2026 SJTU-IAMCR Conference - CfP

The School of Media and Communication at Shanghai Jiao Tong University hosted the second edition of the SJTU–IAMCR Emerging Media Forum on 17–18 April 2026. Co-sponsored by IAMCR, the forum was held under the theme Creative Communication and Empowerment.

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The inaugural edition of the SJTU–IAMCR Emerging Media Forum brought together over 200 scholars from more than 50 universities worldwide, serving as a key scholarly platform for IAMCR in China and as an official warm-up event for IAMCR’s 2025 Annual Conference.

About the conference

In the context of digital and intelligent media, the conference focused on how communication reconstructs the organization of meaning production, public participation, and social action through the interaction of creative mechanisms, technological architectures, and social practices. The conference examined the role of intelligent media in issues such as climate change, public health, and media system transformation. The conference aimed to explore how communication innovation shifted from instrumental applications to empowerment-oriented institutional and practical forms, while promoting theoretical reflection on the relationship between technology and humanities.

The conference was conducted in-person and invited scholars, industry experts, and young researchers from around the world to share the latest research findings and practical experiences regarding the theoretical frontiers and practical paths of creative communication. As an important collaborative platform between the School of Media and Communication at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and IAMCR, the conference aimed to use "empowerment" as a core analytical lens to deepen the understanding of the social functions and public value of emerging media, contributing to the construction of a more inclusive and sustainable global society.

Conference themes

Creative Communication and Empowerment

The conference featured sub-themes that encompassed, but were not limited to, the following areas:

  • Generative Video and the Reconstruction of Sustainable Creative Ecology
  • AI Video, Virtual Reality, and the Landscape of the Society
  • AI Journalism and Media System Transformation
  • Media Literacy Education and Empowerment in Digital Society
  • Digital Health Communication and Well-being
  • Socioeconomic Development Empowerment by Culture in the Digital Age
  • The Dialectics between Cultural Empowerment and Technological Empowerment
  • Intelligent Applications in Science Communication and Challenges of Inclusivity
  • Technological Inequality and Digital Participation
  • Climate Change, Environmental Risks, and Community Resilience

Conference Timeline and Schedule

Keydates

  • Paper Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. (GMT+8), February 23, 2026
  • Announcement of Decisions: March 18, 2026
  • Full Paper Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. (GMT+8), March 31, 2026 (Applicable to submissions competing for paper awards)
  • Conference Dates: April 17-18, 2026 (Friday and Saturday)

Conference Schedule

  • April 17, 2026: Conference Opening Ceremony, Keynote Speeches, and Parallel Sessions
  • April 18, 2026: Parallel Sessions, Closing Ceremony, and Announcement of Outstanding Papers

Submission Guidelines

  1. Submission
  • Submissions were only accepted through the ScholarBay online system. Contact: www.scholarbay.cn
  • Each author submitted a maximum of 2 papers as the first author. Submissions exceeding this limit were not processed.

2. Paper Format and Length

General Submission (Abstracts):

  • Submissions had to be in the form of an extended abstract, either in English or Chinese.
  • The document format had to be in Word (.doc or .docx).
  • The word limit was 800 words for Chinese submissions and 500 words for English submissions, including tables, figures, and references.
  • English submissions had to follow APA 7th edition. Chinese submissions had to follow APA 7th edition or Chinese National Standards for Bibliographic References.
  • 4-5 keywords had to be included after the abstract.

Paper Award Competition (Full Papers):

  • Submissions had to be in the form of a full paper.
  • The document format was due to be in Word (.doc or .docx).
  • The word limit was 15,000 words for Chinese submissions and 8,000 words for English submissions, including tables, figures, and references.
  • English submissions had to follow APA 7th edition. Chinese submissions had to follow APA 7th edition or Chinese National Standards for Bibliographic References.
  • 4-5 keywords had to be included after the abstract.

3. Usage of Submitted Papers

The title and abstract of submitted papers could be used for the conference website, handbook, or other promotional materials.

4. Awards

  • The conference granted the Best Student Paper Award and the Best Faculty Paper Award.
  • To be eligible for the Best Student Paper Award, all authors had to be currently enrolled students.
  • Papers intended for award consideration had to be submitted in full-paper form. The full paper could be submitted during the initial call or after the abstract was accepted, but no later than March 31, 2026.

5. Research Ethics

  • Submissions had to be original research. Submissions of the same paper to other conferences were strictly prohibited.
  • Papers had to be written independently by the authors. The conference did not accept papers or primary text content generated directly by Generative AI.
  • If AI tools were used for legitimate research purposes (e.g. data processing, analytical assistance, or technical support), authors had to clearly declare the tools used, purposes, and stages involved at the time of submission.
  • Submissions that failed to truthfully declare AI usage, or where Generative AI had replaced substantive writing and academic judgment, would be rejected upon verification.
  • Authors beared full responsibility for the academic integrity, research ethics, and authenticity of their submissions.

Additional Information

  1. Registration Fees: The event was free of charge.
  2. Other Expenses: Participants were responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and other related expenses.

Contact

School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China, 200240
•Email: sjtuiamcr@163.com