Call : Rethinking Media and Journalism

18-02-2013

Rethinking Media and Journalism Practice Conference

School of Media and Film, University of Winchester

Much has happened in recent times that put the media in the spotlight. Those who scrutinise others must themselves come under serious scrutiny for the role they play in society and their manner since the media remain crucial in structuring power relations and social life. The media are indispensable to governments, businesses and the third sector (charities and community based organisations). The media serve personal and collective interests, within communities and across nations in social contexts which have altered much since the media were first conceived of. There are new configurations of power since the end of the Cold War, the era in which the mass media were established. Economic stability, adequate public services, community participation in service delivery are now no longer development issues confined to the third world. So how adequate are the theories and models that have guided media organisations, media operations and audience expectations of these ? This conference seeks to convene academics, critics, journalists and media practitioners to review this broad area of concern.

We seek to go beyond issues of press freedom and media regulation in the UK, etiquettes in the reporting and production process which have recently dominated the British press. Presenters are encouraged to reconsider existing theories and models in a global knowledge based, post-industrialised context. They could reflect on media management models, nature of media power, audiences in new media era ; media, governance and the three sectors. They should be mindful of the priorities expressed in the media and the new realities. How should media organisations now be organised and funded ? Where is the place of national media institutions in an increasingly integrated world ? What opportunities are there for the marginalised ? How seriously do

Papers are therefore invited to rethink (practice, theory or policy) on any of, but not restricted to the following areas :

·         Theories of Media, Press and Journalism

·         Models of Media Ownership and Management

·         Citizen Journalism and Social Media Practices

·         Tenets of Journalism Education

·         De-Westernising Journalism Practice and Education

·         Non-Western Media Practices

·         Locating Media Audiences

·         Changes in Media Education

·         Effecting Social Change audiences take the media ? What new cultures are evolving in the media, with the emergence of new opportunities ?

 

Confirmed Speakers :

Professor Denis McQuail – Emeritus Professor University of Amsterdam, Visiting Professor University of Southampton

Professor Keyan Tomaselli – University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Professor Kevin Williams – Swansea University, Swansea UK

Professor Daya Thussu – University of Westminster, London UK

Dapo Olorunyomi – Managing Director/Editor in Chief, Premium Times, Executive Director, Wole Soyinka Journalism Centre Abuja, Nigeria

The conference is scheduled for the 31st of May 2013.

New deadline for submission of abstracts February 28th 2013.

Please send your 250 word abstracts for individual presentations to Mediaconferences@winchester.ac.uk

Proposals for panel presentations are also welcome.

The conference is free to attend.

http://www.winchester.ac.uk/academicdepartments/SchoolofMediaandFilm/newsandevents/Pages/NewsEvents.aspx