Call for Papers

Call for Papers: Special Issue of Global Media Journal – Global Editions – Winter 2026

Media and Communication Policy in a Shifting Global Landscape

The various editions of the Global Media Journal invite submissions for a special issue dedicated to exploring the evolving field of media and communication policy and its multifaceted impact on media and platform regulation, public discourse, political and cultural values, as well as academic research across global contexts.

In an era marked by platform capitalism, algorithmic governance, and surveillance infrastructures, media and communication policies are undergoing rapid and often contentious transformation. These changes are reshaping how media systems operate, and what freedom of expression means. At the same time, they are also influencing the epistemological foundations of media research and the role of scholars in policy-making processes.

This issue seeks to foster a transnational dialogue on how media and communication policies—while shaped by distinct regional legal, political, and cultural frameworks and ideologies—converge around shared concerns such as press freedom, data privacy, platform accountability, the regulation of misinformation, and the protection of minors.

We welcome submissions from scholars across disciplines and regions, especially those engaging with critical, intersectional, and innovative approaches to media and communication policy on any of the following—but not limited to – communication policy challenges:

  • Net Neutrality and Internet Access: Debates over equitable access to digital infrastructure and the implications of tiered internet services.
  • Content Moderation and Platform Regulation: Policies governing hate speech, misinformation, and political content on social media platforms.
  • Media Ownership and Concentration: The impact of corporate consolidation on media diversity, editorial independence, and public interest journalism.
  • Broadcast Licensing and Public Service Media: Shifts in funding models and regulatory frameworks for national broadcasters and their platformisation.
  • Freedom of Expression and Censorship: Legal and informal restrictions on speech, especially in authoritarian contexts or during political unrest.
  • AI and Algorithmic Transparency: The role of communication policy in regulating automated decision-making systems and their societal impacts.
  • Universal Service Obligations: Policies aimed at ensuring access to communication services in rural, remote, or underserved communities.
  • Language and Cultural Representation: Policies affecting minority language media, indigenous broadcasting, and cultural inclusion in communication systems.

This call is jointly issued for the Australian, Canadian, German, Indian, and Turkish editions of the Global Media Journal. Each edition welcomes submissions that adhere to its respective style guide, language(s), and format (see details below). Regional focus areas are not limited to the countries represented by these editions. The special issue will be published in late 2026 as separate country editions, each connected to the others to enable context-sensitive and comparative perspectives. Prospective authors are strongly encouraged to submit their manuscripts in English.

Requirements for Submitting Contributions to the German Edition

Contribution formats:

Academic articles (peer-reviewed); essays; media practice & research reports; graduate section; interviews

Style Guide & Submissions Requirements:

Abstracts:

  • 200-300 words, PDF, in English
  • Abstracts must be submitted by email to gmj@polsoz.fu-berlin.de by 15 February 2026.

Full manuscript submission:

  • Full manuscripts should be submitted via https://globalmediajournal.de
  • Please select “Special Issue” in the drop-down list when submitting your manuscript.

Timetable:

  • Submission of abstracts: 15 February 2026
  • Response to authors: 1 March 2026
  • Deadline for full papers: 31 May 2026
  • Publication date: December 2026

If you have any questions, please contact GMJ-DE editor Katharina Nötzold (gmj@polsoz.fu-berlin.de)

CfP GMJ-DE: Media and Communication Policy in a Shifting Global Landscape

 

Archive

You can find our closed Call for Papers here.