CALL FOR PAPERS
JOURNAL OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
Special Issue on WAR COVERAGE IN CYBERSPACE

Guest Editor: Ralph D. Berenger
The American University in Cairo

IMPORTANT DATES

Abstracts due: October 1, 2005
Full papers due: February 1, 2006
Anticipated publication: October 2006

FOCUS OF SPECIAL ISSUE

Few human behaviors shape history so dramatically as war. Militarists study the strategies and tools of conflict, but little research by media scholars has examined how information technologies have helped shape public perceptions of wars, particularly when those technologies allow anyone with a computer and Internet account to contribute directly to the general understanding of conflicts.

Widespread use of digital technology has been the spear point of globalization of information. Even minor conflicts and uprisings can instantaneously become global issues in cyberspace, with international involvement, effects and consequences.

The 2003 Iraq war was covered through many new forms of media such as weblogs, e-mail, mediated discussion boards, dedicated Web sites; transfer of digital images and digital photo alteration; various types of information warfare such as hacking and spamming; and a plethora of Urban Legends and disinformation. At the same time, research has indicated that traditional media still command the lion's share of credibility and legitimacy. Who really sets the agenda in today's global, digital world? Are traditional media increasingly turning to these nontraditional forms for news and information? What does the future of war coverage hold?

These are some of the broad issues papers could address in this special issue. But other areas are equally worthy of scholarly examination, such as: How are the digital media used to disseminate news and opinions about war? Who are the originators of such digital messages, and what gratification do they receive by initiating Net-based discourse? What are the general behaviors of Web surfers in time of war? What are the political consequences and concerns of this new form of media on public policy? Is the impact of the shift to New Media evenly distributed among cultures globally? What effects will that have on international relations? What legal issues are involved, and what are the trends?

Answers to these questions, and many more, require a multidisciplinary approach from scholars in political science, psychology, sociology, future studies, business and marketing, mass and interpersonal communications, and international relations, among others.

Comparative studies are particularly encouraged for this special issue, as are contributions from around the world.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Authors should submit a 500-word preliminary proposal by October 1, 2005, to the issue editor Ralph D. Berenger (berenger@aucegypt.edu).  The abstract should include the central research question, the
theoretical and/or empirical basis for the paper and preliminary findings or expectations. Those proposing ideas for articles should query the special issue editor.

Proposals accepted for inclusion will be invited to submit a full paper (APA style) of roughly 7,000-10,000 words for peer review by February 1, 2006. JCMC is an interdisciplinary journal, so authors should write papers that will be understood by a general audience. Expected publication date is October 2006.

Final submissions in an MS Word attachment should be e-mailed to the special issue editor, Ralph D. Berenger, at berenger@aucegypt.edu.

Posted by prolurkr at June 30, 2005 08:46 PM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.professional-lurker.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/717