AJE Winter Conference 2025 – call for papers on ‘Making a change’
Call for papers for the Association for Journalism Education (AJE) 2025 Winter Conference: Making a change: The challenges and opportunities in transitioning from industry to academia – and back again.
Date: Friday, January 17, 2025.
Location: Online.
Deadline for submitting abstracts / proposals for conference: Friday, December 13, 2024, at 5pm (GMT).
Overview:
The AJE’s January 2025 Winter Conference (online) will focus on the challenges and opportunities for journalists and journalism practitioners making the transition into academia from industry, as well as the benefits – and potential obstacles – for journalism lecturers and academics deciding to head back into the newsroom or into the field.
In a time of uncertainty for both the media industry and higher education, facing change and turbulence can be daunting – so this conference is an opportunity to share experiences, advice, tips, support and best-practice for making crucial transitions.
It is also a chance to explore the relationship between academia and industry more widely, including how gaps can be bridged and links can be forged between these two worlds.
We welcome ideas for 10 to 15-minute presentations on a wide range of topics related to the challenges and opportunities of transitioning from journalism education into industry and back again. Potential themes include, but are not limited to:
1. Demystifying academia: Outlining strategies and tips for helping new journalism academics find their way around the world of higher education after stepping out of industry.
2. Keeping in touch with industry: Exploring how journalism lecturers and academics stay connected to their roots as practitioners and ways for them to maintain their professional currency.
3. Going full circle: Considering advice and best-practice for journalism lecturers and academics who find themselves stepping back into their roles as working journalists / journalism practitioners.
4. Bridging the gap: Discussing how industry and academia can – and do work together – and how links between them can support the transitions of students and academics between both worlds.
5. Forging links: Providing ideas for how the journalism industry can learn from the practice / research activities of students and/or academics in higher education – and vice versa.
6. Exploring new opportunities: Examining what we now understand by ‘the industry’ and considering what new opportunities are open or may be opening for journalism academics looking to get back ‘into the field’.
Submission Guidelines:
Paper abstracts will be peer-reviewed. Please send an abstract of no more than 300 words and a cover sheet with a brief biographical note, your institutional affiliation (where relevant) and your contact details (including your e-mail address). Abstracts should be sent to: assjrned@gmail.com
Please address any queries to the same address in the first instance. Closing date for proposals: Friday, December 13 by 5pm (GMT).