised Manuscripts

1 December 2027: Final Editorial Submission to Intellect Publishers

March 2028: Publication of Special Issue (Volume 19.1)

Abstract Submission and Enquiries

Authors are warmly invited to submit abstracts and direct all thematic 
or structural enquiries to:

(shwanadam /at/ chmk.org) <mailto:(shwanadam /at/ chmk.org)>and (shwan.adam /at/ spu.edu.iq) 
<mailto:(shwan.adam /at/ spu.edu.iq)>


Note: Please use the exact subject line: 'JDMP Special Issue 19.1 
Submission'

We particularly welcome contributions from scholars, policymakers, 
regulators, journalists and interdisciplinary researchers working at the 
intersection of media reform, digital governance, democratic 
transformation and emerging technologies across diverse global contexts.


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