AWiM24 Conference Call for Papers

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African Women in Media calls for abstract submissions from media practitioners, academics, civil society, and policy actors, exploring the theme ‘Media and Sustainability’ from various perspectives.

Call for Papers: African Women in Media 2024 (AWiM24) Conference, Dakar, Senegal

Theme: Media and Sustainability

AWiM24 conference interprets Media and Sustainability from the following key perspectives:

The business and financial models of media businesses
The relationship between media and sustainable development goals, including those of human rights, gender equality and climate action
The changing media ecologies about emerging and new technologies, especially artificial intelligence and machine learning

Media Business and Financial Models: Developing viable media business and financial models is among the challenges and opportunities for media in Africa, and this was a conversation we started in a plenary session at AWiM23 in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation.

Public service media, for example, have the enormous task of balancing their mandate to provide a public service with the realities of their economic capacity (Koomson & Ofori-Parku, 2024). Similarly, there are increased concerns regarding the autonomy of African news media from international players, including technology companies shaping journalism innovation, and from foreign government investment (Hermida & Young, 2024; Gondwe, 2022).

Therefore, this theme asks: What is the current state of media sustainability in Africa; what are emerging and alternative approaches employed by media businesses towards sustainability; what do audiences want, and how might we rethink our engagement and relationship with audiences, especially women; what impact might the balancing of economic realities have on the vision of the African narrative; and finally, what does economic resilience look like for women-led and women-owned media businesses?

Media and sustainability: As we approach 2030, and with some progress made, key development markers are yet to be fully achieved. Addressing issues regarding gender equality in and through media is the guiding vision for organizations like African Women in Media, and instruments like the Kigali Declaration on the Elimination of Gender Violence in and through Media in Africa help to set critical agendas for media, academia, media development, and policy actors. Secondly, organizations like the Sustainable Journalism Partnership task us to consider a holistic interpretation of sustainable journalism, including content and business models that consider environmental and social issues and normative and gender-balanced newsrooms. Therefore, this theme asks how we might critically interrogate the media’s role regarding sustainable development and what roles gender plays in this regard. How have media engaged with development instruments, policies, and agendas, and what challenges and opportunities are present? Finally, what does a holistic approach to media and sustainability look like, what model of best practices exist, and what can we learn from them as we approach 2030?

Media Ecologies: The increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in news media has raised both hopes and fears. Some see the opportunities for AI to enhance the newsroom workflow, content, and audience engagement. Similarly, dystopian perspectives warn of the threats to jobs and professionalism of journalism (Makwambeni, Matsilele, & Bulani, 2023). This theme, therefore, asks what is the current state of AI adoption and use in African newsrooms, what are the range of perspectives, what considerations must be given when developing strategies and policies for AI use in newsrooms, and critically, what impact, opportunities and challenges does it present for women in media?

Given the above sub-themes, the conference invites abstracts in the following, but not limited to, areas:

Sustainable journalism
Media business and management
Artificial Intelligence
Sustainable Development Goals
Media ecologies
Media and the Environment
Media policy and regulation
Entrepreneurship
Safety of journalists
Media and gender-based violence
Press freedom and freedom of expression
Violence against women and girls
Women’s studies
Representation
Media studies
Postcolonial studies
Journalism studies
Feminist media
Audiences
Gender studies
Gender policy
Journalism practice
Social media
Media literacy
Climate change and women
Media and social change

Conference format

In-person: This is an entirely in-person event with no live streaming of sessions. If you submit an abstract for consideration, please ensure you can attend the event in person.

Submission guidelines

Please send a 250-word abstract with your name, e-mail address, a brief bio, and affiliation using this online form by 12 PM (West African Time) on 17 May 2024. Innovative formats, panel proposals, fireside chat, IgniteTalks, fishbowl sessions, workshops, and exhibitions are also welcome. Fireside chats, IgniteTalks, fishbowl sessions, and workshop proposals should include a short rationale.

Key Dates