Dear colleagues
On 19-20 November 2020 the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University will hold its annual Moscow Readings conference. The conference will be organized as a virtual event this year, with all sessions taking place online.
The topic is ‘De-Westernizing media and cultural studies: New discourse practices in the digital world’. Moscow Readings conferences is organized in partnership with IAMCR Digital Divide Working Group, IAMCR Communication in Post- and Neo-Authoritarian Societies Working Group, UNESCO chair in communication, and National Association of Mass Media Researchers.
Confirmed keynote speakers
Professor Dr. Daya K. Thussu, Hong Kong Baptist University
Professor Dr. Oscar T. Westlund, Oslo Metropolitan University
Professor Dr. Gerard Goggin, Nanyang Technological University
Professor Dr. Shi-xu, Hangzhou Normal University
Professor Dr. Elena Vartanova, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Dr. Andrea Medrado, University of Westminster
Call for papers
Back in early 2000s, scholars drew their attention to the phenomenon that was metaphorically called the rise of ‘the rest’ (Amsden, 2001). After World War II the world changed significantly, with a select number of countries (China, India, Korea and others) becoming economic powers by the end of the 20th century. The rise of ‘the rest’ however was not limited to the economic growth only. Very soon a tendency for de-Westernization of culture, media and communication fields, together with an increasing presence of Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa and other countries (Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and others) became evident. As a result, scholars started to discuss de-Westernization and further internationalization of communication research and media studies (Park & Curran, 2000; Takahashi, 2007; Thussu, 2009; Wang, 2010), cultural and discourse studies (Shi-xu, 2014), comparative media system studies (Hallin & Mancini, 2012) and many other areas.
At this year’s conference, we welcome discussion around challenges media, communication and culture fields – both in the East and in the West – are facing under the ongoing digitalization process. Among those are the rise of digital divide and digital exclusion (Norris, 2001; Hargittai, 2002; van Dijk, 2006); development of new communication and media policy aimed at supporting offline and online activities of cultural, linguistic and ethnic groups (Matsaganis, Katz, & Ball-Rokeach, 2011; Nordenstreng, & Thussu, 2015; Vartanova, 2015); the influence of social, political, economic, technological and cultural transformations upon cross-cultural communication and people’s identities (Shi-xu, 2016); digital communication and the role of media as a ‘soft power’ (Thussu, 2013; Wasserman, Zhang, & Mano, 2016); appearance of new journalistic practices in the digital age (Westlund, 2019); digital inclusion of various ‘vulnerable groups’ in the society including ethnic and cultural minorities (Choudrie, Kurnia, & Tsatsou, 2017), and many other topics.
We welcome case studies and contributions covering and/or contrasting various aspects of media, journalism, communication and culture studies both in the East and in the West. We particularly encourage a discussion around re-conceptualization and further internationalization of Eastern and Western paradigms of media and communication research, given new challenges and opportunities of the digital age. Theoretical and empirical papers are both welcome, with preference during selection process being given to papers with solid methodological base and original approach.
Questions for discussion
- De-Westernizing media and communication studies: theoretical approaches and empirical case studies
- Communication in the digital age: practices, tendencies, challenges
- Digital journalism: new practices, forms, methods, audiences
- Media and communication policies in the digital age
- Media as a ‘soft power’: lessons from the West and the East
- The rise of the new digital cultures in the 21st century
- Digital natives: media consumption and media production practices
- Media literacy in the digital age
- New players and actors in digital communication
- Digital inclusion / social inclusion: correlations and interdependencies
- Ethnic/community/diaspora media in the digital age
- Information security in the digital age
- Cultural Discourse Studies as a new theoretical paradigm
Registration form should include:
1. Full name;
2. Name of institution;
3. Position, title;
4. Phone number, e-mail;
5. Abstract (between 300 and 500 words) in .doc or .docx in English or Russian
Registration form and abstract should be sent by e-mail to moscow.readings@mail.ru before 26 October 2020
Registration fee
Moscow Readings conference does not have conference registration fee, although all costs will have to covered either by the home institution or by the presenters themselves.
Publishing opportunities
Best papers will be considered for publication in peer-reviewed Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 10. Zhurnalistika (Web of Science, Scopus) and World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies (Scopus).
Contact details
Contact email: moscow.readings@mail.ru
Phone number : +7 (495) 629 52 76
Postal and visiting address: 125009 Mokhovaya street 9, Moscow, Russia, room 107
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