The Diaspora and Media (DIM) Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites proposals for IAMCR 2023, to be held in Lyon, France, from 9 to 13 July (Lyon23) with an Online Conference Papers (OCP23) component from 26 June to 5 July.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 9 February 2023 at 23h59 UTC.
See the CfPs of all sections and working groups >
Conference themes
IAMCR conferences have a main conference theme that is explored from multiple perspectives throughout the conference in plenaries and other moments, including the programmes of the thematic sections and working groups. Additionally, each section and working group also defines some of its own themes, which are described in their individual calls for proposals. Proposals for contributions to the conference are submitted to the sections and working groups and may focus on an aspect of the main conference theme as it relates to the concerns of the section or working group, or address a theme identified by the section or working group.
Main theme – Inhabiting the planet: Challenges for media, communication and beyond
The main theme for IAMCR 2023, “Inhabiting the planet: Challenges for media, communication and beyond”, is concerned with possibilities for rethinking communication research agendas at a time when the irreversible effects of climate change is compounded by stark geopolitical, sociocultural and religious tensions in human communities. At this juncture, urgent reflection and research is needed on how we can hope to flourish today and in the future, and also how media and communication tools and environments can be positive forces and spaces for change.
Five sub-themes of this central theme have been identified: Humanity and progress; democracy; media, information and communication; cities and territories; and environmental accountability.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme and its sub-themes
The DIM Working Group welcomes proposals that address the working group’s interest in diaspora and media. We are particularly interested in contributions that address key topics from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives. Now more than ever, academic work must address, from a critical perspective the need to rethink borders and boundaries, physical and imaginary. We seek research that addresses theory and practice, examines theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches, as well as analyzes findings in lieu of their contribution to the field.
The Working Group aims to provide a fertile terrain for academic exchange, discussions, and collaboration among the contributors. We encourage submissions that address diasporic transnationalism and media representation, (miss)representation, and auto-representation of migrants in the public sphere. We are also looking for research on new narratives in translocal contexts and the connective role of media spaces within diasporic groups.
Our Working Group welcomes contributions that explore the main topic of the conference, Inhabiting the Planet, Challenges for Media, Communication and Beyond. We also welcome submissions that explore any of the five interconnected sub-themes.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme and its sub-themes
Contributions could be built on, but not limited to, the following key topics:
- Studies on digital diasporas that are contributing to the discussion on digital humanities’ epistemological and methodological approaches when analyzing migrant communities and their interactions in physical and digital scenarios;
- Studies on mobility and migration in the digital era, including critical approaches on power structures, inequality, imbalances and discriminatory scenarios, and how they can promote inclusiveness and reciprocity;
- How studies on dynamic hybridization of migrant collective identities between home and host countries evolve when diasporic communities regroup and interact in second or third migratory projects such as transborder, transnational or transcontinental mobilizations;
- How contemporary diasporas and their media can promote or recreate homeland and host land discourses of belonging, and how they can challenge discrimination and/or advocate for inclusiveness?
- How diaspora and media studies can contribute to the understanding of interconnections of diverse groups in global cities and urban encounters?
Contributing to the conference: Lyon23 and OCP23
There will be two ways of joining IAMCR2023:
- If you are not able to or don’t want to join the face-to-face conference in Lyon but do want to submit an online-only paper, submit your abstract to OCP23 only. If accepted, you’ll later submit your full paper to the online platform, which will be open for discussion from 26 June to 5 July.
- If you do want to join the face-to-face event, submit your abstract to Lyon23 and OCP23. If accepted you’ll submit your paper to the online platform and present it at the face-to-face conference.
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts submitted to the Diaspora and the Media Working Group should have between 300 and 500 words and must be submitted online here. Abstracts submitted by email will not be accepted.
It is expected that authors will submit only one (1) abstract. However, under no circumstances should an author submit more than two abstracts as a single author or as the lead author of a co-authored paper and no author will submit more than one abstract to the Diaspora and Media Working Group. The same abstract or another version with minor variations in title or content must not be submitted to more than one section or working group. Any such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be rejected.
Proposals are accepted for both single Papers and for Panels with several papers (in which you propose multiple papers that address a single theme). Proposals for panels can only be submitted to Lyon23 and OCP23. Panel submissions must include an abstract for each paper submitted here and a description & supplemental information submitted via this form on the conference website.
If your abstract is accepted, you will need to submit your full conference paper (up to 8,000 words) in order to be included in the programme.
The deadline to submit abstracts is 9 February 2022 at 23h59 UTC.
See important dates and deadlines to keep in mind
Languages
The Diaspora and Media Working Group welcomes abstracts in English, Spanish and Portuguese. English is preferred because we have a limited number of reviewers who can evaluate abstracts in other languages. However, we will accept abstracts in all three of IAMCR's official languages. We do ask that members correspond with the chairs in English, where possible.
For further information about the Diaspora and Media Working Group, its themes, submissions, and panels please contact:
Jessica Retis jessica.retis@gmail.com
Sofia Zanforlin szanforlin@gmail.com
Sumana Chattopadhyay sumana.chattopadhyay@marquette.edu
Join the IAMCR Diaspora and Media Working Group on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/groups/499328720140317