[Air-L] IAMCR Preconference/Special Issue Information, Communication and Society

1 Feb 2019

      *Call for Paper. IAMCR Preconference/Special Issue Information,
Communication and Society*

Editor in Chief: Brian Loader

Guest Editors: Bruce Mutsvairo (University of Technology Sydney), Massimo
Ragnedda (Northumbria University) and Kristin Skare Orgeret (Oslo
Metropolitan University)

*Era or Error of Transformation? Assessing Afrocentric Attributes of
Digitalisation*

While the continent of Africa has long been depicted as economically and
socially underdeveloped compared with other parts of the world, the
potential of its peoples, natural resources and nations has always been
recognised. In recent years however, it is the transformative capacity of
digital communications media, particularly mobile phones, for young
urbanised populations that is seen as heralding sustainable socio-economic
growth and political stability. This special issue of *Information,
Communication & Society* is intended to throw a rare and critical light
upon these claims by examining how new media may be changing the everyday
lives of Africans. It will also seek to understand the implications of
these technological changes for nation-states within the wider
geo-political context of post-colonial relations and the emergence of China
as a major investor. What barriers, challenges or possibilities exist for
digital literacy, human rights, democratic governance, business innovation
and digital access? The special issue will address, although not
exclusively, such questions as:

·         Can African economic and social development leapfrog other
countries by adopting broadband and mobile technologies?

·         What possibilities are available to tame digital disparities in
Africa?

·         What are the implications of social media networking for gender,
sexuality, race, class and identity politics?

·         How do demographic, cultural and socio-economic inequalities
influence the way Africans access (first level of digital divide), use
(second level of digital divide) and benefit from ICTs (third level of
digital divide)?

·         Is there evidence for digital media transforming health care
practices and outcomes?

·         What innovative methods are being used to provide citizens with
access to critical information, which could help improve their lives?

·         Is social media influencing political engagement and activism?

·         In what ways have anti-social media regulatory frameworks
including Internet shutdowns affected citizens?

Accepted papers will be presented in an IAMCR preconference at Madrid 2019
before being considered for publication in a special issue of *Information,
Communication and Society* in 2020.

Please send your abstract (between 300 and 500 words) and brief bio to
bruce.mutsvairo@uts.edu.au and in CC, massimo.ragnedda@northumbria.ac.uk
  and kristo@oslomet.no

*Deadlines and important dates*

Abstract submission deadline: *15 March 2019*

Notification on submitted abstracts: 30 March 2019

Date of Preconference: *6 July 2019*

Time: 9am

Venue: To be determined

Article submission deadline: 1 February 2020

Best

Massimo

______________

*Massimo Ragnedda* <http://northumbria.academia.edu/MassimoRagnedda>

Senior Lecturer in Mass Communication

Squires Building 306f, Northumbria University, NE8 1ST  Newcastle (UK)

Tel: 01912437444

Most recent books:

Massimo Ragnedda and Bruce Mutsvairo, eds (2018) Digital Inclusion. An
International Comparative Analysis
<https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498562126/Digital-Inclusion-An-International-Comparative-Analysis>,
Lexington Books.

Massimo Ragnedda and Glenn Muschert, eds (2018) *Theorizing Digital Divide*
<http://bit.ly/2y9WSLm>, Routledge

Massimo Ragnedda (2017) *The Third Digital Divide: A Weberian approach to
digital inequalities* <http://bit.ly/2f8FObg>, Routledge.