ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

Södertörn University

Apply here

Reference number AP-2025/293

Södertörn University is a higher education institution in Stockholm that conducts education, research, and collaboration for sustainable societal development. We have around 14 000 students, 80 programmes and 300 courses, and we conduct education and research in the humanities, social sciences, technology and natural sciences. The university also offers police education and teacher education with an intercultural profile. A great deal of our research relates to the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe. We combine subjects, perspectives, people and experiences, and are worldminded, curious and questioning, searching for surprising syntheses, challenges and development.

Södertörn University welcomes doctoral proposals in Media and Communication Studies, to be conducted within the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS). The successful applicant will write their thesis as part of the AI Welfare State cluster, which is an interdisciplinary collaboration between several universities and is led by researchers at Södertörn University, Lunds University and Karlstad University.

The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS) is a national research program in Sweden. The vision of WASP-HS is to foster novel interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences about AI and autonomous systems and their impact on human and social development. WASP-HS enables cutting edge research, expertise, and competence building in the humanities and social sciences. The WASP-HS graduate school trains promising young researchers to understand the challenges and implications of autonomous systems and AI in society. A complement to students’ doctoral studies, the graduate school offers courses, a summer school, a winter conference, a semester abroad, and study visits both within Sweden and internationally. Students work collaboratively to solve real-world problems and are equipped with the theories, methods, and background critical for investigating questions on the consequences of AI and autonomous systems for humanity and society. 

Media and Communication Studies at Södertörn University is one of Sweden’s leading environments for media research and education. Research and education are focused on the contemporary digitised media landscape and founded on a historically informed understanding of new communication technologies and their contexts. The research environment currently comprises around 30 researchers/teachers including full professors, associate professors, assistant professors and nine doctoral students. All our doctoral students have an international profile, and the working language of the doctoral programme is English. For more information, please click here (English version) or see www.sh.se/mkv (Swedish version).

Doctoral education at the Department of Media and Communication Studies is part of the research area of Critical Cultural Theory. This is an interdisciplinary research environment which consists of seven subjects in the humanities. Research focuses on critically motivated studies of cultural artifacts and human practices. For more information, please click here. For a Swedish version click here.

Description of the doctoral position

The AI Welfare State cluster addresses the vulnerabilities that arise with the introduction of artificial intelligence into our welfare systems for better service and control. As AI technologies become increasingly embedded in public services, new potential harms are materialising; these imperil both the technical infrastructure and the individuals affected by the systems. The cluster is developing an understanding of emerging AI vulnerabilities, which include the generation of false information, dependence on Big Tech, misuse by malicious actors, disclosure of sensitive data, and bias in automated decision-making. By examining AI vulnerabilities in three research streams, which focus on imaginaries, governance and practices, the cluster will provide a comprehensive analysis of how AI impacts society. It combines infrastructural analysis with an analysis of how citizens relate to AI in welfare in terms of meaning-making, feelings and perceptions. This multidisciplinary effort aims to develop a new theory of the AI welfare state to ensure that AI technologies support, rather than undermine, public values such as justice, transparency, and social cohesion. Through its ambitious empirical and theoretical research as well as a well-integrated outreach programme, the cluster aspires to highlight AI vulnerabilities for policymakers and the public, facilitating a well informed and sustainable AI welfare state.

For more information about the graduate school and the doctoral position, please contact the cluster leader, Anne Kaun (see below).

Entry requirements

All credits are ECTS credits.

The general entry requirements are:

1. a second-cycle qualification, or

2. fulfilled requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or 

3. substantially equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

The Faculty Board may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds. (Ordinance 2010:1064)

Specific entry requirements

The specific entry requirements are met by someone who has at least 90 credits in Media and Communication Studies, including an independent work of at least 15 credits. The ability to assimilate academic material in English and a command of the language necessary for work on the thesis are prerequisites for admission to the degree programme.

Admission and employment

This position includes admission to third-cycle education, i.e. research level, and employment on a doctoral studentship at the School of Culture and Education at Södertörn University. The intended outcome for admitted students is a PhD. The programme covers 240 credits, which is the equivalent of four years of full-time study. The position may be extended by a maximum of one year due to the inclusion of departmental duties, i.e. education, research and/or administration (equivalent to no more than 20% of full-time). Other grounds for extension could be leave of absence because of illness or for service in the defence forces, an elected position in a trade union/student organisation, or parental leave.  Provisions relating to employment on a doctoral studentship are in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Sections 1-7.

Date of employment: 19 January 2026

General Syllabus for third-cycle programmes in Media and Communication Studies:  English version or Swedish version

Information about admission regulations including selection criteria, and third-cycle education at Södertörn University: English version or Swedish version

Application procedure

For more details, see this website under FAQ. Please use Södertörn University’s web-based recruitment system “ReachMee”. Click on the link "ansök" (apply) at the bottom of the announcement.

Your application should be written in English and must include:

- an application letter

- curriculum vitae

- degree certificate and certificates that demonstrate eligibility to apply for the position (if not written in English or Swedish/Norwegian/Danish, you must enclose a version that has been professionally translated)

- Bachelor’s essay and Master’s dissertation in the field in accordance with the entry requirements (if not written in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, you must enclose summaries of approximately 2500 words each, in addition to copies of the essay and the dissertation in the original language)

- a research plan (project plan) of between 1000 and 1500 words. The project’s relevance to Media and Communication Studies, Critical and Cultural Theory and the Graduate School must be clear.

- name and contact details for two reference persons, and a short note on their relationship to the applicant (for example supervisor).

