IAMCR - International Association for Media and Communication Research

General Papers

The Audience Section explores the nature of audience formations, the processes of audience development, the theories and processes of media engagement, the relationships that develop between texts and audiences, critical appraisal of the research methods used for studying audiences, and the cultural diversity inherent in the performance of being an audience. In general this means that we address theories of communication from the perspective of audiences, whether through usage, reception, interaction or mobilism.

Special Themes for 2009

Communication Rights and Media Ethics

This theme welcomes papers that explore the relationship between communication rights, media ethics and audience practices. For instance, is audience media literacy a communication right? Do new media enhance or frustrate audience ethical practice? How are the communication rights of special interest groups - community media groups; indigenous communities; disability groups; charities; self-help groups; victim support groups etc -reflected in their attempts to pursue their goals online?

Ethics in Communication and Media Research

In a spirit of self-reflexivity, this theme focuses on research methodology and the ways ethical issues are enacted in academic media research practices. It is an opportunity to consider the impact on audience research of the ethical systems currently required of media researchers and to examine the reasons why some audience formations are over-researched while others remain neglected.

Media Anthropology and Audience Research

During 2008 there has been extensive discussion of online media ethnography and anthropology, and its relationship to media studies and audience research. This theme is designed to facilitate discussion of these issues in the context of the concerns and interests of media audience researchers. Audience research draws heavily on ethnographic methods but the question of whether those practices constitute forms of ethnography or not remains hotly debated.

Mobile Media/Mobile Audiences

Mobile audiences represent the newest additions to the growing list of audience formations investigated by media researchers. The increasing development of content packages for mobile delivery can be seen as a process by which new audiences are being developed for this newest of media platforms. This theme welcomes research reports and theoretical analysis of mobilism as audience-ing.

Proposals

All proposals should be submitted through the IAMCR website before February 16th 2009; should include a 500 word abstract; name and titles of presenter; institutional affiliation, institutional address, email address, 3 key words and no more than 5 key references.

All proposals will be reviewed by the Advisory Panel to the Audience Section.

Results will be announced on March 29th, 2009.

Full Papers are due by July 1st, 2009.