The Department of Media of the Higher School of Economics is pleased to announce the organization of an international conference “Comparing media systems in BRICS countries: A review of conventional paradigms,” which will be held at the Higher School of Economics on April 25 – 26, 2016.
The central purpose of the conference is to explore and compare media systems in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, also referred to as BRICS countries. The main focus of the conference will concern the similarities and differences among their media systems. The media systems in these BRICS countries have attracted intense scholarly interest over the last few years (Norderstreng, 2013; Sparks, 2013) which reflects the trend of reconsidering conventional paradigms in mass communication studies. The book, “Comparing Media Systems” by Hallin and Mancini (2004) remains an emblematic study for comparative analysis in mass communication research. However, a trend towards de-westernization of media studies (Curran and Park, 2000; Thussu, 2009) has challenged the applicability of Western media theory as the basis for examining media systems in countries outside the Western world and has consequently triggered a review of conventional paradigms in media studies.
The research into the media systems of BRICS countries has often become a new platform for elaborating new media theories and standards. The primary common attribute that binds these BRICS countries together is that they demonstrate high economic growth rates, which inevitably impacts the financial health and development of their media. However, some scholars argue that BRICS is a fictional coalition, which provides an artificial basis for any comparison, and all attempts to elaborate new theories in this respect should be considered very carefully.
Although the binding of these particular countries may seem artificial, it can be a useful basis for redesigning existing paradigms, which are largely based on a strictly Western viewpoint.
This discussion provides the setting for the conference, and participants will seek to reconsider conventional paradigms by emphasizing the principle similarities and differences in the media systems of BRICS countries. The conference will provide a forum for both academics and practitioners to exchange their ideas and findings on media and journalism in BRICS countries.
Conference themes include, but are not limited to, the following:
– Media Economy in BRICS countries
– Media and Democracy in BRICS countries
– Media and Culture in BRICS countries
– Freedom of the Media in BRICS countries
– Journalistic Practices in BRICS countries
Official languages of the conference are: English and Russian
Paper Submission:
We welcome abstract submissions from scholars and experts in the abovementioned areas. Abstracts must be in English or Russian and no longer than 500 words (including references). They must include, in the same document: title, name and surname of author(s), institutional
affiliation(s), and email of author(s). Abstracts must be submitted before October 30, 2015 on the Website
http://mediabrics.hse.ru/expresspolls/poll/150067060.html or send by e-mail on the address BRICSconf@hse.ru <mailto:BRICSconf@hse.ru>.
Participants will be notified about the acceptance by January 15, 2015.
Full papers must be in English or Russian and submitted before April 15, 2016.
Peer Committee:
Ilya Kiriya (Chair), Professor of Media Department, Chair of Media Department at National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia)
Colin Sparks, Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong)
Lucia Santaella, Professor at Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (Brazil)
Bertrand Cabedoche, Professor of Grenoble Alpes University (France)
Peter Dahlgren, Professor at Lund University (Sweden)
Daya Thussu, Professor, Co-Director of India Media Centre University of Westminster (UK)
Keyan Tomaselli, Professor, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg (South Africa)
Ruth Teer-Tomaselli, Professor, Director and Academic Co-ordinator for the Centre for Communication, Media and Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)
Yiannis Mylonas, Assoc. Professor of Media Department, National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia)
Geane Alzamora, Professor at Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil)
Obaid Siddiqui, Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University (India)
Organizing committee:
Ilya Kiriya (Chair), Professor of Media Department, Chair of Media Department at National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia)
Maria Pilgun, PhD, professor, Department of Integrated Communications at National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia)
Elena Sherstoboeva, Assoc. Professor of Media Department, National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia)
Key Dates:
Deadline for abstract submission: October 31, 00:00 GMT, 2015
Notification of abstract acceptance: January 15, 2015
Deadline for full papers submission: April 15, 2016
Start of registration: February 1, 2016
Conference: April 25-26, 2016
For any further information, please contact us at: BRICSconf@hse.ru
<mailto:BRICSconf@hse.ru>
Conference web site: http://mediabrics.hse.ru/
“Comparing media systems in BRICS countries: A review of conventional paradigms”
Higher School of Economics (Moscow, Russia), April 25-26, 2016