*CFP* "LIMITLESS", 2019 CHILDREN'S MEDIA CONFERENCE

The CMC Research Sub-Committee is delighted to announce this year’s call for papers to be presented at the 2019 Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield on both the 3rd and 4th July.

The Research Strand of the Children’s Media Conference (CMC) is a crucially important and popular part of this annual event, which attracts over 1200 children’s media professionals to Sheffield every year. The conference will take place from the 2nd to the 4th July in 2019. The Research Sessions will be held on both the 3rd and 4th July.

The content shared in the research sessions is eagerly anticipated by delegates and the research strand’s role is to provide valuable insights and thought-provoking research to the children’s media community.  The research presented may also be incorporated into other related conference sessions, to disseminate it more widely.

The wide variety of topics discussed at the conference can be seen in last year’s programme.

2019 Conference Theme: “Limitless”

The conference theme for 2019 is “Limitless” The theme allows for sessions which explore the breadth of possibility in children’s media from imagination and storytelling to new platforms and original content, including user-generated content. Although not all sessions necessarily address the theme specifically, all presenters and producers will be asked to consider how they can make their content relevant to it.

We’re especially interested in research that will help delegates achieve their creative and commercial goals. Insight into children’s behaviours and perspectives as well as data that helps to inform decision-making and strategy will be particularly useful. Our aim is to present a varied menu of research sessions, appealing to delegates from all corners of the industry and so welcome submissions from academic, institutional and commercial sources. We are keen to hear your thoughts of suitable, relevant and thought-provoking content that can be shared.

Submission Criteria

Over the years we have been able to identify the types of sessions that achieve the most success with the audience at the conference. Below is an outline of the submissions considerations we ask of our research agencies and academics and where possible your submissions should reflect the following: Relevance to the audience (please look at the delegate guide from last year to give you an impression of the wide range of delegates who attend CMC)

An emphasis on findings, not methodology (this is the key to a successful presentation).  Each research session lasts only 30 minutes, presentations need to move directly to “value added” outcomes

Clear and concise action points for the audience to take away and be able to use from the research Long-term research which enables us to understand the past better and explore and project the future better

Wide research which brings good statistical evidence to bear and provides a good basis for market understanding

Fresh insights which are relevant to today’s children’s media landscape

A unique angle/area which has not yet been explored

Academic research that will have completed [at least data collection] by May/June 2018, at the latest, in time to be integrated for the conference

We are open to submissions relating to children aged 0-16 years of age

For the purposes of contrast you can also compare the sessions headed “Research” in the 2017 and 2018 programmes (audio and in some cases video versions of the sessions are available)

PLEASE NOTE

Research sessions from Wednesday 3rd July will be repeated on Thursday 4th July and so you must be available to present on both days.

Submission Process and Deadlines:

1. Please submit a 600-word abstract detailing your proposed research topic including where appropriate objectives, methods and potential outcomes. 
2. Submit your entry to Shazia Ali/Btisam Belola, the CMC Research Strand Producers, at the following email addressresearch@thechildrensmediaconference.com by Monday 11th March     2018. 
3. Submissions will be reviewed by the CMC Research Advisory Sub-Committee. The committee members are from a variety of backgrounds; Research, industry, academia, client-side and agencies. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 22nd March 2018. 
4. If you are selected, your session producer will need a summary of the key findings and insights from your presentation by Tuesday 28th May. 
5. Your final presentation will be required by Friday 14th June. This is to allow the producers to identify any other sessions that the research content may be further utilised. This will increase the coverage your research session will have across the conference. 
6. All organisations offering research for this strand are offered an in-kind sponsor status at CMC.  The presenter of the research is provided with one free pass to the whole conference, plus one further pass in recognition of the sponsorship status. The CMC Sponsorship Coordinator will email you with an in-kind sponsorship agreement.  By Tuesday 28th May you need to send Lauren Bartles lauren@thechildrensmediaconference.com 1 jpeg company logo and 1 eps company logo for use in print and on the CMC website. 
7. Research sessions will take place on Wednesday 3rd July and will all be repeated to maximise their potential audience, on Thursday 4th July.

Key Dates – 2019

Proposals to be received by Monday 11th March

Successful Applicants notified by Friday 22nd March

Top-line Findings and key insights Tuesday 28th May

Logos submitted Tuesday 28th May

Final Presentations submitted Friday 14th June

Presentations at Conference Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July NB. 

We will publish all the presentations and associated audio recordings on the CMC website immediately after the conference.  Please tell us if any elements of your planned presentation will not be suitable for this. We can accept a redacted version of your presentation to remove images or video of children, for example, but if you are unable to share the bulk of your presentation on the CMC website, we will not be able to accept your submission.

The CMC research sessions will benefit from full technical support. This means that all presentations will be stored centrally and so you will not be able to present from your own PC or Mac. The deadline for submission of final presentations is Friday 14th June to allow the conference organisers to upload and check the presentations.

The CMC PR agency DDA Blueprint will be seeking new research, which stimulates press interest in the run-up to the conference.  Again it is important for us to know if your research is embargoed or should not be featured in this way.

It is your responsibility to clear with research subjects and partners your right to present the research at the conference (and if possible online) and to clear all content in your presentation fordisplay at the conference to a live audience.

Please ensure you are able to present on both Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July. If you have any issues with availability then please let us know when you submit your abstract.

For further clarification please email:

• Shazia Ali (Producer, CMC Research Strand) 
• Btisam Belola (Producer, CMC Research Strand)

SUBMISSIONS: to research@thechildrensmediaconference.com