[Commlist] CFP: Polis.COM – Communication and the Local Public Sphere

Polis.COM – International Congress on Communication and the Local Public 
Sphere

1–2 October 2026

Faculty of Arts and Letters, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

https://polis.ubi.pt/ <https://polis.ubi.pt/>

Polis.COM – International Congress on Communication and the Local Public 
Sphere invites submissions for its first edition, to be held on 1 and 2 
October 2026 at the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the University of 
Beira Interior, in Covilhã, Portugal.

Organised within the scientific framework of LabCom – Communication and 
Arts, Polis.COM aims to create an international and interdisciplinary 
space for debate on the transformations of communication, journalism, 
media ecosystems, institutional communication, culture, identity, and 
public life in local and regional contexts.

In a context marked by digitalisation, platformisation, the 
reconfiguration of media ecosystems, the challenges facing 
public-interest information, and the growing relevance of strategic and 
institutional communication, the congress seeks to bring together 
theoretical reflections, empirical studies, and professional experiences 
that contribute to a critical understanding of the communicational 
dynamics structuring the local public sphere.

The first confirmed speaker is Xosé López Garcia, Professor at the 
University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Proposals may be submitted in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, and 
should address one of the following thematic areas:

1. Media Studies

- Local and regional media in digital environments

- Platforms, algorithms, and local public visibility

- Disinformation, media literacy, and trust in the media

- Transformations of local media ecosystems

- Other topics within this thematic area

2. Journalism Studies

- Local journalism and editorial innovation

- Sustainability, business models, and local journalistic work

- Journalistic coverage of communities, territories, and inequalities

- Artificial intelligence, automation, and journalistic practices

- Other topics within this thematic area

3. Strategic Communication

- Institutional and public communication in local contexts

- Communication strategies for municipalities, organisations, and the 
third sector

- Crisis communication, transparency, and institutional reputation

- Citizen participation, community engagement, and digital communication

- Other topics within this thematic area

4. Culture, Identity, and Memory**

- Territorial identities and media representations

- Collective memory, archives, and local narratives

- Culture, heritage, and community communication

- Cultural practices, participation, and social cohesion

- Other topics within this thematic area

Following LabCom’s tradition of organising focused academic events that 
favour discussion and interaction among participants, Polis.COM will not 
include parallel sessions. The number of accepted in-person 
presentations will therefore be limited to approximately 4–5 papers per 
thematic area.

Submission guidelines

Abstracts should include:

- Title

- Abstract of up to 500 words, excluding title and keywords

- Up to five keywords

- Full name of author(s)

- Institutional affiliation: University/Institute, Faculty, Department

Abstracts should be submitted in Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 spacing.

Each author may submit a maximum of two proposals, either as author or 
co-author.

Submissions must be made by 12 July 2026 through the form available on 
the conference website: https://polis.ubi.pt/ <https://polis.ubi.pt/>

Timeline

- Abstract submission deadline: 12 July 2026

- Notification of accepted abstracts: 31 July 2026

- Conference: 1–2 October 2026

Registration fees

No fee is charged for abstract submission or review. Registration fees 
apply only to participation with presentation, as follows:

- In-person presentation: 60 EUR

- Online presentation: 100 EUR

- LabCom members: free

- Participation without presentation: free


Contact

For further information, please contact:
(poliscom.labcom /at/ gmail.com) <mailto:(poliscom.labcom /at/ gmail.com)>

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