CALL FOR PAPERS
IPSA RC10 and RC22 supported workshop:
„Bubble Society and the Death of the Public Sphere“
Interuniversity Centre Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 27 – 28 May 2019
The workshop is organized in Dubrovnik from 27 to 31 May 2019, as a part of the 24th
Annual International Conference on Information Technology and Journalism
Abstract deadline: 30 January 2019
The workshop focuses on alleged dissolution of the public sphere, encouraged by the rise of
the ‘bubble logic’. We are particularly interested to discuss if and how digital technologies,
along with traditional media, dismantle public sphere and polarize the electorate. We
especially welcome papers addressing the following questions and topics:
How convincing is the ‘filter-bubble theory’?
What is the role of traditional media in creating filter-bubbles?
How does artificial intelligence affect public sphere?
Clash of the Bubbles: Fox vs. CNN
Filter-bubbles, polarization and the rise of populism
Filter-bubbles and cultivation of the climate change denial
We also welcome submissions that address the following topics:
• Politics of alternative facts
• Content personalization and microtargeting
• Hashtag activism
• Big data and politics
• Facebook and privacy issues
• Viral journalism as the new normal
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Dr. Walter Lance Bennett, University of Washington, USA and Dr.
Darren G. Lilleker, Bournemouth University, UK
Dr. Walter Lance Bennett is one of the leading world’s media studies scholar. Lance Bennet
is Professor of Political Science and Ruddick C. Lawrence Professor of Communication at
the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, where he directs the Center for Communication
and Civic Engagement. The focus of his work is on how communication processes affect
citizen engagement with politics. He is author and editor of twelve books, including academic
bestseller “News: the politics of illusion”.
Dr. Lilleker is one of the leading scholars in political communication area with particular
interests in political party and candidate communication and the link to citizen and voter
engagement. He is Director of the Centre for Public Communication Research at the
Bournemouth University and Head of Research within the CMC academic group; Chair of the
PSA Political Marketing Specialist Group; Panel Convenor for Political Communication for
the ECPR and a member of ECREA.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Abstracts should not be longer than 500 words and should include:
• Title
• Author and Affiliation
• Core theoretical premise of the paper
• Methodology and relevant information on data collection and analysis
• Key findings or questions that analysis will address in an ongoing or future research
Abstract deadline: 30 January 2019
Notification of acceptance sent out 15 February 2019
Send your proposal to info@edemokracija.hr
Registration and Conference Fees:
All participants (presenters and non-presenters) must register to be able to attend the
conference.
Paper presenters and co-authors: 120 Euros
PhD Students and non-presenters: 70 Euros
SPECIAL JOURNAL ISSUE
A number of selected full papers will be submitted for publication in special issue in indexed
journal Media Studies. All conference papers will be eligible for this issue. The selection will
be based on peer reviews and it will be carried out by the special issue Guest Editor Dr.
Domagoj Bebić in collaboration with the journal’s Editor-in-Chief. Expected
Medijske studije (Media Studies) is an interdisciplinary journal published by the Faculty of
Political Science of the University of Zagreb. Articles published in Media Studies are indexed
in: Emerging Sources Citation Index of the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, ERIH
PLUS and ProQuest – Social Science Database and Social Science Premium Collection and
are available in the open access data bases: Hrčak – The Portal of Scientific Journals of
Croatia, DOAJ – the Directory of Open Access Journals and CEEOL – Central and Eastern
European Online Library.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Our workshop is supported by IPSA RC10 and RC22 and organized by the Faculty of
Political Science, University of Zagreb (http://fpzg.hr/) and InMed Institute
(https://www.edemokracija.hr/).
Annual International Conference on Information Technology and Journalism (ITJ) conference
has been organized for 24 years now. The joint RC10/ RC22 workshop was first launched in
2010 and has been organized as the part of the conference since then.
Conference venue: Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia (http://iuc.hr/)
Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik is an independent international institution for advanced
studies structured as a consortium of universities with a mission to organize and promote
contact and exchange through projects, study programs, courses and conferences across a
wide range of scientific concerns. Program directors and resource persons coming from
about 170 member universities worldwide cooperate in organizing the activities. IUC is open
to new member institutions as well as to new programs.
Members of the organizing committee of the workshop are:
Domagoj Bebić (IPSA RC Liaison Representative; Faculty of Political Science, University of
Zagreb)
Hrvoje Jakopović (Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb)
Mato Brautović (Department of Communication Science, University of Dubrovnik)
Božo Skoko (Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb)
Milica Vučković (Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb) – contact person
Marija Volarević (InMed Institute)
Óscar G. Luengo (Universidad de Granada)
If you have any questions about the conference please contact organizing committee at
info@edemokracija.hr or Milica Vučković on behalf of organizing partner, Faculty of Political
Science, University of Zagreb at milica.vuckovic@fpzg.hr.