At a 40-year anniversary, it makes sense to have a conference theme that deals with a large, important and timeless topic. The Nordmedia2013 theme will therefore be linked to the media’s relationship to democracy and free speech. The conference title, “Defending Democracy. Nordic and global diversities in media and journalism.”, points to the central role the media have in democracies and processes of democratization. We live in an era where the media plays an increasingly important role both for fundamental societal structures and for everyday socialization. Few would disagree with the significance of journalism and media for any democracy. However, democracy is not necessarily a prerequisite for journalism and media to play a significant role in societies. This ambiguous relationship between journalism/media and democracy has today been further complicated by the increasing importance of unedited, personal and social media. Traditional media institutions, and with them professional journalism, are no longer by default the main stewards of freedom of expression and hence democratic principles in a modern society.
Equally important is the fact that Nordic societies and hence the Nordic media are becoming increasingly globalized. The Nordic countries today represent a diversity of different cultures, social groups and ethnicities, and they are characterized by increased migration and transnational interaction and cooperation. The media field’s political economy and the increasing diversity of the various media practices and media cultures are also more and more influenced by global trends. This makes it essential to view media and journalism’s relation to democracy and free speech in a transnational perspective, which not only includes the Nordic countries, but also other parts of the world.
Key questions that will be discussed at the conference are:
What is the role of media and journalism in democracies and processes of democratization, and how do these roles change?
What characterizes the relationship between journalism, other media practices (such as social media) and democracy?
How does the increasingly complex and omnipresent media field affect conditions for freedom of speech?
How do Nordic media meet the challenges of an increasingly diversified society?
How can journalistic institutions and other media institutions best ensure that the media’s role as carriers of free speech and democratic ideals is maintained and strengthened?