Dear all,
My apologies that this email and the proposed book will be in English only.
In spite of this, please consider offering abstracts for the book proposed
below. We hope the last two sections in particular will interest OurMedia
list members.

THE PROPOSAL
Call for Abstracts

Provisional Title: New Media Worlds
Sections: Change Drivers; Mobility and Networks; Terms of Engagement;
Communicaiton Rights.

Editors: Virginia Nightingale and Tim Dwyer, School of Communication, Design
& Media University of Western Sydney.

Readership
Athe book is intended as a general resource for subject/units/courses where
issues of impact of ICTs are debated – year 2/3 undergrad; PG coursework
Masters; research students.

Concept
Transformations wrought by digitization, convergence, interactivity and
internationalizing media corporations are reconfiguring personal, local,
regional and national communications media spaces and their audiences. This
anthology takes an audience-oriented approach to the impact of new
technologies and new media on the world experienced by audiences as
citizens, consumers and communities. The book will have four sections. You
are invited to forward an abstract of 500 words for possible inclusion in
one of them.

The change drivers
This section will consider the nature of the emerging political economy of
the media in the 21st century. What is changing and what is staying the
same? How are issues of ownership and regulation, media diversity and
commercial investment changing both traditional and new media? What
politico-social forces are driving the shape of the media as convergence
really kicks in, and broadcast media feel the impact of competition from new
media? What do these changes imply for the future of participatory
democracy? This section will focus on changes driven by technology, by
industry, and/or politics.

Mobility and networks
While much effort has been expended analyzing fan networks and communities,
much less attention has been paid to interest networks, whether political,
financial, genealogical, scientific, religious, ethnic or health interest
driven. It is anticipated that contributions to this section will address
the nature of networks that pursue special interests such as these. This
section will also address changes driven by access to mobile technologies –
the mobile phone, the blackberry, camera phones, I-pods, wireless
technologies – both in the home/workplace and outside it. It will ask how
mobility and interactivity is changing how things are done.

Terms of engagement
What is at stake for audiences in their current and future uses of the
media? What bargains are struck as a condition of engagement in new media
environments? What individual freedoms are routinely relinquished in order
to access information? For this section, the editors are seeking case
studies that address issues of contracts, copyright, disclosure
requirements, passwords, security and risk issues associated with media use.
It will also cover file sharing, internet piracy and other issues where
legal constraint on audiences is pursued.

Communication rights
Communication rights are routinely associated with political power, yet the
experience of communication rights is far from equally distributed, whether
within or between nations. This section will address the importance of
community media for indigenous, diaspora and other marginalized communities
and for citizenship and participation in a media-driven world. It is
recognised that the experience of communication rights is very different for
citizens (and non-citizens) of first and third world nations and it is hoped
that contributions to this section will explore the hopes and fears attached
to the achievement of communication rights by diverse sections of various
societies and nations.

Process
Abstracts are welcome from researchers working from various theoretical and
empirical paradigms, including audience studies, political economy, cultural
studies, policy studies, social science, screen studies, ethnography and
history. Abstracts will be reviewed by the editors, and a selection of
papers chosen for inclusion by March, 2005.  Please attach a brief bio to
assist us to negotiate with publishers.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 1st February 2005
Deadline for submission of completed papers: July 1, 2005

Please send abstracts or queries via email to the corresponding editor, Dr
Tim Dwyer at [log in to unmask] or to Associate Professor Virginia
Nightingale, [log in to unmask]  in the School of Communication,
Design & Media, Building BB, Werrington South, Penrith Campus. Locked Bag
1797, Penrith South DC 1797, T + 61 2 9852 5422 F + 61 2 9852 5424

Dr Virginia Nightingale
Associate Professor
School of Communication, Design and Media
University of Western Sydney

Locked Bag 1797
Penrith South DC
NSW 1797
Australia

T 612 98525773
F 612 98525424
[log in to unmask]