The conference "CHANNELS OF TRANSITION: 2ND CZECH-POLISH-SLOVAK
COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE" – submissions deadline approaching soon!
7-9 May, 2009
Brno – Telc, Czech Republic
Abstract submissions deadline: January 31, 2009
Please submit abstracts not longer than 400 words via
info_at_channels-of-transition.eu


Confirmed keynote speakers:
Ann Gray (University of Lincoln, Great Britain)
Karol Jakubowicz (Chair of the Information for All Programme of UNESCO)
Kaarle Nordenstreng, (University of Tampere, Finland)


For more details please see the full version of CFP below or visit
http://www.channels-of-transition.eu



CALL FOR PAPERS (FULL VERSION)


Channels of Transition: 2nd Czech-Polish-Slovak Communication Conference
Brno – Telč, Czech Republic
7 – 9 May 2009


CONFIRMED KEYNOTES
Ann Gray (University of Lincoln, Great Britain)
Karol Jakubowicz (Chair of the Information for All Programme of UNESCO)
Kaarle Nordenstreng, (University of Tampere, Finland)



The conference will bring together media and communication scholars from
the three neighbouring Central-Eastern European countries and other experts
on the region to discuss various aspects of media systems transition in the
last two decades. Proposed as a platform for sharing communication research
outcomes within the region, the event will provide an opportunity to
compare particular national perspectives and to help answer the question as
to whether it is possible to consider transformation of the so-called
post-communist media systems a finished process and what the roles of and
challenges for the media in the region twenty years after 1989 are.



Organizing committee


Prof. Bogusława Dobek-Ostrowska (University of Wroclaw, Pl), honorary chairman
Mgr. Ing. Jan Puncochar (Czech Syndicate of Journalists), conference secretary
PhDr. Irena Reifova, Ph.D. (Charles University, Prague, CR)
PhDr. Vaclav Stetka, Ph.D. (Masaryk University, Brno, CR)
PhDr. Tomas Trampota, Ph.D. (Charles University, Prague, CR)
PhDr. Peter Valček (Commenius University, Bratislava, SR)
PhDr. Jaromir Volek, Ph.D. (Masaryk University, Brno, CR)


Organizing institutions
The Czech Syndicate of Journalists
&
Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Wrocław
Department of Media Studies and Journalism, Masaryk University
Department of Media Studies, Charles University
Department of Journalism, Commenius University



We invite contributions elaborating on one of the conference's main
thematic sections, which are as follow:


1. Historical roots and development of CEE media systems.


The documentation of developmental tendencies and diachronic approach
towards the analysis of media institutions has a long tradition in CEE
media studies. Given the turbulent political and cultural history of this
region, which had experienced recurring periods of totalitarianism and
democracy in the course of the 20th century, it is legitimate to ask to
what extent and in what way these historical processes have shaped the
contours of contemporary media systems in CEE countries. This section
welcomes contributions aimed at a broad range of issues related to the
historical role of mass media under totalitarian regimes, especially during
the periods of transition and regime change, as well as papers which
examine historical "legacies" of current CEE media environment.



2. From centralized media to decentralization – and back? Ownership,
regulation and production.


The section will cover all reflections on the merging of contemporary media
systems and economic and political powers, with special attention given to
the issue of media ownership, diversity and pluralism, which are all
tightly linked to the quality of public sphere. The following questions
will be of particular interest for this section: How is the public sphere
affected by the position of media on the scale between regimentation of
their functioning and a libertarian approach? Are there attempts to reclaim
the notion of responsible media behaviour? And is the question of
politically contested media role still worth resuscitating in user-oriented
digital media environment with its promise to fortify elements of direct
democracies?



3. The power of nostalgia? Popular culture and its consumers in the age of
post-totalitarian commercialisation.


The section on popular culture will unravel both the structural preferred
meanings and cultural pleasures encoded/decoded, produced/consumed or
simply enjoyed within the fuzzy borders of the post-communist cultural
space. The focus will be on the "triple articulation" of post-communist
popular culture to the former practices of rigid ideology, contemporary
practices of consensus-negotiating hegemony and popular tactics potentially
subverting or transforming both of them. What were the ideological patterns
of totalitarian popular culture narratives in press, film, radio and
television? How can the passion for the 1970s and 1980s cultural products
be explained? Is contemporary popular culture consumption sanctioned by a
high-brow perspective of moral hierarchies? How do the media or the
audiences in their collective memory relate to the state-socialist past?