If available, a maximum of three publications may also be attached.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Application deadline: 18 August 2025 at 23:59

Further information

Anne Kaun, Cluster Leader, Professor, Media and Communication Studies, anne.kaun@sh.se

Göran Bolin, Director of Studies (third cycle), Professor, Media and Communication Studies, goran.bolin@sh.se

Martina Sundström, Human Resources Officer, School of Culture and Education, martina.sundstrom@sh.se (questions about employment as a doctoral student)

Welcome with your application! 

Publications referred to must be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or arrives at Södertörn University after the closing date may be rejected.

The current employment is valid on condition that the employment decision becomes valid.

Union representatives:

SACO: info.saco@sh.se

ST: st@sh.se

SEKO: Henry Wölling tel: +46 8 524 840 80, henry.wolling@ki.se 

Södertörn University has made strategic advertisement choices for this recruitment. Therefore, we decline all contact with advertisers and other salespersons of advertisement.

URL to this page

https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/meet-sodertorn-university/this-is-sodertorn-university/vacant-positions?rmpage=job&rmjob=8996&rmlang=UK

October 15-17, 2025

Madrid and Salamanca (Spain)

Deadline (EXTENDED): August 20, 2025

ECREA CYM Mid-Term Conference

Children’s play is undergoing a profound transformation in a world increasingly shaped by algorithmic infrastructures. No longer confined to physical spaces or open-ended exploration, today’s play journeys are routed through opaque recommendation systems that curate stories, games, and peers according to commercial logic. What once fostered imagination and serendipity is now entangled in platforms that gamify interactions, influence tastes, and weave childhood experience into data-driven ecosystems.

At the heart of this transformation lies the architecture of algorithmic infrastructures. Research with young users shows how platforms like TikTok or YouTube Kids not only mediate choices but actively shape habits, preferences, and social bonds. Feeds become curated playgrounds where children’s agency is subtly engineered—reflecting not neutrality, but corporate interests.

Compounding this, we confront the datafication of childhood. Connected toys, wearables, and apps turn children into both data subjects and profitable data sources. Echoing Shoshana Zuboff’s concept of surveillance capitalism, children’s playful interactions now feed predictive analytics systems that anticipate and monetize their desires, reinforcing asymmetries of power and diminishing spaces for genuine, autonomous play.

Meanwhile, gamification strategies—such as points, badges, and infinite scroll designs—blur the lines between play, work, and consumption. Although they boost engagement, they also risk creating compulsive loops and fostering exploitative forms of participation, raising urgent ethical concerns around persuasive and addictive technologies.

In parallel, algorithmic personalization fosters polarization rather than just entertainment. Personalized feeds often create “echo chambers” that isolate children in homogeneous bubbles of opinion and taste. Surveys across Europe and North America show increasing parental concern about how these dynamics challenge civic dialogue, empathy, and coexistence, leading regulatory bodies like Ofcom to recommend interventions to mitigate divisive content exposure.

This algorithmic environment also heightens risks of exposure to hate, misogyny, and bias. Empirical studies reveal how quickly recommendation systems can escalate from benign content to extreme narratives, amplifying harmful discourses among adolescents. Simultaneously, the automated systems designed to moderate hate speech often replicate biases of race and gender, creating a double bind where marginalized voices are silenced even as harms proliferate.

The impact on mental health and privacy is equally profound. Teenagers themselves report links between heavy social-media use and challenges such as sleep disruption, anxiety, and declining self-esteem. Efforts by schools and parents to monitor and mitigate these risks—often through AI surveillance tools—introduce further tensions, raising fresh questions about trust, autonomy, and digital rights in educational and domestic spaces.

In response to these complex challenges, scholars call for a shift towards critical algorithmic literacy and reparative digital design. Instead of merely protecting young users through surveillance or restrictions, participatory approaches aim to empower them to interrogate and reshape the very infrastructures that mediate their digital lives. Such frameworks advocate for inclusive, plural, and rights-respecting online spaces that children and youth can co-create alongside educators, caregivers, designers, and policymakers.

This mid-term conference invites contributions that engage with these intertwined issues—algorithmic infrastructures, datafication, gamification, polarization, hate, mental health, critical literacy, and participatory design. We seek to foster a rich, interdisciplinary dialogue that advances our understanding of how play, pleasure, and participation are being fundamentally reconfigured under algorithmic conditions. We welcome submissions from scholars, educators, activists, designers, and practitioners working across media studies, childhood and youth studies, education, digital culture, AI, and ethics.

Key Topics (include but are not limited to):

• Algorithmic influence on play, imagination, and autonomy
• Media and information literacy in algorithmic environments: challenges and pedagogies
• Artificial intelligence and data: ethical tensions, transparency and children’s rights
• Platform design and children’s play behavior
• Branded content in youth media cultures: commercial influence and participatory formats
• Gamification and its educational/ethical implications
• Surveillance and datafication of children’s leisure
• Creative resistance: how children subvert algorithmic norms
• Play, inclusion and marginalization in digital spaces
• Digital well-being and psychological implications of algorithm-driven play
• Educational tools to foster critical play and media literacy
• Regulation, parental mediation and institutional responses

Format and Participation 

This CYM Mid-Term Conference 2025 will take place over three consecutive days, each with a distinct thematic and structural focus.

On 15 October, the event will open at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid with a day centered on youth participation and industry-academia dialogue. This first day aims to foreground the voices of children and to explore the intersections between research, media practice and policy through collaborative sessions and a special roundtable.

On 16 October, hosted at Universidad Villanueva (Madrid), the conference will feature the core parallel paper sessions, alongside two keynote lectures and an expert roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence and children’s media use. This central academic day will highlight critical perspectives on digital infrastructures, algorithmic mediation and well-being.

