Media Summit 2020: Developmental Journalism that influences political accountability

Call for Papers:

The Democracy Development Program in partnership with the Durban University of Technology’s Journalism Department intends to host a Media Summit towards activating citizens and the media to shape the journalism/media industry into a developmental journalism that influences political accountability and effective policies.

“Our goal is to support a new generation of public intellectuals capable of immersing themselves deeply in the most pressing issues and ideas of the day, engage in original research and to tell great stories – presenting their work in ways that can engage a new generation of audiences eager to be confronted with new information and new ideas in forms that are accessible and provoking”, Wits Journalism

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVE

To raise awareness and promote development journalism in academic institutions, civic organisations, and community-based media outlets.

• To further result in heightened awareness about developmental and investigative journalism; the role played by journalism in moulding SA democracy; and its role in promoting and deepening active citizenship in SA.
• As well as strengthened ties between academic institutions, civil society organisations and community media in facilitating responsive and sustainable developmental journalism

Papers are invited to respond to one or more of the following questions:

1. How does the media contribute to the building, and strengthening of democratic accountability?
2. Can Journalism Education be used to build a consciousness on the role of the journalist and media house in telling authentic community stories towards understanding how citizens navigate the democratic space?
3. How does society engage with media, as a tool for advocacy and lobbying for policy-change?
4. What impact has COVID-19 had on developmental journalism and community media? What are the tools that can be engaged to ensure that the work is able to continue, even in the presence of pandemic outbreaks? What are the debates still to be had about digitalisation of such processes – to what extent do these further entrench inequality?

The conference targets representatives from various civic education institutions, academics and researchers, including donor community, local government practitioners, traditional leaders, civil society, government officials, public administration students, legal fraternity as well as representatives from various political parties, the private sector and labour unions.

Submission Procedure:

Interested applicants wishing to present their original research should submit abstracts(300 – 350 words) by Friday, 26 June 2020, 12 Noon (South African time).

All extended abstracts/queries should be submitted electronically to Sthabiso Mdledle on sthabisom@ddp.org.za .

Important Dates: