Einar Thorsen

Professor of Journalism and Communication at Bournemouth University

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Call for Papers – extended deadline:
Mediating Environmental Change: Exploring The Way Forward

9 November, 2010 by Einar Thorsen Leave a Comment

Friday 4 March, 2011

Symposium organised by the

Centre for Journalism and Communication Research at
The Media School, Bournemouth University

In collaboration with the

MeCCSA Climate Change, Environment and Sustainability Network

Call for Papers

The Mediating Environmental Change symposium will facilitate a debate on emerging and established forms and practices of environmental reporting – including climate change, conservation and sustainability. We aim to provide a lively discussion forum evolving around pertinent issues arising from a series of panels and keynote speakers.

You are invited to express interest in contributing your reflections or findings from relevant research as outlined below. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Events, Mediating Environmental Change: Exploring The Way Forward Tagged With: cfp, climatechange, conference, environment, meccsa

Science Journalism in a Digital Age – Call for Papers

27 August, 2010 by Einar Thorsen Leave a Comment

Journalism: Theory, Practice and CriticismSPECIAL ISSUE OF JOURNALISM: THEORY, PRACTICE AND CRITICISM

Guest Editor: Stuart Allan, Bournemouth University, UK

In taking science journalism as its focus, this special issue of Journalism will seek to contribute to current debates about the ways in which this important genre of reporting is being transformed by the changes ushered in by digital media.

Today it is readily apparent that precisely what counts as ‘science news’ is undergoing dramatic redefinition as the convergence of ‘old’ and ‘new’ media continues apace. The challenges facing the science journalist have always been formidable, of course, but the internet and associated digital technologies are bringing to bear new pressures and constraints – as well as creating fresh opportunities for innovation – deserving of our close attention. While the very future of science journalism is being called into question by some, others point to alternative approaches to science reporting that are flourishing online.

In exploring these concerns, this special issue’s agenda is informed by a sense of urgency. At a time when many news organizations are under intense financial pressure to trim or reduce expenditure on specialist, investigative reporting, it is all too often the case that science news is regarded as expendable. In the eyes of some, it is a luxury increasingly difficult to justify when other types of news will be more popular with audiences (and thus advertisers). CNN’s decision to cut its entire science, technology and environment news staff, for example, provoked widespread alarm when it was announced in 2008. Few commentators failed to note the irony that science issues – such as climate change, stem cell research, evolution and bio-terrorism – were proving sufficiently controversial to attract intense news coverage at the time.

Accordingly, a guiding theme of the special issue is that current assessments of the news media’s public responsibilities in a democracy can be enriched by inquiries into the changing nature of science journalism. Possible topics to be examined may include:

  • The political economy of science journalism
  • Journalists’ uses of digital technologies in science reporting
  • Rethinking the news values of science coverage
  • Scientists as news sources and the politics of expertise
  • The framing of controversy in science stories
  • The impact of blogging on science news
  • Audience perceptions of science news on the web
  • Science journalism and social networking

Prospective authors should submit an abstract of approximately 250 words by email to Stuart Allan (sallan@bournemouth.ac.uk). A selection of authors will be invited to submit a full paper according to the journal’s Notes for Contributors. Acceptance of the abstract does not guarantee publication, given that all papers will be subjected to peer review.

Timeline

Deadline for abstracts: 1 October, 2010; deadline for submission of articles: 31 December, 2010. Final revised papers due: March, 2011. Publication: Volume 12, No. 7

About Editor

Stuart Allan’s science-related publications include Environmental Risks and the Media (co-edited, 2000), Media, Risk and Science (2002), and Nanotechnology, Risk and Communication (co-authored, 2009). Recent co-written journal articles have appeared in New Genetics and Society (2005), Science Communication (2005), Health, Risk & Society (2007), Public Understanding of Science (2009), and Journal of Risk Research (2010).

Professor Stuart Allan
The Media School
Bournemouth University
Talbot Campus
Poole, Dorset
BH12 5BB
UK

sallan@bournemouth.ac.uk

Filed Under: Blog, Call for papers, Journalism Tagged With: cfp, journal, Journalism, news, sciencejournalism, stuartallan

Online Reporting of Elections – call for papers

7 July, 2010 by Einar Thorsen Leave a Comment

Journal of Journalism PracticeJOURNALISM PRACTICE
SPECIAL ISSUE CALL FOR PAPERS

Guest editor: Einar Thorsen

Elections represent a great spectacle of journalism and are therefore ideally suited to reflect upon the current and future state of journalism practice in relation to online political news and communication.

Online news reporting in its various guises is now an essential part of online political journalism. Recent examples range from political blogging and Youtube debates during the 2008 US presidential election, through the use of Twitter to report and mobilise civic uprising in the aftermath of the 2009 Iranian and Moldovan elections, to the normalising of online news during the 2010 UK general election.

Newspapers and broadcasters now invest heavily in election micro-websites. Journalists increasingly use Twitter and Facebook for breaking news or unconfirmed rumours, and also as a valuable source of ‘public sentiment’ and insight into the political process. Ordinary citizens, for their part, use social media to hold politicians and mainstream media to account.

This special edition of Journalism Practice will be an opportunity to discuss the role of online news reporting during national elections and referendums. It will provide a forum for both practitioners and academics to discuss emerging and established forms and practices of online journalism.

Comparative research is of particular interest to this special edition – either different national contexts, or different news practices within the same national context.

Suggested areas of focus include, but are not limited to:

  • How does online election reporting compare across different national contexts?
  • Has online journalism lived up to expectations during elections?
  • How has the Internet changed the working practices of political journalists?
  • How does online reporting of elections compare to print and broadcasting?
  • What role have citizen journalists had in the media landscape during elections?
  • How have Twitter and Facebook influenced the way journalists connect with audiences?
  • How do journalists use social media, blogs and UGC as election news sources?
  • What are the strengths and limitations of live blogging?
  • How have the features of online news impacted on election campaigns?
  • How have news organisations facilitated online public debates and comment?
  • How has online journalism helped inform electorates?

Prospective authors should email abstracts of 500 words to Einar Thorsen (ethorsen@bournemouth.ac.uk). Papers will then be invited and subject to peer review.

  • Deadline for submission of abstracts: 10 September 2010
  • Deadline for submission of articles for review: 1 December 2010
  • Final revised papers due: 31 March 2011 (following peer review)
  • Publication: end of 2011/early 2012

If you have any questions or want to discuss an idea for the special issue, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

PDF version of CfP available on Routledge website.

Filed Under: Blog, Call for papers, Journalism Tagged With: cfp, elections, journal, journalismpractice, onlinereporting