CALL FOR PAPERS - Reminder Dear all, The Communications Policy & Technology (CP&T) section of the 'International Association for Media and Communication Research' (IAMCR) invites submission of abstracts for original, research-based papers to be presented in person at the forthcoming IAMCR Cairo Conference, July 23-28, 2006. The focus of the Section’s work is on Communication Policies and their link to the socio-economic and political aspects of technological change. CP&T welcomes work that bridges the theoretical and empirical spheres as well as research offering guidelines for policy action at the community, national, regional or global levels. The Section does not adhere to any single philosophical or theoretical school and actively encourages research that is critical and counter-intuitive. Abstracts for the Cairo Conference should be original research studies, which ideally provide scientific and analytical data and analysis on a topic of your own choosing, but linked to the Conference Theme and especially to our own sectional focus. The theme of the IAMCR Cairo conference is ‘Knowledge Societies for All: Media & Communication Strategies’. This theme reflects the core of the CP&T Section’s own theoretical emphases and research activities. We therefore welcome abstracts on the main theme itself, reflected through the following sub-topics: Sub-theme 1 - Beyond Tunis: Policy and Technology after WSIS Many IAMCR and other academic researchers and policy advisors across several of the Association’s Sections and Working Groups joined thousands of governmental, corporate and NGO leaders who participated in the Tunis Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society and related events, held in Tunisia in November 2005. WSIS participants as well as other specialists from the CP&T and other IAMCR Sections and particularly from the Digital Divide and Global Media Policy Working Groups are invited to share research-based perspectives and prognoses of policy and technology development after WSIS. Research and Analysis are being especially encouraged on issues of Financing ‘Information For All’, and on the newly formed Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the future of ICANN, the role of ITU and related Technology, Policy and Governance issues post Tunis. Sub-theme 2 – People, Globalisation and Emerging Technologies The Section aims to establish new insights into the multiple dimensions of policies related to the Digital Divide and strategies designed for the inclusion of a wide cross section of people in the development process. It invites examination of barriers and opportunities for growth, for innovation, adaptation and use of information and communication technologies and for the deployment of the media systems and policies for development. We welcome papers that emphasise innovative approaches and new policy initiatives towards a more globally inclusive knowledge society, aimed at participation at the social, political, technological, economic and cultural spheres. Sub-theme 3 – New Policy Interfaces: Culture and Technology Expansion of communication systems and emerging technology networks continue to give rise to new interfaces. Many traditional, religious and political cultures are coming face to face with emerging technologies that challenge their conventional lifestyles and social practices, whether at the community, or national levels. What are some of the policy issues that arise in these contexts and how are these challenges being addressed? How do differing cultures and societies use communication technologies to bridge the policy and practice divides? What kind of methods can be applied to identify these techno-cultural differences and their possible consequences for policy? Papers are invited that address these issues of technology and intercultural communication, cultural diversity interfaces and the impact of new digital media and communication technologies on governance and policy-making. Sub-theme 4 - People-Centered System Design and Innovation Industrial policy and government initiatives on innovation often influence the manner in which technologies and services are designed. But what is the extent to which these designs are people-centered? User-centered system design may help to enable greater e-inclusion by deploying media and communication technologies that better fit the needs, knowledge, possibilities and everyday life of people. The Section invites abstracts and eventually papers that address this issue of user-oriented system design and people-focused innovation policy, both generally and specifically in a north/south context. Sub-theme 5 – ICT and Telecom Policies in the Mediterranean Region In the Mediterranean area, Europe meets Africa. This makes it an interesting zone for the study of the possibilities and challenges of developing a knowledge society for the developed and well as the developing societies. This area was also the venue of the second Phase of the WSIS. Papers are invited from contributors from within or outside of the Mediterranean area, reflecting the potential and obstacles of telecom and ICT policies within the Mediterranean region. We particularly welcome abstracts, and subsequently, full papers that critically address policy developments in telecommunications within the region. Criteria for Selection of Abstracts: The CP&T welcomes abstracts from the global research community. Both well-established scholars and younger researchers from all regions are encouraged to submit abstracts for evaluation. The CP&T will maintain its tradition of only accepting papers of a high academic and research standard. Abstracts and research papers are evaluated on the following criteria: 1.The scientific or policy relevance of the research problem 2. Relevance to the declared Conference Theme and Sub-themes 3. Clarity in the formulation of the central research issues 4. Clarity of the objectives, as well as in the analytical methods used in the paper 5.The consistency and documented support of the central argument advanced 6.The appropriateness of theories and/or methodologies used 7.The nature of the empirical evidence presented. Abstracts of about 500 words should be sent to CP& T Section and addressed to Hopeton S. Dunn (hdunn@cwjamaica.com) AND to Jo Pierson (IAMCR-CPT-Cairo@telenet.be ) no later than January 30, 2006. The abstract should include title, name(s), institutional address and email address of author(s). All prospective presenters will be advised by March 1, 2006 of the outcome of their applications. The full text of accepted papers will be required for submission no later than June 15, 2006. Please visit http://www.aucegypt.edu/conferences/iamcr/ for more information about the conference, programme, registration, accommodation etc.