Finally, on 17 October, a Doctoral Colloquium will be held at Universidad de Salamanca, exclusively dedicated to PhD students working on topics related to children, youth and media in digital environments. This session offers a supportive space for doctoral researchers to present their research projects, conceptual frameworks, and methodological approaches, whether they are in early or advanced stages of development. Each participant will receive constructive feedback from senior scholars in the field, as well as input from peers, with the aim of strengthening their academic work and expanding their research networks. The colloquium is designed to foster dialogue, mentoring and scholarly exchange, and to provide visibility for emerging voices within the CYM and ECREA communities.

This conference prioritizes in-person participation. All accepted presentations will be delivered onsite, fostering direct interaction, collaboration and networking. However, the Doctoral Colloquium on 17 October will exceptionally offer a hybrid participation option for PhD students, allowing for remote presentations in justified cases.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit an abstract of 300–400 words, clearly stating:

• Research question and relevance to the theme
• Theoretical framework and/or methodology
• Key findings or expected insights

For the Doctoral Colloquium taking place on October 17, participants are invited to submit 300-400 words text clearly stating:

• Title of the research project
• Research context and relevance (why is this topic important?)
• Main research questions or objectives
• Theoretical and/or methodological approach
• Current stage of the research
• One or two specific aspects you would like to receive feedback on

Submissions must be in English. Authors can only submit 2 proposals as first author.

Abstracts must be submitted exclusively via the following form:

https://forms.gle/kCMiFVbZ3eyAyvqAA

Submissions sent by email will not be considered.

Deadline (EXTENDED): August 20, 2025

Notification of acceptance: July 29^th, 2025/ September 10th, 2025

For any questions related to this call or the submission process, please write to us at: ecrea.cym.2025.madsal@gmail.com

Organizers

This conference is a Mid-Term Conference of the Children, Youth and Media (CYM) Section of ECREA, supported by Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad Villanueva and CÁTEDRA RTVE USAL (Universidad de Salamanca).

Chairs:

• Patricia Núñez Gómez, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
• Beatriz Feijoo, Universidad Villanueva (Spain)
• Teresa Martín García, Universidad de Salamanca (Spain) / Cátedra RTVE-USAL (Spain)

Organizing Team:

• Patricia Lafuente Pérez, Universidad Villanueva (Spain)
• Jose Alberto Irarrázaval, Universidad de Navarra (Spain)
• Isabel Rodrigo, Universidad de Valladolid (Spain)
• Luis Rodrigo, Universidad de Valladolid (Spain)
• Maciej Wysokinski, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
• William González Baquero, Universidad Salamanca (Spain)
• Álvaro Núñez, Universidad Salamanca (Spain)

Scientific Committee

This CYM Mid-Term Conference 2025 is supported by a diverse and interdisciplinary Scientific Committee, composed of international scholars and experts in the fields of media, communication, childhood and youth studies and digital culture.

• Félix Ortega, Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
• Ana Filipa Oliveira, Lusófona University (Portugal)
• Patricia Núñez Gómez, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
• Beatriz Feijoo, Universidad Villanueva (Spain)
• Teresa Martín García, Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
• Carlos Arcila Calderón, Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
• Tomás Atarama Rojas, Universidad de Piura (Perú)
• Erika Fernández Gómez, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (Spain)
• Jonathan Hardy, University of the Arts London (United Kingdom)
• Viera Kacinová, Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave (Slovakia)
• Herminder Kaur, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom)
• Patricia Lafuente Pérez, Universidad Villanueva (Spain)
• Kepa Larrañaga, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
• Iain MacRury, University of Stirling (United Kingdom)
• Mónica Mongui, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
• Pedro Moura, University of Minho (Portugal)
• Sara Pereira, University of Minho (Portugal)
• Clarisse Pessôa Universidade Europeia (Portugal)
• Isabel Rodrigo, Universidad de Valladolid (Spain)
• Luis Rodrigo, Universidad de Valladolid (Spain)
• Sandrina Teixeira, Instituto Politécnico de Oporto (Portugal)
• Arantxa Vizcaíno Verdú, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (Spain)
• Maciej Wysokinski, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)

Fees (registration September 30^th)

15, 16, 17 of October 2025

• ECREA Members (regular): €100
• ECREA Members (Junior scholars*): €50
• Non-ECREA Members (regular): €150
• Non-ECREA Members (Junior scholars*): €70

*Junior Scholars (PhDs, early career up to a year after finishing their PhD)

October 17-19, 2025

Cairo, Egypt

Deadline: July 20, 2025

In today’s high velocity digital media markets and accelerating AI revolution, competence in management and leadership are critical success factors. It is especially important to develop mastery in leveraging creativity as a strategic resource for strengthening competitive advantages in company processes, products, market relationships, and business models. The complexity of digital disruption makes innovation and creativity a necessity for long-term sustainability. Company success requires competencies in emerging digital technologies and fostering organizational cultures that encourage experimentation, agility and respect for ethical responsibilities. Strategic managers are challenged with demands to rethink orientations, practices, and structures, to redesign business models, and to boost productivity by improving efficiencies that can be gained by harnessing AI technologies. Doing so raises ethical and legal issues pertaining to intellectual property rights and managing human creativity.

The International Media Management Academic Association (IMMAA) invites submissions for its 19th Annual Conference, hosted by The American University in Cairo (AUC), October 17–19, 2025. Join global scholars and industry leaders to explore “Managing Innovation and Creativity for Sustainability in Media Companies” in the dynamic setting of Cairo, Egypt. Read full call for papers here (www.immaaegypt.com) 

KEY THEMES

Topics include (but are not limited to):

• Innovation in media management theory/practice
  
• AI-driven business analytics & ethical frameworks
  
• Leadership for creativity and organizational agility
  
• Evolving media business models & market strategies
  
• Cross-cultural management challenges
  
• Media policy, regulation, and sustainability
  
• Advances in advertising, marketing, and digital tech

IMPORTANT DATES

• June 20, 2025: Abstract/panel proposal deadline
  
• July 7- August 7, 2025: Acceptance notifications
  
• July 7 – Sept 15: Early registration
  
• Oct 17–19: Conference dates

Keynote Speakers:

Charlie Becket: Director of Polis and the Polis/LSE JournalismAI project, London School of Economics; 

Edson Tandoc: Associate Chair, Research and Strategy; Professor, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Noha Mellor: Media Professor at the University of Sharjah, UAE.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Papers: Extended abstracts (750–1,000 words) outlining focus, methods, and relevance to media management.

