The Religion and Communication (REC) Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of proposals for papers and panels for IAMCR 2024, which will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 30 June to 4 July 2024.
The deadline for submission is 7 February 2024, at 23h59 UTC.
See the CfPs of all sections and working groups
Theme
IAMCR conferences address many diverse topics defined by our 33 thematic sections and working groups. We also propose a single central theme to be explored throughout the conference with the aim of generating and exploring multiple perspectives. This is accomplished through plenary and special sessions, as well as in some of the sessions of the sections and working groups.
The central theme for 2024 focuses on "Whiria te tāngata / Weaving people together: Communicative projects of decolonising, engaging, and listening" - which draws upon a Maori proverb about the strength that comes through common purpose.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
This theme points to alternative ways of theorising or evaluating communication alongside dominant imaginaries such as the public, and of the colonial and gendered histories that are part of those imaginaries. Weaving emphasises the agency of the communicator and directs attention to the valuing of communication as a project or skill, whether that is focused on social change, community or economic gain.
Against the background of the theme of the 2024 conference "Weaving people together: Communicative projects of decolonising, engaging, and listening", the Religion & Communication working group seeks to explore and discuss the link between religion and spirituality on the one hand, and on the other, prospects for decolonising, engaging, and listening.
Papers across the broad spectrum of research on the relationship of religion, media and communication are equally encouraged. There is hardly an established canon of research in this wide field of religion, communication, and culture, although some nuclei in the current research agenda can be identified. These include:
- Images of religion in mass media; news coverage of religion.
- Religious communities and the media.
- Impact of media on religious practices whether personal or institutional.
- Theological approaches to the mass media.
- Film and religion.
- Religious media.
- Religious public relations.
- The specificity of communication practices in religions given their singular content and claims.
- Religious communication processes.
- Media expression of faith and spirituality.
- Religion in emerging digital media cultures
Theoretical, methodological, empirical - all approaches are welcome for proposed papers, provided they offer good quality and interesting, novel perspectives in their respective methodological nature.
Criteria for Evaluation: Submitted abstracts will generally be evaluated on the basis of: technical merit; readability; quality of writing; literature review; relevance of the submission to the work of the Working Group; originality and/or significance to media and religion theory and research.
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts are requested for papers to be presented in person at the conference in Christchurch. Abstracts submitted to the Religion and Communication Working Group should have between 300 and 500 words and must be submitted online here. Abstracts submitted by email will not be accepted.
The deadline to submit abstracts is 7 February 2024, at 23.59 UTC.
It is expected that each person will submit only one (1) abstract. However, under no circumstances should there be more than two (2) abstracts bearing the name of the same author, either individually or as part of any group of authors. The same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, must not be submitted to more than one section or working group. Such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be rejected by the abstract submission system, by the Head of the section or working group or by the Conference Programme Reviewer. Authors submitting the same work to multiple Sections or Working Groups risk being removed entirely from the conference programme.
Proposals are accepted for both single papers and for panels with several papers (in which you propose multiple papers that address a single theme). Please note that there are special procedures for submitting panel proposals.
It is intended that decisions on acceptance of abstracts will be communicated to individual applicants by the Religion & Communication working group no later than 11 March 2024.
See important dates and deadlines to keep in mind
Languages
The Religion and Communication Working Group accepts abstracts and presentations in English.
Please share this notice with other academic researchers on media and religion.
We very much look forward to seeing you, and welcoming past and new members of our working group in Christchurch.
Convenors:
(Professor) Yoel Cohen
Ariel University
prof.yoelcohen@gmail.com
(Professor) Miriam Diez Bosch
Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations
miriamdb@blanquerna.url.edu
(Professor) Krishna Sankar Kusuma
Jamia Millia Islamia
kusumakk@gmail.com
See resources for IAMCR conference preparation and participation
