By Enoch Sithole
Media and communication academics from East Africa and other parts of the world will converge at the University of Dar es Salaam for the 14th edition of the East African Communication Association (EACA) conference on 28-30 August, this year.
The delegates will meet under the theme Africa and the Global Dialogue on Media and Communication, said the conference organisers.
University of Dar es Salaam via Facebook.
They added that the conference would provide “a platform for exploring and discussing the diverse facets of communication in East Africa, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and promoting the exchange of innovative ideas”.
The conference aims to foster a dynamic and inclusive dialogue between scholars, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and regulators across East Africa and the globe, they said, adding that the event would explore diverse challenges and opportunities shaping the media and communication studies field, with a particular focus on the East African context.
The organisers argued that “examining both regional and global perspectives on media and communication studies is not only relevant, but also critical for several reasons”, namely:
- East Africa’s unique position: The region is experiencing rapid technological advancements, demographic shifts, and evolving political dynamics. These factors profoundly impact media consumption, production, and regulation, and thus create opportunities and challenges. Analysing these issues through a regional lens allows for a nuanced understanding beyond Western-centric frameworks.
- Interconnectedness of global challenges: Misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and digital rights concerns plague media landscapes worldwide. While these issues manifest differently in East Africa, a global dialogue is crucial to share best practices, learn from diverse experiences, and develop collaborative solutions.
- Reimagining research and scholarship: The traditional boundaries between academic research and industry practices are blurring. The conference fosters dialogue between scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches and research with real-world impact.
- Building regional capacity: East Africa possesses immense talent and intellectual potentials in media and communication studies. This dialogue platform empowers regional scholars and practitioners, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering future generations of critical thinkers and skilled professionals.
- Shaping the future of communication and journalism: The media landscape is constantly evolving, and open dialogue is essential to address emerging challenges and opportunities. By bringing together diverse voices, the conference paves the way for responsible, ethical, and inclusive communication and journalism practices in East Africa and globally.
In line with the theme of the conference, abstracts have been invited from potential delegates who will attend the conference. The abstracts should cover some of the following themes:
- Media innovations and sustainability in the digital era
- Media and information literacy in the age of Artificial Intelligence
- Gender issues and children safety: Moderating harmful content on online platforms
- Media, democracy and elections in Africa
- The rise of influencer marketing 6. The dilemma of Investigative Journalism in Africa
- Reporting war and conflicts
- Integrating Global Journalism with Tourism, Climate Change and Conservation
- Kiswahili and the future of African languages for communication
- Media discourse, representation and identity
- Reimagining Public Relations and Marketing
- The future of journalism in the Global South
Abstracts should be of no more than 300 words and should include the title, author(s), affiliation, and contact information. They should indicate the chosen conference sub-theme and include a brief biography of 50 words and contact information of the author.
The deadline for submission is 30 May 2024 and submissions should be sent to eaca2024@udsm.ac.tz.
Detailed information about the conference can be obtained here.