Panels: 300-word proposal + 300-word abstracts per presentation + panelist bios.

Submit via email to: immaaegypt2025@aucegypt.edu (Double-blind peer-reviewed).

REGISTRATION FEES

Early registration:

• Faculty/Researcher: €70–270
  
• Grad Student: €50–150
  

Late registration:

• Faculty/Researcher: €120–320
  
• Grad Student: €100–200
  

Discounted rates for global participation. Full details on conference website.

WHY ATTEND?

• Engage with cutting-edge research and industry insights.
  
• Network in Cairo—home to the Pyramids, Nile cruises, and a vibrant cultural scene.
  
• Hosted by AUC, a leading MENA institution with world-class facilities.
  

LINKS & CONTACT

• Conference website: https://immaaegypt.com
  
• IMMAA website: www.immaa.org
  
• Questions? Email: immaaegypt2025@aucegypt.edu
  

Join us to advance media management scholarship amid Cairo’s historic wonders!

Journal of Media Business Studies (Special Issue)

Submission Deadline: October 24, 2025

Guest Editor: Eylem Yanardagoglu, Macromedia University

Inspired by the European Media Management Association’s (EMMA)  “emmahub workshop” held in Berlin (November 13-15, 2024), this special issue in the Journal of Media Business Studies addresses the intersection of media management and migration.

Diasporic communities, defined as groups of individuals who maintain cultural, social, or emotional ties to their country of origin while living abroad, present unique opportunities and challenges for the media industry. Despite their growing presence in Europe’s diversifying societies, the media needs of these communities are often inadequately addressed: they typically remain underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media coverage, and their specific interests are often not catered to. However, diasporic audiences also contribute significantly to media innovation through their entrepreneurial efforts to develop media offerings targeting their needs and fostering integration into their host societies. They also contribute to diverse consumption patterns.

This special issue aims to improve academic understanding and inform industry practice by focusing on the economic conditions and managerial as well as business consequences of effectively serving and representing diasporic communities. It will explore the creative and economic potential tapped by new media entrepreneurs, content creators, and established media companies from both the countries of origin and the host countries.

Scope and Possible Topics:

This special issue invites submissions that examine topics such as:

• Diasporic Audiences and Consumption Patterns:
  
• • How do diasporic communities/audiences engage with mainstream and alternative media?
  • What are the emerging trends in content preferences and distribution platforms among diasporic audiences?
  • How and why do diasporic media consumption patterns differ from those of the general population in the host country?
• Media Entrepreneurship and Innovation by and/or for Diasporic Communities, explaining:
  
• • Case studies of successful media startups founded and led by members of the diaspora.
  • Business models that effectively cater to the unique needs and preferences of diasporic audiences.
  • The role of technology and digital platforms in facilitating media entrepreneurship within diasporic communities.
• Representation and Inclusivity in Legacy Media:
  
• • Analysis of the barriers to equitable representation of diasporic voices and perspectives in traditional media institutions (e.g., news outlets, television networks).
  • Strategies for fostering inclusivity through diverse hiring practices, content development, and partnerships with diasporic communities.

Submission Guidelines:

• Submission deadline: 24 October 2025. Submissions will be handled on a rolling basis.
  
• Authors of selected submitted papers will be invited to a paper development workshop hosted at the Media, Management and Transformation Centre, Jönköping International Business School, Sweden, 20-21 November 2025.
  
• Submissions follow the author guidelines for the Journal of Media Business Studies (Submit to Journal of Media Business Studies).
  
• Submission Process: Submit manuscripts electronically through the journal's online submission system. The system can be accessed from the journal’s webpage (Journal of Media Business Studies | Taylor & Francis Online).
  
• Peer Review: All submissions will undergo an initial check by the editor-in-chief and the special issue editor. Submissions of high quality and a good fit with the special issue topic will undergo a double-blind peer-review process.
  

Expected Contributions:

This special issue aims to:

• Advance scholarly understanding of the economic and cultural contributions of diasporic communities to the media industry.
  
• Provide actionable insights for media managers, policymakers, and industry professionals to foster inclusivity and innovation.
  
• Highlight best practices for balancing commercial and ethical imperatives in media production and management within the context of diasporic communities.
  

Contact:

For any inquiries regarding the special issue, please contact the special issue editor Eylem Yanardagoglu (e.yanardagoglu@macromedia.de) or the editor-in-chief Leona Achtenhagen (acle@ju.se).

NB: No payment from the authors will be required.

Polis (Special Issue)

Deadline: September 1, 2025

In recent years, the international landscape has been shaken by profound and rapid transformations: the war in Ukraine, the erosion of the US-led global order, increasing tensions within in transatlantic relations, and the proliferation of systemic challenges — Including climate change, energy crises, migration, digital disruptions — are reshaping the foundations of global governance. In this evolving scenario, the European Union (EU) is facing a critical political and institutional juncture, one that may mark a turning point in its historical evolution. These dynamics are testing the EU’s capacity to adapt, respond, and redefine its role on the global stage, while also prompting introspection about its internal cohesion, democratic legitimacy, and long-term strategic direction.