4. Old questions under new conditions? New media, new participations, new
divides.


Contents and uses of new media, together with critical reflections of their
taken-for-granted position in contemporary society, will be the main focus
of this section, framed by the following questions: How have the new media
been incorporated into CEE public and private spheres? Are there any
regional actors/activities able to compete with global ventures? What is
the relationship between the "traditional" mass media and the new media?
What are the regional features of global digital divide and access to new
technologies? Have the new media activities, carried out through Web 2.0
technologies such as blogs, file sharing tools and social network sites,
had any considerable importance for processes of European integration and
globalization?




5. From the "cynical collaboration" to professional cynicism?
Professionalization of journalism and political communication.


The last two decades have been characterized by growing tendency towards
professionalization of media organizations in CEE countries. However, this
process is far from being completed, and even though certain standards of
media conduct and self-regulation principles have been adopted and
emphasized, journalism is still largely lacking an established identity as
a profession. At the same time, other actors in the socio-political space
have been turning to ever more sophisticated strategies and means of
political communication in order to shape the public agenda. This section
accepts papers reflecting these trends, as well as the dilemmas and
challenges facing present-day journalism, which is being increasingly
influenced by public relations practices. Particularly welcomed are papers
examining journalists' professional values and attitudes, routines of news
production or the place of traditional normative concepts such as
"objectivity" and "neutrality" in the contemporary media discourse.



6. Media literacy and competent media consumption: opportunities and limits.


This section will discuss the role of media education for enhancing the
ability of audiences and users to critically engage the media and their
messages in the information society and the digital media environment.
Welcomed are both theoretical approaches, particularly those situating the
media literacy endeavors within the general framework of building
participatory democracy and civil society in CEE countries, as well as
papers reviewing and/or comparing practical examples of media literacy
curricula, programs and projects, and offering innovative strategies for
the future media educators.


7. Alternative and community media.


This section is oriented toward exploring the broad territory of
non-mainstream media within the CEE region. Largely avoided by the CEE
media researchers in the past, this sector is now being recognized as a
fully-fledged part of a wider media system. We call for papers
investigating, among other issues, the development, extent and current
state of alternative/community/minority media in CEE countries, problems
they are facing, as well as their specific roles and functions,
particularly their potential for civic/political participation, public
engagement and minority empowerment, or the role of "civic journalism" for
community building and construction of local identity.



Submission guidelines


Deadline for abstracts submissions: January 31, 2009
Acceptance information delivery: February 28, 2009
Deadline for paper submissions: April 30, 2009


Abstract not longer than 400 words accompanied by a brief bio (one
paragraph) should be sent to the conference assistant Radim Hladik, Charles
University, Prague: (info_at_channels-of-transition.eu). Please include your
name and title (as you would like it to appear on the program and
nametags), department, university, and full contact details.


Visit the conference website at http://www.channels-of-transition.eu for
further details on the organization of the event and the proposed topics.


Conference papers will be considered for publishing in a special issue of
the peer-reviewed academic journal "Media Studies – Czech and Slovak
Quarterly for Critical Media Reflection" (http://www.medialnistudia.cz).


Important Information


Conference language: English
Conference fee:
Full participation – 150 EUR
Includes:
Accommodation (2 nights)
Conference registration
Conference Program
Lunches and coffee breaks (2 days)
Welcome banquet and conference dinner


Observer status – FREE of charge
Includes:
Conference registration
Conference Program
Recommended for audience without papers


Conference venue: Masaryk University Centre Telc, details at:
http://telc.muni.cz/
Accommodation:
Hotel u Hrabenky Telc, details at: http://www.hotel-uhrabenky.cz/
Hotel Anton Telc, details at: http://www.hotel-anton.cz/




-- 
Yemisi Ogunleye
www.iq4news.com

Head of Communications,
MeCCSA Post-Graduate Network
website: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/pgn/

Media & Communications Dept.,
Birmingham City University,
City North Campus,
Birmingham
B42 2SU