Call for Papers: Africa Media & Democracy Conference 2010
Accra - Ghana, 08/10
CALL FOR PAPERS:
ACCRA CONFERENCE 2010: The Africa Media & Democracy Conference invites
papers for its annual Africa Media and Democracy Conference, to be
held from 18th -20th August 2010, Accra – Ghana. The theme for the
Conference is: "Mediating Democracy in Africa".
BACKGROUND: Recent development of the growing influence of the media
in Africa's fledgling democracies in particular radio and television
in monitoring, pollstering, and `nuancing' election results ahead of
the Electoral Commissioner, has been contested by politicians,
constitutional experts and media practitioners. The Conference aims to
address and examine among others the location of such media practices,
their constitutional legitimacy and in relation to freedom of
information in a democratic dispensation. It will seek to address
media practices such as the `announcing of elections results' ahead of
an Electoral Commission or the `deployment of Press Conferences' by
political parties as political posturing during voting and ballot
counting period of an election. The conference will address both the
constitutional and ethical issues that arise from such practices and
provide context for comparison, dialogue and analysis between media
practices situated in different cultural-political environment. When
does `announcing' become `endorsement' of a particular political party
contesting a democratic election? What is the impact on the electorate
of such early announcements of election results from electoral
constituencies? What are the implications for social and national
cohesion of such practice in fiercely contested elections? what is the
way forward?
The event is open to academics, media industry professionals,
government agencies, policymakers, regulators, UN agencies, donors,
civil society organisations, independent consultants and research
groups and students.
Papers are also invited on the following sub-themes listed below;
submissions could be made from a range of issues in relation to
democracy & media practices in Africa. It must address specific media
practices in the context of democracy in Africa, such as the role of
radio commercials as political communication tool in electioneering,
the corrosive effects of partisan media practices in popular democracy
or the role of the media in the concept of popular democracy etc.
Sub-Themes
Media, democracy and governance
Media, ethnic identity and democracy
Media ownership, democracy and governance
Media, concept citizenry and democracy
Media and the concept `good of governance'
Media and political communication
Media, political rhetoric's and political violence
Media and coupe d'états
Media reportage and democracy
Media, democracy and political education
Media, democracy and traditional governance
Media , political activism and governance
Media, conflict and crises management
New Media and democracy
Media, democracy and aid
Media Law and regulation
Media, Gender and democratization
Media, Democracy and Human Rights
Community media and democracy
Media and Ethics
Media and African centeredness
Digital media and the renewal of local democracy
Media and cultural politics
New Media and the renewal of local democracy
New media, democratic theory and public sphere
In addition to those listed above the organisers will consider other
relevant sub-themes from contributors.
GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION: ABSTRACTS & PAPERS: Please email abstracts
(maximum one page) along with contact information and a 500-word bio
to: info@amdmc.org.
All Abstracts must be in English, full papers may be submitted in
either English or French.
-Deadline for receipt of abstracts: 30th April 2010
-Notice of acceptance of abstracts: 5th May 2010
-Deadline for receipt of full papers: 30th May 2010
CONTACT: UNITED KINGDOM: THE AMDMC @ DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA &
COMMUNICATIONS, GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, NEW CROSS LONDON SE
14 6NW UK - MOBILE: + 44 7538106491 - TEL: + 44 207 919 7171- EMAIL:
b.adu-asamoa@gold.ac.uk - g.stanton@gold.ac.uk
GHANA: THE AFRICA MEDIA & DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE (AMDMC)
P O BOX BT 440 C2 TEMA, GHANA
TEL: 00 233 (0) 220 208185 - FAX: 00 233 (0) 220 208185 - MOBILE: +233
540875985
E-mail: info@amdmc.org www.amdmc.org
Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.