The 16th Annual
Global Communication Association Conference

The 16th Annual
Global Communication Association Conference

globalcomassociation.com

CALL FOR PAPERS

Future(s) of Communication: Promises and Predicaments Istanbul Bilgi University, TURKEY May 16-17-18, 2024

Hosted by İstanbul Bilgi University, Faculty of Communication, the Global Communication Association invites you to submit your abstracts and panel proposals for the 16th annual convention to be held in İstanbul, Türkiye, between May 16-18, 2024.

A significant aspect of modernity enabled by media and communication technologies has been the collapse of time and distance. Global connectedness through social media platforms, flow of information through the internet, real-time communication through smartphones, and virtual meetings via Zoom have historically been credited for making the world a more connected place. However, unforeseen predicaments of new technologies have raised concerns about the lack of control over their use, the potential biases of machine visions and thinking, and their potential to facilitate crime as well as security and privacy breaches.

However, the contemporary technological assemblage does not allow time for such critical reflections. Paul Virilio suggests that ‘the faster the technology advances, the more accidents we will see’. He described the internet as ‘“the best and the worst of things…the advance of a limitless — or almost limitless — communication; and at some point, it is also the disaster — the meeting with the iceberg — for this Titanic of virtual navigation.’.’’

The Titanic metaphor refers to the disastrous nature of the contemporary technological assemblage and the gradual disappearance of the gap between the implementation of new technologies and the emergence of their adversary effects. The conference takes the increasing speed of technological development in the field of media and communication as its starting point and explores how and whether, if at all, the predicaments parallel and/or supersede the promises of the implementation of new technologies.

The GCA invites research papers exploring any aspect of issues related to the theme of the

conference, including but not limited with the following topics:

• The risk society, uncertainties, and risk
• Re-thinking communication and communication theory
• Life after social media
• The future(s) of media industry and alternative media economies
• Reconsidering the methodologies of communication
• Revisiting the discussion on communication as a discipline or area?
• Crises of democracy and the media
• Pedagogy of communication and communication technologies as pedagogical tools
• Media archeology and revisiting the past
• Populism and the media
• Artificial intelligence tools & applications
• AI and the transformation of society
• Humanitarian crises and the media
• Climate change and the media
• Media persistence
• Migration, forced displacement, and the media
• Media worlds of terror
• Margins of communication – re-thinking the boundaries of interactions
• Multimodality and the media
• Search for alternative modalities of the media

ABSTRACT AND PAPER SUBMISSION

• A 400-word abstract of the paper or panel proposal should be submitted to futuresofcomm@bilgi.edu.tr until February 15, 2024.
• The abstract should include the author(s)’ name, affiliation, areas of research, methodology and significance, followed by keywords.
• Poster presentations on topics related to the conference theme are also encouraged.
• Abstracts will be peer-reviewed by two reviewers. The authors of the abstracts will be notified of the acceptance of their abstracts by February 22, 2024.
• If accepted, the authors who wish to publish their paper in the conference proceedings, the full-length paper (not to exceed 25 pages excluding references and tables) must be submitted by May 1, 2024. All papers should adhere to The American Psychological Association (APA) style manual. For details, visit https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/0

PUBLICATION

A selected number of papers, closely related to the theme of the conference, will be published in the conference proceedings book (print or digital) or an edited journal volume.

CONFERENCE LOCATION (HOTELS AND FACILITIES):

The conference will take place at santralistanbul Campus of İstanbul Bilgi University. The Campus is situated on a green field of 118 decares on the shores of Haliç, accessible from different parts of the city. It is an educational environment within an arts and cultural complex, encompassing Turkey's first power plant, which has been converted into an Energy Museum.

There is a multitude of accommodation options for every budget, including hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs. Below you can find several accommodation options, some of which are close to the university and some are located in the old city. The prices, which include VAT, are available on their websites. Please consider checking the latest information on the prices and note that the prices may increase or decrease depending on the currency rate and the facilities’ recent price revisions.

İSTANBUL

İstanbul is a rich city in terms of its culture, history, cuisine and architecture. For more information about the city, please check the following link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293974-Istanbul-Vacations.html

AIR TRANSPORT

There are daily flights from major cities around the world to İstanbul, a city with two airports: İstanbul Airport (on the European side) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (on the Asian side). İstanbul Airport is geographically closer to the university and the listed accommodation options.

GROUND TRANSPORT

Airport shuttle buses are available from both İstanbul and Sabiha Gökçen Airports to major districts on the European side of İstanbul. The campus is within easy reach to major districts, by bus and metro lines.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES

An attractive and favorable package will be offered to all participants. Graduate students presenting papers will be given a 50% registration discount.

Applicants from Soft Currency Countries	Industry Professional	Early Registration	250 $
		Regular Registration	300 $
	Faculty Member	Early Registration	200 $
		Regular Registration	250 $
	Graduate Student	Early Registration	100 $
		Regular Registration	150 $
Applicants from Other Countries	Industry Professional	Early Registration	400 $
		Regular Registration	450 $
	Faculty Member	Early Registration	300 $
		Regular Registration	350 $
	Graduate Student	Early Registration	150 $
		Regular Registration	200 $

QUESTIONS

Please direct any questions to futuresofcomm@bilgi.edu.tr

IMPORTANT DATES

Abstract Submission Deadline	February 1, 2024
Acceptance Notification	February 15, 2024
Full Length Paper Submission	May 1, 2024
Last Date for Early Bird Registration	March 1, 2024
Last Date for Registration	March 15, 2024
Conference Reception	May 16, 2024
Conference Panels	May 16-18, 2024
Optional Tour (excursion to İstanbul)	May 18, 2024