Beyond these institutional and international developments, social transformations, public opinion and media representations are also playing an increasingly central role. European citizens are responding in complex and sometimes contradictory ways: while many call for greater EU sovereignty and protection, others express growing mistrust towards supranational institutions and elites, oftentimes supporting Eurosceptic political parties. At the same time, profound social transformations are shaping the ways in which European societies perceive and engage with the idea of the EU. Changing social identities, shifting values, and new forms of collective action are central to understanding how legitimacy, belonging, and solidarity are constructed and contested. From everyday practices to broader public discourses, individuals and groups negotiate their relationship to European institutions through experiences marked by inequality, cultural tension, and symbolic recognition. These dynamics, which reflect deeper social structures and power relations, contribute to the polarization of attitudes but also open spaces for the emergence of new imaginaries of unity, resilience, and common purpose.

This ‘new political moment’ calls for a collective and multidisciplinary reflection on the EU’s capacity for reinvention, both internally and in its external projection. We thus invite empirical contributions that explore these developments and their implications for the EU.

The special issue aims to bring together emerging and innovative research that reflects on the EU’s capacity to reinvention in the face of shifting geopolitical dynamics and complex internal challenges. We encourage contributions that adopt interdisciplinary approaches, drawing from sociology, political science, international relations, economics, and other related disciplines.

We welcome empirical articles that critically examine the implications of recent global and regional transformations for the EU. Contributions may focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• A new institutional architecture for the future EU
  

Assessment of ongoing and proposed institutional reforms (e.g., ending unanimity, strengthening the European parliament, expanding shared competences, etc.) and the tensions between supranational integration and national sovereignty. What modes of governance can best meet the demand for democratic legitimacy and policy effectiveness? How are different member states positioning themselves in the debate on EU reform? What role do crises and external pressures play in accelerating or hindering institutional change?

• The EU’s role in the emerging international (dis)order
  

Exploration of EU strategies in a multipolar world: strategic autonomy, common defense, relations with the US, China, Russia, and the Global South. What future lies ahead for the EU as a geopolitical actor amid conflicts, regionalization or deglobalization, and global competition? How do internal divisions and external pressures shape its ability to act coherently on the global stage? How is the EU navigating its pursuit of strategic autonomy, the development of common defense capabilities, and its evolving relationships with key global actors — including the United States, China, Russia, and the countries of the Global South?

• Public policies and multilevel governance in response to new challenges
  

Evaluation of major EU policies (e.g., NextGenerationEU, Green Deal and energy strategies) and their effects on territorial cohesion and multi-level coordination between EU institutions, member states, and regional authorities. How is European governance evolving to cope with complex and interrelated crises? What tensions or innovations are emerging in the interplay between national prerogatives and supranational priorities?

• Towards inclusive digital transformation in EU
  

The digital revolution — encompassing the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and the broader digital transformation of societies and economies — represents a critical and complex dimension change. The role of the EU in shaping digital governance, including regulatory frameworks for data, platforms, AI, and emerging technologies. However, this transformation also risks deepening digital inequalities — between regions, generations, and social groups — if not guided by inclusive and human-centric policies. How does digitalization affect European sovereignty, competitiveness, and democracy?

• Institutional communication and EU narratives
  

Analysis of how EU institutions communicate and legitimize their policies and actions, both within the Union and on the global stage. What narratives are being promoted in response to global challenges? How is the EU’s role conveyed to citizens and international partners? To what extent are institutional communication strategies effective in fostering public engagement, countering disinformation, and strengthening the EU’s international visibility and credibility?

• Citizens’ attitudes and perceptions toward the EU
  

Investigation of changes in European public opinion: trust in institutions, European identity, support for integration, attitudes toward sovereignty, security and solidarity. How have recent crises shaped citizens’ connection to the European project? What divides and convergences emerge across member states, generations, or political orientations? What implications does this have for democratic legitimacy and participation?

• Media representations and the EU in collective imaginaries
  

Research on how the EU is portrayed in legacy and digital media, political discourse, and popular culture is particularly welcome. What images of Europe circulate in the public sphere, and how do they influence perceptions of the EU and its legitimacy? What role do social media platforms, algorithms, and influencers play in shaping attitudes toward the EU? Special attention may also be given to the imaginaries produced through entertainment media—such as television series, films, and online content—which increasingly contribute to the construction of narratives around European identity, solidarity, and geopolitical power. How do these media narratives reflect, reinforce, or contest dominant visions of Europe and its role in the world?

Submission guidelines/instructions Abstract submission instruction

Authors are encouraged to submit the title and an abstract of their planned article by September 1, 2025. The abstract (which can be written in English or Italian) should be 600 words (references excluded) and should include: aims/research questions, methodology, findings, main contribution, and a short statement of how the submission is related to this call for papers.

Please submit the title and long abstract by email to the guest editors (Marco Valbruzzi marco.valbruzzi@unina.it; Cecilia Manzo cecilia.manzo@unicatt.it; polis@cattaneo.org) with the subject line: “Special Issue Polis abstract”. 

Submission instruction

The editors, with editorial board, will review the submission and invite the selected authors to submit a final manuscript. Final manuscripts will undergo the usual double-blind peer-review process.

Please refer to the Author Guidelines of Polis to prepare your manuscript: https://www.rivisteweb.it/issn/1120-9488/informazioni#come-si-sottopone 

Timeline

Deadline to submit long abstracts: September 1, 2025 Abstract acceptance notification: September 22, 2025

Submission deadline of final manuscripts: February 28, 2026 Expected publication date: July 2026 (Polis 2/2026)

Guest Editors

Marco Valbruzzi, University of Naples Federico II, marco.valbruzzi@unina.it Cecilia Manzo, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, cecilia.manzo@unicatt.it

Polis: https://www.cattaneo.org/pubblicazioni/polis/

Cfp: https://www.mulino.it/riviste/a/issn/1120-9488/newsitem/442

November 3-7, 2025

Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic

Deadline: July 31, 2025

https://culcorc.fsv.cuni.cz/phd-course-on-discourse-theory/

We have reopened the call for applications to the Prague PhD Course on Discourse Studies and Method. A limited number of spots are still available, and the new application deadline is 31 July 2025.

Course coordinator and leader: Nico Carpentier

Course credits: 5 credits

Course location: Centrum Voršilská, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Dates: 03 - 07 November 2025

Contact person: Mazlum Kemal Dagdelen

COURSE BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The course aims to discuss two methods in the field of discourse studies: Discourse-theoretical analysis (DTA) and Discursive-material analysis (DMA). Both are grounded in so-called high theory, with discourse theory as its main starting point, but with elements of actor-network theory and new materialism. This course will start with an introduction to these theoretical models but will then move on to their analytical deployment in communication and media studies research. 

Special attention will be spent on the creation of a theory-grounded analytical model to guide the research. Apart from attending lectures, participants will be expected to participate in both theoretical and research-driven workshops.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of this course, successful students will be able to:

• have a deeper understanding of the field of discourse studies and, in particular, of its discourse-theoretical component; 
  
• have a deeper understanding of the theoretical relationship between the discursive and the material;
  
• know how to translate discourse-theoretical models into analytical practice through the use of the notion of the sensitising concept (applied to discourse theory and to discourse-theoretical rereading of other theories);
  
• set up an analytical model for a discourse-theoretical analysis and a discursive-material analysis.
  

TEACHING AND EVALUATION

The one-week course will be organised in 10 teaching slots, combining lectures and workshops. These workshops are partially theoretical (presenting an article or chapter) and partially research-driven (presenting an analytical model). 

A certificate (with a grade “Pass”) is given after 1) attendance of a minimum of 8 meetings, 2) a working group theoretical presentation, and 3) an individual case study presentation.

AVAILABLE PARTICIPANT SLOTS AND COSTS

A total of 20 participant slots are available. Following the first round of applications, only a limited number of places remain.

Participants are required to pay for their travel and accommodation costs, and all other expenses.

APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION

To apply to this course, the following three documents have to be submitted:

• A motivation letter
  
• A brief description/abstract of the ongoing (PhD) research (including the current stage of the research) 
  
• A CV (including information about your university affiliation and your contact information)

Please use the form on the CULCORC website to submit your application. If you need assistance regarding registration, please get in touch with Mazlum Kemal Dağdelen, mazlum.dagdelen@fsv.cuni.cz

The new deadline for the application submission is 31 July 2025. The accepted applicants will receive further details for registration and payment in due time.

COURSE READINGS

Main reading:

Carpentier, Nico (2017). The Discursive-Material Knot: Cyprus in Conflict and Community Media Participation. New York: Peter Lang.

Secondary readings:

Butler, Judith (1993). Bodies that matter. On the discursive limits of 'sex'. New York, London: Routledge.

Dolphijn, Rick, van der Tuin, Iris (2012). New materialism: Interviews and cartographies. Ann Arbor: Open Humanities Press.

Glynos, Jason, Howarth, David (2007). Logics of critical explanation in social and political theory. London and New York: Routledge.

Howarth, David (2000). Discourse. Buckingham, Philadelphia: Open University Press.

Howarth, David (2012). "Hegemony, political subjectivity, and radical democracy", in Simon Critchley and Oliver Marchart (eds.) Laclau: A critical reader. London: Routledge, pp. 256-276.

Howarth, David, Stavrakakis, Yannis (2000). “Introducing discourse theory and political analysis”, in David Howarth, Aletta J. Norval and Yannis Stavrakakis (eds.) Discourse theory and political analysis. Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 1-23.

Laclau, Ernesto, Mouffe, Chantal (1985). Hegemony and Socialist Strategy: Towards a Radical Democratic Politics. London: Verso.

Latour, Bruno (2005). Reassembling the social. An introduction to Actor-network theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Mouffe, Chantal (2005). On the Political. London: Routledge.

Philips, Louise, Jørgensen, Marianne W. (2002). Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method. London: Sage.

Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty (1988). "Can the subaltern speak?", in Cary Nelson and Lawrence Grossberg (eds.) Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, pp. 271-313.

Torfing, Jacob (1999). New Theories of Discourse: Laclau, Mouffe, and Zizek. Oxford: Blackwell

Follow CULCORC on Bluesky and Mastodon

September 9, 2025

The University of Sheffield 

Deadline (EXTENDED): July 27, 2025

Online presentations are also accepted.

R. Murray Schafer said that “the sense of hearing cannot be closed off at will. There are no earlids. When we go to sleep, our perception of sound is the last door to close and it is also the first to open when we awaken” (Schafer, 1977, p. 11). The experience of  “Thinking through sound” is not only a sensory experience but also its a phenomenon that shapes how we perceive the society and the world, and make meaning of life.  This notion also intersects with different fields: media, philosophy, cultural studies, gender, acoustic ecology, musicology, audio accessibility, urban sounds, artificial intelligence, among others. But what is the conception of thinking through sound in the different areas of studies? Sound manifests itself in various formats and shapes across different times and spaces. How can we think through sound in both everyday life and broader societal issues? How can we think our research through sound -even if sound is not the center of the research? In what ways does sound contribute to other disciplines and vice versa? How can sound shape our methodologies?  Can sound play a role in how we reflect on and within our research practices? Can sound play a role in revealing the archive of resistances, tracing the history and building identity? Keeping this in mind, how can sound be used as a tool in research? These questions are an invitation to explore the multiplicity of sound—as medium, metaphor, method, and memory. We are inviting paper abstracts, proposals that revolve around, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Art, Creativity and Culture
  
