Call for Papers

African Women in Media 2024 (AWiM24) Conference

Dakar, Senegal

Theme: Media and Sustainability

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

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

1. The business and financial models of media businesses
2. The relationship between media and sustainable development goals, including those of human rights, gender equality and climate action
3. The changing media ecologies in relation to 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 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 organisations 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, organisations 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:

1. Sustainable journalism
2. Media business and management
3. Artificial Intelligence
4. Sustainable Development Goals
5. Media ecologies
6. Media and the Environment
7. Media policy and regulation
8. Entrepreneurship
9. Safety of journalists
10. Media and gender-based violence
11. Press freedom and freedom of expression
12. Violence against women and girls
13. Women’s studies
14. Representation
15. Media studies
16. Postcolonial studies
17. Journalism studies
18. Feminist media
19. Audiences
20. Gender studies
21. Gender policy
22. Journalism practice
23. Social media
24. Media literacy
25. Climate change and women
26. 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

• CFP submission deadline – 17 May 2024
• Confirmation of accepted papers – 7 June 2024
• Registration opens – 1 July 2024
• Conference dates – 5 – 6 December 2024

For any enquiries contact yemisi@africanwomeninmedia.com