Folks, lots of stuff going down these days. excuse the formatting, my email program has trouble with non-english characters; in the process of posting, some characters may be missing. david *** Call for papers Information Society-Convocatoria articulos socied ad de la informacion English: CALL FOR ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS SIGNO Y PENSAMIENTO JOURNAL- N 44 First Semester 2004 Signo y Pensamiento, the journal published by the Communications Department of Universidad Javeriana's School of Language and Communications (Bogot, D. C., Colombia), invites all researchers, teachers, and scholars interested in the area of communication -and in Social Sciences- to submit their articles or papers for the journal's issue No 44 (January-July 2004), which will be devoted to the subject "Information Society: Which Society are We Talking about?". In so doing, the journal wants to join and take part in the national and international debates that have emerged around the Information Society World Summit. People interested can submit research findings, essays and reports within the general framework of mass media, culture and media, and/or the use and appropriation of cultural assets. Papers on any of the following general themes can be submitted: 1. Knowledge, Information and Culture vs. Economy and the Markets, How to Balance the Scales? Articles concerning the relationship between the quality and quantity of cultural consumption and revenue criteria; copyrights and intellectual property; broadening ownership, the right to free information, and the democratization of culture, 2. The digital gap (cultural and social) Articles on national, regional and global milieus; conflict, cooperation and integration (reality and possibilities); production and commercialization of communication and information technology; development possibilities and indicators (infrastructure, users, access and weight within the economy); the presence and conciliatory strategies of the State and other political actors in the policies and regulation of information and communications as a public service. 3. The global and the local milieus: tensions and possibilities Articles dealing with the right to be different, plurality and cultural homogenization; research and use of communications and information technology and socio-cultural integration (memory, the social fabric, the public and cultural spheres); citizenship participation and interaction (CIT); appropriation, participation, interaction and transformation of daily life and culture; literacy and virtual education. 4. Historical perspectives: From the new world order of information and communications to the information society? Articles on the continuities, transformations and ruptures that have taken place due to the shifts and displacements experienced by research and reflection on the national policies on communications, on communications for development, on social change, etc. Deadline for article submission: All articles must be submitted by March 8, 2004. Requirements: * Preferably, all texts should be unpublished. Otherwise, the name, date, and place of publication, the publisher's address, and a letter from the author or editor authorizing the publication of the text must be included. * The journal will give precedence to the following type of articles received: research results including introduction, methodology, results and conclusions; reflections based on the results of research worked from an analytic, interpretative or critical point of view; re-examined papers showing results, systematizations and progress in the particular field of studies accompanied by careful and comprehensive bibliography. * Preferably, papers should be written in Spanish but texts in either English or Portuguese are accepted. * All articles should be 20 to 25 pages long, double-spaced and in 'A' format (28.000 characters approx.) in Times 12-point font. * All articles must include a brief abstract (100 - 120 words) in either English or Spanish. * Charts and graphics should be sent separately. * Information on the author should be sent on a separate sheet of papaper stating: full name, nationality, address, e-mail, telephone, institutional membership or affiliation, recent publications and major areas of interest. Submissions must be sent to: Signo y Pensamiento signoyp@javeriana.edu.co Jorge Ivn Bonilla V.Catalina Montoya L. jibonill@javeriana.edu.co catalina.montoya@javeriana.edu.co Editor Editorial Coordinator SIGNO Y PENSAMIENTO is an academic publication devoted to reviewing progress and advancements on communications theory, practice and policies. It aims at being a forum for debate and spreading the contributions of teachers and researchers mostly in the following areas: * The foundations of communication as a scientific, humanistic and artistic discipline, and the reflections about research methodologies and knowledge construction in the are of communication. * Analysis of