• Sound, Technology and Communication
  
• Gender, Sexuality and Sound
  
• Memory and Archives
  
• Urban Spaces and Acoustics
  
• Acoustic Ecology and Activism
  
• Sound and Epistemology
  
• Sound/ Music Industries
  
• Music Production and Sound Design 
  
• Cinema and Sound
  
• Therapeutic Sounds 
  

Submission Guidelines:

Deadline for Abstracts (EXTENDED): July 27, 2025

Format: 300-500 word abstract

Include: Name, institutional affiliation, short bio (max 100 words), and indication if you prefer to present online or in person

Submit to: https://forms.gle/vhRNBpNegTiMx8RdA

This event is an opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, share your research, and contribute to a growing field of radio and sound. We look forward to hearing from you

With warm regards,

ECREA Postgraduate Conference Team

SFU School of Communication in the area of Journalism and Platforms

The School of Communication at Simon Fraser University (SFU) is inviting applications for a one-year Postdoctoral position as an integral part of a SSHRC funded Insight Grant, with the possibility to extend to a second year. This post is a unique opportunity for a researcher who has completed their PhD or will have their degree completed by September 1st 2025 and works at the intersections of media and communication policy, governance, journalism and platform studies. The successful candidate will work together with Associate Professor Dr. Sarah Ganter. Deadline to apply is August 15th, the position is open to Canadian and international candidates. SFU is an equity employer and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, persons with disabilities, persons with English as additional language and others who will further diversify the university.

Your qualifications

• You will have completed your PhD degree in journalism or media and communication studies by September 1st 2025.
• You are excited about topics at the intersection of journalism, policy, and platform studies and appreciate comparative work
• You have experience in survey design, quantitative analysis and also are interested in mixed methods designs
• You have a developing publications record
• You are comfortable working with computers and willing to use new software and project management tools
• Your written and spoken English is excellent, fluency in French would be a plus
• You have excellent communication skills and appreciate and embrace teamwork and collegiality
• You are dedicated, curious, enthusiastic and have distinct organizational skills

Your work

• 35hrs/week Postdoctoral position, as part of a SSHRC funded Insight Grant
  
• Leading the research on the project together with the PI
  
• Leading the development of survey design and analysis, semi-structured interview guidelines together with the PI
  
• Leading the research project, analysis and interpretation of data together with the PI
  
• Active involvement in outreach and publication activities
  
• Attending team meetings on Burnaby Campus and occasionally with our consortium members online
  
• Administrative coordination, where feasible (e.g. ethics approval)
  
• Your workplace will be on the SFU Burnaby Mountain Campus in Burnaby, BC,Canada (Metro Vancouver)
  
• Mayority in-person presence will be required
  

What we offer

• Annual salary is $70,000 CAD
  
• Benefits available
  
• Additional funding to present work from the project at conferences
  
• Workplace on SFU’s Burnaby Mountain Campus
  
• Access to an international network of scholars and a local scholarly and student-driven community
  
• Professional mentorship
  
• Access to additional training programs as provided by SFU Library
  
• We advocate for and value work-life balance in academia
  
• We advocate for and value diversity and collegiality in academia and beyond
  

You can find information about the different activities of the research group you willbe part of here: https://www.sfu.ca/communication/research/labs/independent-journalisms-edit/team-edit.html;https://www.sfu.ca/communication/research/labs/cultural-industries-in-acute-crisis.html;

Application Requirements

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents in a single PDF file:

1.Letter of interest: outlining your reasons for applying, your qualifications, and fit for the position, as well as potential start date (1-2 pages)2.A short research portfolio: outlining your research agenda plans beyond your PhD (1-2 pages)3.Academic curriculum vitae: Include academic degrees, achievements, research experience, and professional background. If applicable, include a list of your research publications and conference presentations.4.Three academic reference letters5.Transcripts: Provide academic transcripts of all your degrees.6.Two samples of academic writing (these can be published, forthcoming or in progress)7.

Deadline: August 15th

Application Process

Please send your complete application as a single PDF file to sganter@sfu.ca with the subject line: Post-doctoral Position—[Your Name]. The applications will be reviewed after the deadline and interviews will be conducted online where feasible.

About the SFU School of Communication

Located in Metro Vancouver, Canada, the SFU School of Communication is a leading school for research and education in communication studies. Our faculty is committed to fostering a vibrant, diverse academic community that addresses critical issues of public concern through interdisciplinary and collaborative research.

For questions about this call, please contact sganter@sfu.ca.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to the School of Communication at SFU!

January 8-9, 2025

Bournemouth University, UK

Deadline: September 26, 2025

You are warmly invited to submit papers for presentation at the joint annual conference of the Political Studies Association’s Media and Politics Group & Technology, Information and Policy Group 

This year’s conference theme, “Navigating Digital Democracy,” will explore the intersection of technology, media, and politics in shaping democratic practices and governance.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, technology plays a central role in influencing political discourse, policy development, citizen engagement, and the broader democratic process. From the amplification of polarizing and anti-democratic voices to the facilitation of political campaigning and pro-democracy movements, the dynamics of digital technology are both challenging and enriching the foundations of democratic societies. This conference seeks to critically examine the opportunities and risks technology presents in these areas.

We welcome paper submissions that address any of the following topics*:

• Do digital platforms impact citizen engagement and connection? How do digital platforms facilitate civic engagement, political participation, democratise political representation, and allow for access to the political process?
  
• What is the role of digital platforms in political campaigning? How are digital technologies and platforms reshaping campaign strategies, political marketing, civic participants, and voter engagement?
  
• The amplification of polarising and anti-democratic voices through digital platforms: how do social media platform rules and algorithms impact political discussion, polarisation, and harmful rhetoric?
  
