European Communication Research and Education Association
Deadline: July 31, 2025
mediastudies.press, the scholar-led and nonprofit OA publisher, is happy to announce that our annual proposal window, which opened on 1 June, closes on 31 July, 2025. Authors are encouraged to submit a proposal for review.
mediastudies.press welcomes submissions from scholars across media, communication, and film studies. We currently publish in four series:
We are small and artisanal by mission, and aim to publish just five books a year. Given the volume of proposals that we receive—and with our production schedule in mind—we maintain an annual proposal window (1 June to 31 July), for the review of manuscripts slated for publication in the following calendar year. You are welcome to send informal queries outside these dates, but our general practice is to only consider proposals within the annual window. Each year, we review proposals with an initial reply by August 30, with the aim to conduct peer review of proposals of expressed interest by the end of September.
mediastudies.press is an open-access publisher for the media and communication studies fields. The press is nonprofit and scholar-led. We publish living works, with iterative updates stitched into our process. And we encourage multi-modal submissions that reflect the mediated environments our authors study.
Publishing with mediastudies.press is free on principle. Our aim is to demonstrate, on a small scale, an open-access publishing model supported by libraries rather than author fees, via the Open Book Collective. Open access for readers, we believe, should not be traded for new barriers to authorship.
All our published works are rigorously peer-reviewed, and receive unusual editorial attention. We prioritize discoverability through careful metadata, library records, and directory listings. As a scholar-run operation, our publicity outreach is uncommonly informed by the fields’ intellectual contours.
We kindly ask that proposals be submitted as a single PDF. Proposals should include the following elements, in addition to at least one draft chapter:
To submit your work to mediastudies.press please follow our submission link.
If you have any questions at all about the proposal process for books, please contact us at press@mediastudies.press
Jeff Pooley, co-director of mediastudies.press
Dave Park, co-director of mediastudies.press
October 15, 2025
Madrid and Salamanca, Spain
Early bird submission deadline: September 10 (inclusive)
Late submission deadline: October 15 (inclusive)
https://eventos.us.es/138341/detail/ai-children-and-youth-transforming-media-play-and-social-interaction.html
Artificial intelligence (AI) is (re)defining the way children and teenagers relate to media, play, as well as their social interactions. Through chatbots and voice assistants, applications (storytelling, language learning, emotional recognition, etc.), and virtual/interactive educational games, AI-driven tools are becoming essential companions in their digital experiences. This conference aims to explore the cultural and social impacts of these changes, focusing on AI’s influence on digital self-expression, play-related experiences, intergenerational relationships, and audio-visual production. Rather than perceiving AI merely as a neutral instrument, our goal is to explore its role as a cultural force that guides the ways in which young individuals relate to media and the world surrounding them.
From this standpoint, we seek submissions that examine the role of play (both physical and digital) within artificial intelligence: as a medium for literacy development; to personalize the learning experience by adapting activities based on a child’s responses; to simulate and create virtual realities where children can establish forms of communication with one another (e.g., Animal Crossing); for narrative construction and image generation; to explore their environment through a dual modality of discovery (e.g., Pokemon Go); and in instances where the user is required to engage physically, among other aspects. How do these factors shape the way youngsters learn, play and interact with each other?
In this sense, AI driven tools present new creative opportunities for young people, yet they may also limit these opportunities due to algorithmic biases and the lack of autonomy in children’s decision-making. AI tools for content creation, such as story generation or character illustration may be configured to reinforce biases related to race or gender (e.g., “create a character” and the image generated is a white male). Simultaneously, algorithmic personalization, which depends on user data (e.g., likes, previous choices, etc.), has an impact on the construction of media referents and the identities of young individuals. As AI customizes content according to “preferences” and responses, children and adolescents are presented with specific representations that either reinforce stereotypes or, conversely, exclude them from certain categories. Such exposure can significantly influence the identity that youth develop.
Furthermore, contributions exploring the influence of AI on intergenerational relationships are also encouraged. Children’s exposure and engagement with AI-based content can sometimes exceed the understanding of parents and caregivers. However, AI also presents opportunities for fostering intergenerational connections. For instance, AI-driven educational games may create a collaborative environment where both children and adults can jointly explore the ethical, creative, and social ramifications of emerging technologies.
Ultimately, as audiovisual media remains central to Communication Studies, AI is also transforming the practices of content creators who produce for young audiences. The increasing use of generative AI in the creative industries has raised concern among screenwriters and animators, triggering debates around authorship, ethics, and creative ownership, as evidenced by recent writers’ strikes and the controversy surrounding AI- generated images that imitate established artistic styles. Simultaneously, children’s media also incorporates these issues into its narratives, often oscillating between utopian promise and dystopian threat, as seen in films like The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Mike Rianda, 2021) or The Wild Robot (Chris Sanders, 2024). These representations are key in shaping how youth think about and relate to technology, trust, and agency, highlighting the need to analyze both the production and depiction of AI in contemporary storytelling and animation.
Key topics (included but not limited to):
Format and participation
This CYM Mid-Term Conference 2025 will be held over three days, divided into different thematic blocks.
