Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture (WPCC)
Volume 5, Number 3, September 2008
Call for papers: Media and Foreign Policy
EXTENDED Deadline: Friday 28 March 2008
The role of the media in foreign policy-making remains one of the most
neglected areas in foreign policy literature. Extensive research on
the topic has only been conducted in the US and it has mainly emerged
from the field of political communication.
This literature suggests that coverage of international politics follows the
frames of reference of either the executive branch of the government or
reflects wider elite opinion in Washington when the elites disagree on the
policy.
However, in the absence of sufficient comparative research, it
is unclear whether the findings and theories developed in the US have
wider relevance internationally. Meanwhile, research conducted outside
the US has remained rather fragmented and has, similarly to the
research in the US, tended to focus on foreign policy crises.
WPCC invites both national studies and comparative research across
countries that contribute to broadening the understanding of the
interplay between media and policy-makers in the conduct of foreign
affairs.
Particularly welcomed are original, research-based
contributions that attempt to incorporate into the analysis the
theoretical approaches emerging from the fields of Communication
Studies, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Relations or other
relevant disciplines.
Submissions may focus on, but are not limited to, the following issues:
- What is the relationship between media content and government policy
line and/or elite opinion(s)?
- Do media provide accurate, impartial and pertinent information on
matters relevant to foreign policy?
- Does media coverage influence public opinion on foreign and security
policy issues?
- Who are the sources of information for the media?
- Who sets the agenda?
- Is there public debate on foreign policy issues?
- Who has access to foreign policy debate in the media?
- Do media circulate news and opinion at odds with the government policy?
- In which circumstances is media coverage critical of government policy?
- What influence, if any, do the media have over foreign policy?
Applicants may submit abstracts of no more than 250 words to Issue's
Editor Janne Halttu at [log in to unmask]
Deadline for the submission of abstracts is 28 March 2008. For accepted
articles the deadline for submission is 10 June 2008.
Further details of WPCC, as well as previous issues, are available at
http://www.westminster.ac.uk/wpcc
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Salvatore Scifo,
Lecturer in Community Media
Media Information & Communication
Department of Applied Social Sciences
London Metropolitan University
Ladbroke House, Room LH 326
62-66 Highbury Grove
London N5 2AD
On-line Editor,
Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture
www.westminster.ac.uk/wpcc
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