Conference Update: Plenary Details and More
After the largest reviewing campaign in the history of ICA, all submitters have now been notified whether or not their proposal will fit into the final program. Given the record number of submissions and in spite of all efforts to increase as much a possible the number of sessions, the average acceptance rate was mechanically forced to a bitterly low level. (ICA had 892 panels and 3895 papers submitted for the available 469 session slots resulting in a 36% acceptance rate). It is saddening to think that so many colleagues were disappointed by the outcome and might not be able to attend the conference as a result. Meanwhile, a number of preconferences and postconferences that called for proposals also proceeded to their selection, while others are still in the process.
Beyond the many sessions organized by the various Divisions and Interest Groups, the conference traditionally features sessions specifically devoted to the theme and a number of miniplenaries and plenaries that should appeal to delegates regardless of their particular specialty. Three plenary keynote sessions are particularly noteworthy.
The opening plenary session (Monday evening) will be devoted to the way cultural studies have and still do challenge the so-called mainstream approach to research. Cultural studies originated in the UK and the London conference is therefore an appropriate venue to reflect on what cultural studies represent today in media and communication research and beyond. The format of that plenary session will not be one of traditional lectures followed by questions and answers, but rather a structured and scripted discussion with prominent figures of contemporary cultural studies.
A second plenary session will be focusing on the network tradition in communication research and scholarship. If the network idea is associated today with ICTs and the internet, it can also be counted as one of the foundational concepts of communication research and scholarship, as well as an important challenge to conventional social science theorizing and methodology. This plenary session, organized by Leah Lievrouw (U of California – Los Angeles), theme chair of the conference, considers the long-term intellectual influence – what might be called the archaeology – of network thought, theory and methods in the communication discipline, as seen by a round table of prominent scholars from communication and related disciplines.
The closing plenary, on Friday afternoon, will be dedicated to the very topical issues surrounding regulation. Combining the views of the industry, a regulatory body, a professional and an academic, the session will attempt to comprehend the issues, the competing visions, challenges and interests that define the debate about the future of regulation of communication.
Registration is now open for the main conference as well as for all preconferences and postconferences. It must be emphasized that given the very high number of participants expected to attend, the Hilton Metropole (the conference hotel) will sell out rather quickly given the remarkably low price that ICA managed to negotiate. The rooms will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and we kindly ask those who register to not book more than one room so that as many conference attendees as possible can enjoy the conference hotel.
As for after our conference, I'm afraid we had to revise our plans to charter a bus to take those who were moving on to the IAMCR conference to Dublin. Instead, we will provide all necessary details for the different options for traveling from London to Dublin.
More news and updates about this very promising conference in the next issue of the ICA newsletter!