• What role do digital platforms play in informing or misinforming citizens? What are the ethical implications of misinformation, what are the consequences of misinformation on political trust and accountability?
  
• What role do deepfake and AI-generated images play in shaping political narratives?
  
• How are digital platforms impacting social movements and democratic engagement? Are digital platforms providing spaces for pro-democracy movements in otherwise hostile states, are they havens of free speech or do they offer limited offline impact?
  
• The impact of generative technology on policy development; how does this simplify complex issues, perpetuate inequalities, or aid swift and dynamic changes to legislation?
  
• What is the role of digital games in contemporary politics? How can digital games be used to promote civic engagement and political awareness? How have online multiplayer games become spaces for political discussion and activism?

We encourage submissions from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including but not limited to political science, media studies, communication, sociology, law, and technology studies. Submissions are welcomed from scholars at all career stages, including PhD candidates and early-career researchers, as well as practitioners engaged in media, politics or related fields.

*While the main theme of this conference is navigating digital democracy, the MPG and TIP operate an open and inclusive policy, and papers dealing with any aspect of media, technology and politics are welcomed. Papers may focus on areas from political communication and journalism to data, artificial intelligence, social media and tech policy; but also include a broader view of the political sphere within such areas as television, cinema and media arts, both factual and fictional. In addition to academic research, the conference will also welcome practice-based work in art, film and performance related to the area of media and politics.

There are two ways to attend this conference. There is an in-person conference held in Bournemouth, UK, on 8-9 January 2026. For those who cannot make it in person but who wish to participate, we will host an online conference on 7th January 2026. Both will include a keynote presentation (TBA).

Please note this is not a hybrid conference and the in-person conference will not be streamed online.  

Key dates:

• Friday 26th Sept 2025. Deadline for paper submission
  
• Early October 2025. Paper proposers notified of the decision by the conference committee. Conference registration opens. 
  
• Friday 19th December 2025. Extended abstract deadline for James Thomas Memorial Prize applicants. 
  
• Wednesday 7th January 2026. Online conference. 
  
• 8-9th January 2026. Conference held in Bournemouth

Submitting proposals

We welcome both paper and panel proposals for this conference. 

Paper proposals should be for 15 minute presentations. Submitted abstracts should be no more than 300 words (excluding references).

If you wish to propose a panel, please note for following stipulations:

• Panel proposals should include a panel overview (max. 300 words), outlining the title, synopsis, and chair details, as well as the abstracts for each contributor (no more than 250 words each).
• Panels usually consist of three to four papers and a chair.
• Panels should aim to reflect the diversity of the profession.

Please submit all proposals through this online form: https://forms.gle/i5wtmmWKeJexva2m8  

Registration fees

For PSA members, the cost of in-person attendance is £125 for salaried academics and £75 for PGR/low waged.

For non-PSA members, the cost of in-person attendance is £150 for salaried academics and £85 for PGR/low waged.

This covers lunches, coffee breaks, a drinks reception and the annual dinner. It also includes access to the online conference.

For the online conference the cost of attendance for participants is £30 for salaried academics and £20 for PGR/low waged.

Financial support

The PSA offers a limited number of travel subsidies (up to the value of £100) to support postgraduate student participation in this event. Postgraduate students interested in applying for these subsidies should please note this when submitting. 

James Thomas Memorial Prize

Extended abstracts of a maximum of 2000 words submitted by postgraduate students will be entered into the James Thomas Memorial Prize. This annual award is presented to the most outstanding paper by a postgraduate student at the Media & Politics Group Annual Conference. Postgraduate students wishing to be considered for the prize should send extended abstracts to Dan Jackson:  jacksond@bournemouth.ac.uk by 19th December 2025.  

About Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a coastal town and resort located in the South West of England, in the county of Dorset. Bournemouth is about 94 miles (151 km) southwest of London. It has good transport links with its own airport, and rail links to Southampton Airport (35 minutes), Heathrow Airport (2 hours) and London Waterloo (2 hours).

Famous for its sandy beaches, Bournemouth attracts 3.5 million visitors every year and is home to a vibrant nightlife, international cuisine, and a Premier League football team. Bournemouth is also one of the fastest digital and creative hubs in the UK with some 400 digital, creative communication agencies operating in the area.

The award-winning Faculty of Media & Communication at Bournemouth University (BU) comprises over 4,000 students and more than 250 academic staff across four Departments. The Faculty is one of the leading destinations for the study of creative media in the United Kingdom, based on a combination of top-quality education, world leading research and industry-standard professional practice. 

About the PSA

The Political Studies Association (https://www.psa.ac.uk/) is the UK’s leading association in the study and research of politics. The Media and Politics Group and Technology, Information and Policy Groups are welcoming and inclusive. The conference welcomes contributions both from members and non-members of the Political Studies Association. 

Organising committee

Dan Jackson. Bournemouth University

Sarah Ledoux. University of Manchester

Darren Lilleker. Bournemouth University

Liam McLoughlin. University of Liverpool

Amy Tatum. Bournemouth University

Anastasia Veneti. Bournemouth University

Deadline (extended): July 31, 2025

The 9th issue of Mediatization Studies is on the horizon – and it’s shaping up to be one of our most exciting yet! 

Mediatization Studies is an open access, peer-reviewed academic journal published by Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland). The journal ensures a double-blind review process and does not charge any publication fees.

This upcoming edition will explore some of today’s most urgent and thought-provoking themes:

• Large Language Models (LLMs)
  
• Legal and ethical frameworks of AI
  
• Instagram users and algorithmic cultures
  

If your research lies at the intersection of mediatization and artificial intelligence, we invite you to join—and shape—this timely scholarly conversation.

Author guidelines are available here: https://journals.umcs.pl/ms/about/submissions#authorGuidelines