PhD Workshop - Wednesday, November 19
This workshop is aimed at PhD students, and its main objective is to promote networking among participants before the start of the congress. It will be a meeting place to share lines of research, explore possible forms of collaboration, and encourage the creation of academic networks.
In addition to the open discussion and the opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting, the meeting will include a couple of talks focused on the use of artificial intelligence in relation to some of the key topics of the congress, which will be detailed in the program soon.
Conference - Thursday, November 20 and Friday, November 21
During these two days the congress will be held in its usual format, with parallel round tables dedicated to different thematic lines. We will have the participation of keynote speakers specialized in children's content and/or artificial intelligence. Also, there will be video essay projection sessions in the Home Cinema room, in order to give visibility to this format as a legitimate form of research and creation in academia.
The conference prioritizes face-to-face participation. The hybrid modality will only be considered in exceptional cases that justify it. In the case of video-essays, the physical presence of the author will not be mandatory, although it is recommended in case the audience wishes to ask questions after the screening.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions may consist of either individual presentations or panel proposals comprising no more than five contributors or co-authors. Proposals that are inter or multidisciplinary in nature are encouraged, and submissions from early-stage researchers are welcomed. We also consider the possibility of including video essays as a format of participation. A video essay is a short audiovisual piece that develops an argument, theory or critical analysis using the expressive tools of audiovisual language (editing, voice-over, music, or the use of images, including clips from films, series, animations, etc.). Video essays should be between 4 and 10 minutes long and must include English subtitles if the audio is in Spanish.
The individual proposal should include the following information:
● Title of the proposal
● Abstract (max. 300 words)
● Author name(s), institutional affiliation(s) and short bio (max. 100 words)
The panel proposal should include the following information:
● Panel abstract (max. 300 words)
● A maximum of 4–5 papers, each with:
1. Paper title
2. Abstract (max. 150 words)
3. Author’s name and affiliation
4. Short bio (max. 100 words)
Note: All participants must register individually once the panel is accepted.
The abstract should clearly state the topic of the research, the main arguments or research questions, its relevance to the conference theme, the theoretical framework and/or methodology used, as well as the expected findings or contributions.
Abstracts must be submitted in English. However, the registration form includes an option to indicate a preference for presenting in Spanish. Should a significant number of proposals be submitted in Spanish, a dedicated session in Spanish will be organized within the conference program.
The organizing committee is currently in contact with academic journals and publishing houses to explore potential publications arising from the conference. Additional details will be provided communicated in due course.
Here on the website, you’ll find a language selection tab at the top right corner. In the “Proposal Submission” section, you can fill out the form and submit your abstract. To do so, you will need to log in through your university or create an account as an external user — only then will the submission form become available.
For any questions, please contact us through the “Contact” section or by email at ecrea.cym.2025.sevilla@us.es.
Submission and Registration Deadlines
● Notification of acceptance: by September 25
● Notification of acceptance: by November 1
Please note: Abstracts will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis as they are received, aiming for the shortest possible turnaround time. If you submit an abstract after the early bird notification deadline (September 25), we may still be able to provide an acceptance decision by October 5 to allow registration at the early bird rate. However, this cannot be guaranteed, and the time available to complete payment will be shorter. Same applies for the late registration dates.
*To view the fees and deadlines for early and late registration, please visit the "Registration" section.
Organizers
This conference is a Mid-Term Conference of the Children, Youth and Media (CYM) Section of ECREA, supported by Universidad de Sevilla (Spain).
November 11-14, 2025
Lusófona University, Portugal
Deadline: September 26, 2025
The Media Literacy and Civic Cultures Lab – MeLCi Lab (Lusófona University, CICANT) is organising its V Autumn School from 11 to 14 November 2025 in the form of a bootcamp to boost research hands-on skills.
The MeLCi Lab Autumn School invites applications from PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scholars for a four-day intensive online program focused on innovative research methods at the intersection of AI, Communication, and Media Studies.
The School combines practical workshops and keynote lectures, allowing participants to develop hands-on skills with classical and AI-driven methodologies.
In 2025, the school’s AI tracks are specifically designed to meet the needs of media studies and PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and early-career scholars. Participants will explore case studies and practical examples directly relevant to media analysis, digital journalism, and content curation. The sessions will address unique challenges in media-related research, such as bias in content classification, audience segmentation, and the interpretative complexity of multimedia annotation. Interactive workshops and tailored exercises will enable participants to apply AI tools to media-specific datasets, ensuring immediate applicability and facilitating deeper understanding through experiential learning.
In this sense, contributions for the following tracks (not exclusively) will be considered.
Track 1: AI in Research Practice: Foundations, Methods, and Ethics
1. Foundations of current AI tools → Recent natural language processing (NLP) breakthroughs, particularly through large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini, have significantly transformed research methodologies across disciplines. The unprecedented accessibility and effectiveness of zero- and few-shot prompting techniques have led to widespread adoption, sometimes even replacing traditional human coders (Gilardi et al., 2023; Grossmann et al., 2023; Ziems et al., 2024). Yet, these powerful tools introduce critical concerns regarding reproducibility, transparency, and ethical use. Prompt stability and variability in LLM responses—affected by minor prompt adjustments—can challenge the replicability and accountability of research (Barrie et al., 2025). This subtrack equips researchers in communication science with essential knowledge of the theoretical foundations of contemporary AI tools, highlighting methodologies and best practices for their ethical and accountable use.
