Arab Media & Society, the biannual journal of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University in Cairo, is inviting contributions for its upcoming Issue 38, focused on the theme of "Media and Conflict."
This issue seeks to critically examine the dynamic role of both traditional and digital media in shaping, documenting, and influencing conflict narratives across the Arab world. Scholars, practitioners, and journalists are encouraged to submit work that intersects media practices with technology, ideology, and geopolitics, offering insights into how media reshapes public engagement, conflict narratives, and the broader discourse surrounding war and peace.
Suggested Themes for Exploration
Submissions may address—but are not limited to—the following topics:
- Reframing Conflict Narratives
How do media platforms (traditional and digital) construct and influence narratives about war and conflict in the Arab world?
What are the dominant frames, and how do they shape public opinion and policy?
- Propaganda and Disinformation
The exploitation of media by state and non-state actors for psychological warfare and misinformation campaigns.
Tools and techniques used to manipulate audiences and fuel conflict through various media platforms.
- Citizen Journalism in Conflict Zones
The role of grassroots media and citizen journalists in challenging or reinforcing official narratives.
Impact on public perception of conflict through alternative reporting mechanisms.
- Ethical and Legal Dimensions
Challenges faced by journalists, activists, and citizens in reporting conflict.
The influence of legal frameworks on free and accurate conflict coverage in the Arab world.
- The Visual Economy of War
Circulation of images depicting violence, resistance, and suffering in media.
Cultural, psychological, and political impacts of visual representations of conflict.
- Social Media and Conflict Mobilisation
Digital platforms as tools for recruitment, ideological messaging, and strategic mobilisation in conflict zones.
The reshaping of strategies by conflict actors using social media.
- Media Coverage of Humanitarian Crises
Representations of displacement, refugee crises, and human rights violations in conflict reporting.
Media’s role in promoting or deterring international humanitarian interventions.
- Safety in Conflict Zones
Risks posed by digital media for journalists and activists in conflict zones.
Strategies to enhance the safety of media practitioners in volatile environments.
- Public Trust in Media During Conflict
The impact of media coverage on public trust and strategies for combating misinformation.
Rebuilding trust in conflict reporting amid a disinformation crisis.
- Gender and Conflict Representation
Portrayal of women and marginalised groups in media coverage of conflict.
Challenges faced by female journalists and activists in reporting from conflict zones.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions can adopt qualitative or quantitative methods and are encouraged to engage with interdisciplinary approaches and critical analysis. This open framework aims to encourage diverse perspectives and innovative ideas in understanding media’s role in conflict.
Deadline: Submissions must be received by 15 Jan
Submission Portal: [https://gfmd.info/engagements/call-for-papers-shaping-narratives-media-and-conflict-in-the-arab-world/]
By fostering this dialogue, Arab Media & Society hopes to deepen the understanding of media’s influence on conflict and its potential role in promoting peace, accountability, and justice in the Arab world.