*** Apologies for cross-postings ***
CALL FOR PAPERS - Reminder
Dear all,
The Communications Policy & Technology (CP&T) section of the
'International Association for Media and Communication Research'
(IAMCR) invites submission of abstracts for original, research-based
papers to be presented in person at the forthcoming IAMCR Cairo
Conference, July 23-28, 2006.
The focus of the Section’s work is on Communication Policies and their
link to the socio-economic and political aspects of technological
change. CP&T welcomes work that bridges the theoretical and empirical
spheres as well as research offering guidelines for policy action at
the community, national, regional or global levels. The Section does
not adhere to any single philosophical or theoretical school and
actively encourages research that is critical and counter-intuitive.
Abstracts for the Cairo Conference should be original research studies,
which ideally provide scientific and analytical data and analysis on a
topic of your own choosing, but linked to the Conference Theme and
especially to our own sectional focus. The theme of the IAMCR Cairo
conference is ‘Knowledge Societies for All: Media & Communication
Strategies’. This theme reflects the core of the CP&T Section’s own
theoretical emphases and research activities. We therefore welcome
abstracts on the main theme itself, reflected through the following
sub-topics:
Sub-theme 1 - Beyond Tunis: Policy and Technology after WSIS
Many IAMCR and other academic researchers and policy advisors across
several of the Association’s Sections and Working Groups joined
thousands of governmental, corporate and NGO leaders who participated
in the Tunis Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society and
related events, held in Tunisia in November 2005. WSIS participants as
well as other specialists from the CP&T and other IAMCR Sections and
particularly from the Digital Divide and Global Media Policy Working
Groups are invited to share research-based perspectives and prognoses
of policy and technology development after WSIS. Research and Analysis
are being especially encouraged on issues of Financing ‘Information For
All’, and on the newly formed Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the
future of ICANN, the role of ITU and related Technology, Policy and
Governance issues post Tunis.
Sub-theme 2 – People, Globalisation and Emerging Technologies
The Section aims to establish new insights into the multiple dimensions
of policies related to the Digital Divide and strategies designed for
the inclusion of a wide cross section of people in the development
process. It invites examination of barriers and opportunities for
growth, for innovation, adaptation and use of information and
communication technologies and for the deployment of the media systems
and policies for development. We welcome papers that emphasise
innovative approaches and new policy initiatives towards a more
globally inclusive knowledge society, aimed at participation at the
social, political, technological, economic and cultural spheres.
Sub-theme 3 – New Policy Interfaces: Culture and Technology
Expansion of communication systems and emerging technology networks
continue to give rise to new interfaces. Many traditional, religious
and political cultures are coming face to face with emerging
technologies that challenge their conventional lifestyles and social
practices, whether at the community, or national levels. What are some
of the policy issues that arise in these contexts and how are these
challenges being addressed? How do differing cultures and societies use
communication technologies to bridge the policy and practice divides?
What kind of methods can be applied to identify these techno-cultural
differences and their possible consequences for policy? Papers are
invited that address these issues of technology and intercultural
communication, cultural diversity interfaces and the impact of new
digital media and communication technologies on governance and
policy-making.
Sub-theme 4 - People-Centered System Design and Innovation
Industrial policy and government initiatives on innovation often
influence the manner in which technologies and services are designed.
But what is the extent to which these designs are people-centered?
User-centered system design may help to enable greater e-inclusion by
deploying media and communication technologies that better fit the
needs, knowledge, possibilities and everyday life of people. The
Section invites abstracts and eventually papers that address this issue
of user-oriented system design and people-focused innovation policy,
both generally and specifically in a north/south context.
Sub-theme 5 – ICT and Telecom Policies in the Mediterranean Region
In the Mediterranean area, Europe meets Africa. This makes it an
interesting zone for the study of the possibilities and challenges of
developing a knowledge society for the developed and well as the
developing societies. This area was also the venue of the second Phase
of the WSIS. Papers are invited from contributors from within or
outside of the Mediterranean area, reflecting the potential and
obstacles of telecom and ICT policies within the Mediterranean region.
We particularly welcome abstracts, and subsequently, full papers that
critically address policy developments in telecommunications within the
region.
Criteria for Selection of Abstracts:
The CP&T welcomes abstracts from the global research community. Both
well-established scholars and younger researchers from all regions are
encouraged to submit abstracts for evaluation. The CP&T will maintain
its tradition of only accepting papers of a high academic and research
standard. Abstracts and research papers are evaluated on the following
criteria:
1.The scientific or policy relevance of the research problem
2. Relevance to the declared Conference Theme and Sub-themes
3. Clarity in the formulation of the central research issues
4. Clarity of the objectives, as well as in the analytical methods used
in the paper
5.The consistency and documented support of the central argument
advanced
6.The appropriateness of theories and/or methodologies used
7.The nature of the empirical evidence presented.
Abstracts of about 500 words should be sent to CP& T Section and
addressed to Hopeton S. Dunn ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) AND to Jo Pierson
([EMAIL PROTECTED] ) no later than January 30, 2006. The
abstract should include title, name(s), institutional address and email
address of author(s). All prospective presenters will be advised by
March 1, 2006 of the outcome of their applications. The full text of
accepted papers will be required for submission no later than June 15,
2006.
Please visit http://www.aucegypt.edu/conferences/iamcr/ for more
information about the conference, programme, registration,
accommodation etc.
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