INN2023 | Call for abstracts

In our times, innovating carries a cumulative, fluid, and paradoxical dimension: the new contexts and the pace of change do not make it an option. Innovation seems to be mandatory, but there is no single formula. Above all, innovating immediately implies a question: Why? And then another: How? Early studies in media innovation reflected the priority given in the industry to technological innovation (Pavlik, 2013; Posetti, 2018). However, the multidisciplinary and convergent nature of innovation in the media requires the strengthening of research lines in various dimensions – from narrative to social innovation, from financial to inclusive, from responsible to sustainable – and associated with multiple themes, such as journalism, audio studies and other formats, media skills and media literacy, well-being and work contexts, or media production in the other creative industries; in short, it is necessary to explore the concept of innovation from a conceptual and performative point of view in the media sector and beyond.

INN 2023 – I International Conference on Media Innovation, in a bilingual edition, is dedicated to the theme “(Per)forming Innovation” and also presents an innovative structure: a makeathon for doctoral students and young researchers, workshops and master classes, theoretical discussions, debates with professionals, hybrid sessions, artistic residencies, and also the first edition of media innovation awards.

There are calls for two formats: abstracts (communications) and proposals for artistic and research residencies.

In the communications format, we encourage contributions that focus on innovation in media and other creative industries, in particular:

  1. proposals for new methodologies associated with the study of innovation in the media;
  2. reflections and analyses about the fields under study and their framework in society;
  3. empirical studies that focus on narrative (content, concepts, formats, structures, and genres), digital (use of technology), social and inclusive (with a focus on accessibility or inclusion), financial and sustainable (with a focus on the business model from a responsible perspective) innovation;
  4. systematized or empirical studies related to innovation in formats (sound, image, video, text, virtual and augmented reality, etc.), products (news, cultural or leisure) and digital platforms (such as apps, social networks, websites or metaverse), specifically in the journalistic, editorial and/or entertainment context;
  5. empirical studies about the impact of innovation on the routines, well-being, contexts and practices of professionals in the media and other creative industries; relation between organizational models, innovation and entrepreneurship;
  6. empirical studies on innovation in specializations or areas of journalism (such as investigative journalism, cultural journalism, trend journalism, or science journalism);
  7. empirical studies related to the impact of innovation on audience participation, skills and media literacies.
  8. Empirical studies related to innovation in the use of platforms, formats and narratives in contexts outside the media, such as cultural and creative equipment and services, artistic expressions, health or environment.

Guidelines for submitting proposals

The conference will be face-to-face (only the main sessions will be hybrid) but will accept a limited number of video paper proposals, which will be available during the three days of the conference in an area of the website.

Abstracts should follow these guidelines:

  • be written in Portuguese or English;
  • not exceed 500 words;
  • include 5 keywords;
  • author and co-authors’ names and affiliations should appear only in the e-mail and not on the attached document with the abstract proposal;
  • clearly state the objectives of the study and the innovation component.

If the abstract is for video communication, the authors should explicitly mention this in the proposal.

Contact for more information: [email protected]

Proposals must be sent by e-mail to [email protected] by December 20th 30th (final deadline), referring to the subject “INN2023: Abstract proposal”. The e-mail must contain the authors, co-authors, and title of the abstract. In the attached document (.doc, .docx, .rtf or .pdf), only the title, abstract, keywords, and type of communication (in person or video). Proposals will be blindly evaluated by members of the conference Scientific Committee. Authors will be notified by January 3rd.

Full papers

Authors are not obliged to submit full papers but may do so, after the conference, to the journals associated with the event: Media & Journalism journal will host a limited selection of the best papers subject to a prior peer review process; Journal of Communication and Languages will edit a thematic issue dedicated to media innovation in artistic and cultural contexts, to be published in 2024, with a selection of the best articles subject to a peer-review process. Both are indexed in Scopus.More information on publication guidelines and dates will be published in due course.