2. Accountable Literature Search Using AI Tools → AI-powered tools such as SciSpace and Litmaps have radically improved the efficiency and comprehensiveness of literature searches. However, the convenience of these tools requires heightened researchers’ accountability. This subtrack guides participants through strategies to validate AI-generated results, critically assess literature coverage, and maintain transparent documentation practices, ensuring methodological rigour and reliability in AI-assisted literature reviews.
3. AI-Assisted Data Annotation in Research Pipelines → Data annotation is a cornerstone in research pipelines, traditionally relying heavily on human coders. However, AI-based annotation tools are emerging as viable and highly effective alternatives, particularly for large datasets. Barrie et al. (2025) highlight that prompt stability—the consistency of AI-generated annotations across multiple semantically similar prompts—remains a significant challenge. This subtrack introduces participants to AI-driven annotation, focusing on practical approaches to enhancing annotation consistency through frameworks like Prompt Stability Scoring (PSS). Participants will gain hands-on experience in assessing and improving the reliability of AI annotations, integrating responsible AI practices into their research workflows.
Track 2: Communication, Audiences, and Civic Cultures in the Age of AI
1. Civic Cultures and Artificial Intelligence → AI can play a crucial role in how citizens engage with the digital world in contemporary times, and a set of opportunities and challenges emerge from it (Sarafis et al., 2025). This subtrack explores the impact of AI-driven platforms and recommendation algorithms on civic engagement, activism, and media literacy.
2. Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy in an AI-Mediated World → Leveraging AI and overcoming its challenges requires the development of broad and critical skill sets, the definition of which is still fuzzy (Chiu et al., 2024). This subtrack intends to explore critical media literacy skills in the era of misinformation, deepfakes, and algorithmic personalisation.
3. Data Ethics, Equity, and Inclusivity in AI Research → Different biases can emerge from the use of AIs, and the ethical implications of using different tools for knowledge production are still unclear. While AI is frequently represented as either a magical solution or a looming threat, our Autumn School aims to demystify AI, exploring its realistic capabilities, limitations, and responsible use (Ferrara, 2024; Ntoutsi et al., 2020). This subtrack will focus on responsible research practices, equity grants, and inclusive research design for underrepresented communities.
Participants do not require previous experience with AI or data science, as introductory modules will provide a foundational understanding.
The Autumn School will be conducted online and in English.
For inquiries, please contact: melci.lab@ulusofona.pt
Call for proposals deadline
Deadline: 26th September 2025
Notification of Acceptance: 13th October 2025
Registration: 27th October
See details about how to submit a proposal at the bottom of this page.
Format
Online
Dates
11 to 14 November 2025 – V MeLCi Lab Autumn School
TIME (Lisbon time zone)
V MeLCi Lab Autumn School Schedule
Check the website for details.
How to apply
Interested participants must send their application (in English) by 26 September 2025, including:
Please send your application as a ZIP file to melci.lab@ulusofona.pt with the subject “Application for the V MeLCi Lab Autumn School”.
Target-group
PhD Students
Early Career Researchers (with a PhD obtained in the last five years)
Fee *
Lusófona University, CICANT PhD Students 70 euros
PhD students from other Institutions 100 euros
Others 150 euros
*The best participant will not pay the fee
Keynote Speakers
Joana Gonçalves Sá, Researcher at LIP – Laboratory of Particle Physics and at NOVA-LINCS
Massimo Ragnedda, Associate Professor/Reader in Media and Communication Studies at both Sharjah University (UAE) and Northumbria University, Newcastle (UK)
Mustafa Can Gursesli, Postdoctoral Researcher, Gamification Group, Tampere University
Saul Albert, Lecturer in Social Science (Social Psychology) in Communication and Media at Loughborough University
Simone Natale, Associate Professor in Media Theory and History, University of Turin
Tutors
Carla Cerqueira – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Carla Sousa – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Fábio Ribeiro – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Lúcia Mesquita – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Pedro Costa – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Rita Grácio – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Sofia Caldeira – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Sónia Lamy – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Teresa Sofia Castro – Profile | Ciência Vitae | ORCID
Vanessa Rodrigues – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Organisers
Bruno Saraiva – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Manuel Marques-Pita – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Maria José Brites – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
Zuil Pirola – Profile | CienciaVitae | ORCID
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.
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):
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.
Please submit an abstract of 300–400 words, clearly stating:
For the Doctoral Colloquium taking place on October 17, participants are invited to submit 300-400 words text clearly stating:
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.
Notification of acceptance: July 29th, 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
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:
Organizing Team:
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.
Fees (registration September 30th)
15, 16, 17 of October 2025
*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):
IMPORTANT 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:
Late registration:
Discounted rates for global participation. Full details on conference website.
WHY ATTEND?
LINKS & CONTACT
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:
Submission Guidelines:
Expected Contributions:
This special issue aims to:
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:
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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
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:
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:
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
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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:
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
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