*CFP* "JOURNALISM AS JUSTICE", CONFERENCE

"Journalism as justice"

20-21 November 2019

The Venue

De Montfort University

Leicester, United Kingdom

Hosted by the DMU Institute of Evidenced-Based Law Reform

Keynote speaker: Hayashi Kaori, Professor of Media and Journalism Studies at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, the University of Tokyo, and author of Journalism for Justice with Ethics of Care (2011)

Hayashi sheds light on journalistic practices that are sensitive to the needs of the socially weak and that advocate on their behalf. These practices, she argues, have not yet been evaluated fairly in the journalism scholarship

Traditionally, journalism and justice have been separate fields. A loose relationship has existed between the two through media reports which touch on issues of justice. Yet journalism can perform a greater and positive role in the achievement of justice. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight the importance of peace, justice and strong institutions. Independent media are an integral part of good governance that is a prerequisite for sustainable development. Investigative stories uncover injustices by state and non-state actors, which impede progress and development. However, the third sector – the key player in social justice – often encounters barriers in accessing media. With the advent of new technologies over the past few decades, journalism has assumed different manifestations. Social media have provided to be alternative and useful platforms for interaction and dissemination of information, but ‘fake news’ highlights the negative uses of the digital space. There is scope for inquiry into the links between forms of journalism and typologies of justice, inclusive of, and not limited to, social justice, distributive justice, criminal justice, transitional justice and restorative justice. The central questions are: how can journalism, in all its forms, become an effective tool for, and perform its work, towards the attainment of justice? Why do media fail in this function?

This interdisciplinary conference intends to bring together academics, journalists, lawyers, researchers, bloggers/influencers and practitioners in the third sector (NGOs), and hopes to conclude by identifying and proclaiming a set of guiding principles identifying the role of journalism in promoting justice.

We encourage potential participants to submit proposals for papers on a topic of their choice relating to the conference theme. The conference presents an opportunity for individual works and potential collaborations across different disciplines.Generally, papers which explore the intersections between any form of journalism/media constructions/representations, and the various typologies of justice are encouraged. Consideration should be made, where possible, to link the submissions to SDG 16. 

Topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to:

• Justice through journalism 
• Press freedom and justice 
• Journalism and development 
• Peace, justice and the media 
• Race, media and justice 
• Gender, media and justice 
• Social justice and media access 
• Media, ethics and law 
• Social justice journalism in digital age 
• Citizen journalism and justice 
• Investigative journalism and justice 
• Journalism and environmental justice 
• Media and restorative justice 
• New media and justice 
• Journalism and transitional justice 
• Migration, media and justice

Submissions

1. The deadline for submitting a detailed abstract (500 words) and full author details (title, affiliation) is 15 September 2019. 
2. Selection of papers is based on the quality of abstracts submitted (i.e. clarity on the intersection between media forms/practice and justice). Selected presenters will be notified by 30 September 2019. 
3. The paper must be an original submission not presented or published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. 
4. Both abstracts and full papers should be submitted as MS Word files by e-mail to: JAJ2019@dmu.ac.uk (subject line: "ABSTRACT") 
5. The full papers should also be sent to the same email address by 10 November 2019. 
6. Papers should be no more than 8,000 words, single-spaced in Times New Roman 12 point (Harvard referencing) 
7. Abstracts and papers must be in English.

The two-day conference is open to academics, journalists, researchers, practitioners in related fields, students and non-governmental organisations