--- Apologies for cross-posting --- 2010 International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Congress Braga, Portugal from July 18 to 22, 2010. Community Communication Section Call for papers and session coordinators Submission deadline: January 31, 2010 The general theme for IAMCR’s 2010 conference is 'Communication and Citizenship: Rethinking Crisis and Change'. The community communication section is calling for papers that investigate the relationship between community or alternative media, empowerment, social policy and citizenship. Community media projects have traditionally sought to provide access to under-represented groups. Recent research has highlighted that these practices contest and redefine conventional notions of ‘citizenship’. • How successful has this body of work been in influencing social and media policies? • What does ‘participation’ mean in the context of community and alternative media and how does it differ from other forms of media participation (such as social networking)? • How can the values, methods and structures of community-based and alternative media production help to create a more open an egalitarian online media environment? How can their experiences inform debates on Internet regulation and digital broadcasting? • What theories and methods are appropriate for investigating the relationship between community or alternative media and citizenship? Contributions which address the above questions are strongly encouraged. In addition, we seek as always in‑depth and cutting‑edge work on issues of media access, participation and evaluation of outcomes; theoretically grounded case studies of media projects undertaken by marginalized and under‑represented groups; the development and support of public and community‑based media institutions and infrastructures; the production and distribution of community and alternative media, their audiences and contents; and methodological, theoretical and historical contributions to the field. Besides individual papers we call for panel proposals for specific themes. Highly encouraged are also proposals for innovative session formats, round table discussions and workshops. In addition, we are looking for coordinators for screenings and field-trips. About the Community Communication Section IAMCR’s Community Communication section is a major international forum for community and alternative media studies. This is the place for research on media practices that differ significantly from government and market‑dominated paradigms. Community and alternative media originate, circulate and resonate from the sphere of civil society, yet may interact with both state and market. Community media serve specific cultural or geographic communities. The field includes do‑it‑yourself media, media for social change, and a wide range of non‑government and non‑commercial practices using all kinds of communication technologies, and emphasizes ‘alternative research methods’. Guidelines for Participants Individual or co-authored papers: Applicants must submit a 500 word abstract that describes the topic of their paper and its significance, the theoretical framework, and research methods. Panel proposals: The panel coordinator must submit a well‑defined statement of purpose, a complete list of panel participants, and full abstracts for each presentation. Other formats (workshops, screenings, field trips, etc.): The coordinator must submit a well‑defined statement of purpose and a detailed description of activities, as well as any infrastructure requirements (space, projectors, etc.). All submissions should include a paper title, as well as authors' names, institutional affiliations and full contact information (mailing address, email address, and telephone numbers). Please indicate if you would be willing to chair a session. Submissions in the authors’ native language (French and Spanish) must also include an English translation. Submissions should not be submitted to more than one IAMCR division. Please send abstracts via the IAMCR 2010 conference website: http://www.lasics.uminho.pt/ocs/index.php/iamcr/2010portugal/schedConf/cfp For further information or assistance, please contact the Community Communication Section Chair, Per Jauert, on pjauert[at]imv.au.dk Submitting to the Right Section Please consider carefully which IAMCR section is most appropriate for your paper. We cannot guarantee acceptance if your paper has been sent to the wrong section in the first instance (as places are extremely limited). Please contact the Community Communication section committee well before the deadline if you are unsure. · Researchers examining community media for development purposes should apply to the Participatory Communication Research section. · Researchers studying ethnic community media within a Diaspora framework should apply to the Diaspora and Media working group. Visit www.iamcr.org for more information about IAMCR sections and working groups. Deadlines: The deadline for the submission of abstracts is January 31, 2010. The submissions or papers will be assessed and provisionally accepted on the basis of a peer review process. - Announcement of acceptances: March 15, 2010 - Deadline for submitting full papers: April 30, 2010 Per Jauert, Chair Gabriele Hadl, Co-Vice Chair Ellie Rennie, Co-Vice Chair _______________________________________________