contemporary communications issues and the reproduction and transformation of cultural contexts. * Ethics of communication. * The relationship between communications and religious expression. * Analysis of different forms of expression and the multiplicity of the media's own language and discourse. * Analysis of the processes and languages that emerge in the interaction with new communication technologies. * The analysis and teaching of publicity, educational communication, journalism and organizational communication as professional fields and objects of study. * Communications policies, planning and regulation. * Communication and political culture. Espaol: CONVOCATORIA REVISTA SIGNO Y PENSAMIENTO No. 44 Primer semestre de 2004 La revista Signo y Pensamiento, publicacin del Departamento de Comunicacin de la Facultad de Comunicacin y Lenguaje de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, convoca a todos(as) los(as) investigadores(as), profesores(as) y pensadores(as) del campo de la comunicacin -y las ciencias sociales- a presentar sus artculos para el nmero 44 (enero-julio, 2004) de nuestra publicacin, dedicada al tema: Sociedad de la informacin: de qu sociedad estamos hablando?. En esta ocasin la revista ha querido unirse a los debates nacionales e internacionales en torno a los asuntos de la Cumbre Mundial de la Sociedad de la Informacin, CMSI. Todas las personas interesadas en esta convocatoria pueden enviar artculos que presenten resultados de investigacin, artculos de reflexin, de revisin temtica y reportes de caso, cuyo horizonte de anlisis tenga alguna relacin los medios de comunicacin, las culturas mediticas, los usos y apropiaciones de los bienes culturales. Se pueden enviar trabajos en cualquiera de los siguientes ejes temticos: 1. Conocimiento, informacin y cultura vs. economa y mercados Cmo equilibrar la balanza?: Se aceptan artculos asociados a la calidad y cantidad del consumo cultural en relacin con los criterios de rentabilidad; derechos de autor y propiedad intelectual; expansin de la propiedad, libre derecho a la informacin y democratizacin de la cultura. 2. La brecha digital (cultural y social): Se aceptan artculos relacionados con entornos nacionales, regionales y globales; conflicto, cooperacin e integracin (realidades y posibilidades); investigacin, produccin comercializacin de las tecnologas de informacin y comunicacin; indicadores y posibilidades de desarrollo (infraestructuras materiales, usuarios, accesos, peso en la economa); presencia, concertacin del Estado y otros actores en las polticas y la regulacin de la comunicacin, informacin como servicio pblico, entre otros 3. Entre lo mundial y lo local: tensiones y posibilidades: Se aceptan artculos relacionados con los derechos a la diferencia, la pluralidad y la homogenizacin cultural; investigacin/uso de las tecnologas de la informacin y la comunicacin e integracin sociocultural (la memoria, el tejido social, lo pblico y lo cultural); TIC, accin e interaccin ciudadana; apropiacin, accin, interaccin, transformacin de la vida cotidiana y la cultura; alfabetizacin y educacin virtual. 4. Miradas histricas: Del nuevo orden mundial de la informacin y la comunicacin (NOMIC) a la sociedad de la informacin?: Se aceptan artculos que den cuenta de las continuidades, las transformaciones y las rupturas que ha implicado el desplazamiento de la reflexin y la investigacin sobre asuntos relacionados con las polticas nacionales de la comunicacin, la comunicacin para el desarrollo, el cambio social, entre otros. Fecha lmite para la recepcin de los artculos: Los artculos se recibirn hasta el 8 de marzo de 2004. Requisitos: - El material deber ser preferiblemente indito. En caso contrario, se deber incluir el nombre y la fecha de la publicacin en la que ha aparecido, la direccin del editor y una carta del autor o del editor en la que se autoriza su reproduccin. - La revista dar prioridad a los siguientes tipos de artculos enviados: artculos de resultados de investigacin que incluyan una introduccin, metodologa, resultados y conclusiones; artculos de reflexin basados en resultados de investigacin trabajados desde una perspectiva analtica, interpretativa o crtica por parte del autor; artculos de revisin que muestren resultados, sistematizaciones y avances del campo de estudios y que presenten una revisin bibliogrfica cuidadosa y exhaustiva. - Deben ser preferiblemente escritos en castellano, aunque se aceptan artculos en ingls y portugus. - Los artculos deben tener una extensin entre 20 y 25 pginas escritas a doble espacio en hoja tamao carta, o 28.000 caracteres aproximadamente. La fuente debe ser Times 12 puntos. - El artculo debe incluir: resumen en espaol e ingls (entre cien y ciento veinte palabras). - Los cuadros y grficas deben enviarse por separado. - Debe enviarse una hoja separada con los datos del autor: nombre completo, nacionalidad, direccin, correo electrnico, telfono, afiliacin institucional, publicaciones recientes y reas de inters. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a: Signo y Pensamiento signoyp@javeriana.edu.co Jorge Ivn Bonilla V. Catalina Montoya L. jibonill@javeriana.edu.co catalina.montoya@javeriana.edu.co Editor Coordinadora Editorial *** Rhetoricians for Peace, a nationwide progressive organization for teachers and students of rhetoric, was founded in the Spring of 2002, and currently has over 140 members. With the next Presidential election less than one year away, writers and teachers are in positions to exert real influence in the election's outcomes and to work for peace and justice more broadly. We invite you to join us in our efforts to raise the level of political discussion through exposing manipulations of language and supporting serious rhetorical engagement with questions of the future of our nation and world. The organization's mission statement is: Rhetoricians for Peace is a grassroots network of global citizens who advocate the open exchange of accurate information and responsible analysis in order to promote social justice and the peaceful resolutions of conflict. To achieve this end, Rhetoricians for Peace will examine public communications and their contexts in the following ways: - analyzing public discourses and the rhetorical situations in which those discourses occur; - countering manipulative rhetoric, lies, dishonest representations of facts, and appeals to the power of force over reason and empathy for others; and - networking with organizations dedicated to open inquiry, particularly organizations that promote peace, environmental responsibility, and social justice. RFP's current projects include: - rhetorical analysis of public statements, including policy and media sources, and the circulation of analyses to the public and to political activists, through the organization's website and other media; - the promotion of dialogue dedicated to open inquiry of public discourses in communities and educational venues, including schools and academic publications; - liaison with other groups, in academia and elsewhere, who advocate goals similar those of the organization, with the ultimate goal of creating a virtual think tank addressing issues of politics and language; - publicly recognizing through an annual award rhetors who have contributed to sane and courageous discussion of American foreign policy - the creation of a network of individuals willing to speak on these matters in public forums. To join the group, go to https://mail.lsit.ucsb.edu/mailman/listinfo.cgi/rfp *** Request for Proposals The Engagement Innovation Test Fund SUMMARY: The Engagement Innovation Test Fund is seeking proposals for creative efforts to engage or recruit new members and activists in the work of your organization while educating the public about your organization's mission. Grants of between $3,000 and $6,000 for a short-term project (6 months or less) are competitively available to public charities that qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that wish to undertake a project with replicable results. NEED: For too long the progressive movement has relied upon the same tired mechanisms for engaging new members and activists and getting its message out to the public. The result of this has been an aging activist population and a lack of diversity in the activists who have been recruited. BACKGROUND: Many public interest organizations are seeking to bolster their membership and activist rolls in order to more effectively educate the public and to develop support for their missions and goals. Some organizations are gearing up to spend large sums on tried-and-true mechanisms for recruitment like direct-mail solicitations, marches, door-to-door canvasses, and conventions. However, new techniques, both online and offline, have shown that members can be "acquired" for a lower cost per member than traditional efforts cost. The Engagement Innovation Test Fund will competitively test a number of recruiting techniques from a variety of different organizations and movements and share the lessons learned widely. The goal is to use a limited investment in a six month test effort to guide foundations and non-profits in their investments in engagement activities. PROCESS: Organizations which qualify as public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code wishing to undertake a project should complete the proposal form and e-mail it to the Common Assets Defense Fund at engage@commonassets.org. A review committee will review your proposal based on the following criteria. * Number of members/activists potentially generated * Diversity of members/activists generated * Leadership potential of members/activists potentially generated * Originality/Creativity * Plan for ongoing engagement of members/activists * Replicability of test results * Plan for evaluation and sharing of results The application asks that applicants evaluate their own proposal; the review committee does not expect any project to score 10 points in all of the categories. We are willing to take risks with non-traditional projects. Proposals must be received by January 7th, 2004. NETWORKING:If suitable, approved applicants will be placed in touch with each other during the six month testing period. This will be an excellent opportunity to network with other organizations who are clearly interested in exploring new methodologies of membership/activist engagement. EVALUATION/CONCLUSION: All recruitment efforts will be evaluated upon completion and the results will be shared with all grantees. Similarly, results will be shared with other organizations that may be able to utilize recruitment methods developed as a result of these grants. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS:General Service Foundation supports grantmaking programs in International Peace/Human Rights, Reproductive Health and Rights and Western Water. Find them on the web at: www.generalservice.org. Common Assets Defense Fund is a multi-disciplinary organization that seeks to educate the American public about the rapidly diminishing assets we hold in common and defend those assets from misuse, privatization and destruction. Our three major campaign areas are: airwaves, energy, and water. In each area we seek to provide tools to help organize emerging networks of new leaders and activists. *** CONNECTED, or What It Means to Live in the Network Society Steven Shaviro University of Minnesota Press | 240 pages | 2003 ISBN 0-8166-4362-8 | hardcover | $49.95 ISBN 0-8166-4363-6 | paperback | $17.95 Electronic Mediations Series, volume 9 Connected is made up of a series of mini-essays on cyberpunk, hip-hop, film noir, Web surfing, greed, electronic surveillance, pervasive multimedia, psychedelic drugs, artificial intelligence, and evolutionary psychology, among other topics. In this breathtaking work, Steven Shaviro investigates popular culture, new technologies, political change, and community disruption and concludes that science fiction and social reality have become virtually indistinguishable. Shaviro argues that our strange new world is increasingly being transformed in ways, and by devices, that seem to come out of the pages of science fiction, even while the world itself is becoming a futuristic landscape. The result is that science fiction provides the most useful social theory, the only form that manages to be as radical as reality itself. For more information, including the table of contents, visit the book's webpage: http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/S/shaviro_connected.html *** BAD SUBJECTS SPECIAL ISSUE: PROTEST CULTURES CALL FOR PAPERS In the wake of the demonstrations against the Iraq War that met George Bush, Jr. in London, and the anti-FTAA demonstrations in Miami, Bad Subjects [http://eserver.org/bs] is publishing a year-end special issue on Protest Cultures. This issue will be dedicated to examining the role of public protest in confronting the dominant orders of the American Empire and capitalism; economic, cultural, and media globalism; and the modalities of state violence, visible and less visible. What current strategies of confrontation and protest are most effective in creating a shared resistance to the normalization of imperial culture? How do mobilizations occur and to what effect? How does staging protests contribute to the creation of peaceful civil societies and social justice? What forms of political organization and collective action emerge from protests to energize democratic practice and confront anti-democratic authority? This special issue emphasizes the co-location of many political movements and cultures within a broad, transnational oppositional camp. Essays might address protest planning, staging geographies, personal experience, spontaneous protests, anti-capitalist and labor protests, independent and corporate reportage, internal organization, ideological conflicts among protestors, artwork and creative protest, or policing and control, and should articulate some argument concerning protest praxis and politics. Relevant essays on historical protests are also invited. Send essays of 2000-3500 words to Cynthia Hoffman [choff@lmi.net] and Joe Lockard [Joe.Lockard@asu.edu]. Essay submissions can be reviewed and published in English, Spanish, German, and French, with or without translation. Protest graphics and photography may be submitted without essays. For all submissions, include a brief author bio and e-mail address; see Bad Subjects issues for style. The submission deadline is December 24, 2003; the special issue will be published on January 1, 2004. Bad Subjects is also calling for papers on upcoming issues. For more information, see http://eserver.org/bs *** david silver http://faculty.washington.edu/dsilver/ To SUBSCRIBE to cyberculture-announce, a low volume announcement list for RCCS events and updates, email: listproc@u.washington.edu; No subject is needed. In the body, type: subscribe cyberculture-announce