ICTs and Participatory Culture was the theme of the "Participatory Communication Research" section on July 21.The session began with Emmanoel Martins Ferreira, assistant professor at the Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil, with his paper "New Media and Participatory Culture within the Brazilian Context".
He explained what participatory culture is and how it is facilitated by the advances in new media, mainly Web 2.0. He also wondered how young Brazilians act within the digital environment and if this participation helps their cultural and social development.
Afterwards, the paper "«Bairros» from Oporto: representing identity and exclusion through Youtube" by Anabela Gradim, António Fidalgo and Catarina Moura from Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal,was presented. The paper analysed videos about the neighborhoods from the city of Porto, with quantitative
and qualitative semiotic approach. "It is hoped to shed some light on their perceived profiles of identity and exclusion, as well as understand some of the particularities of neighborhood youth urban culture".
Christopher McConnell from the University of Texas at Austin, USA, presented his paper "Off the Computer and Into the Saddle: Local Cycling Media and Community Engagement". The paper was a study with interviews with 25 cyclists and 18 months of observation in Austin, state capital of Texas and home to the University of Texas.
From Viseu, Porto and Aveiro, cities of Portugal, Sónia Ferreira, Ana Veloso and Óscar Mealha brought their theme "A Study based on Web 2.0 Communication and Information Services in Senior Citizen Contexts of Use". Their objective was to show that senior citizens are capable and interested in digital inclusion. Their empirical research used data collecting instruments with a group of senior citizens in Portugal. Among their results were that the seniors prefer clean interfaces and Portuguese language in their computers.
Dagmar Monett Díaz from the Humboldt University, Berlin (Germany), and Beatriz Calvo Peña, from Universidad Carlos III (Spain) presented "A portrait of the Cuban bloggers based on The First Survey of the Cuban Blogosphere". This work about blogs in Cuba intends to show how the blogosphere is made up of Cubans living in the country and outside. Results were obtained from questionnaires sent to the bloggers.
Rita Santos, José Azevedo and Luís Pedro, from University of Aveiro, and Rong Wang, from the National University of Singapore were absent and did not present.
Diogo Soza, Raquel Lobao e Renata Freitas
2010-07-21
Wednesday, 21 July at IAMCR2010
Video by Joana Romão and Daniel Santos
Wednesday, 21 July at IAMCR2010
1. Plenary session "Communication, Citizenship and Lusophony" with John Downing, Moisés de Lemos Martins, José Marques de Melo, Margarita Ledo and Rosental Alves
2. OCS Workshop
Crisis Communication
The session of Theoretical Challenges, developed within the field of Crisis Communication, took place this morning, at 9:30. The session was chaired by S. Allern and attended by Andreas Schwarz, Eva-Karin Olson, Cheryl Mei-Xian, Charlene Quek Wei-Ling Ho and Audra Diers, among other scholars.
The first speaker, Andreas Schwarz from university of Technology (German), presented a complex and innovative study based on Kelley’s “Covariation”, concluding that there is still a long way to go before its practical application.
From University Helsingborg (Sweden), Eva-Karin Olson referred to crisis communication as a multi-level game. Analysing two communication crisis – the Australian 2007 elections and the candidates climate change policies and the 2005 “Jyllands-Posten” Muhammad cartoons controversy -, the lecturer concluded that non-linear crisis urge the individuals to show coherence throughout the whole process, specially when it concerns statements to the media and policies adopted to fight the said crisis. Nevertheless, the options taken to solve the situation must be flexible enough to adjust to the type and level of the crisis.
Cheryl Mei-Xian and Charlene Quek Wei-Ling Ho from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) focused their study on “media hypes”. The scholars then proceeded to explain how an organization should deal with the media during a crisis, in order to minimize the impact of the situation: firstly, the organization should have good relations with the media, which is key on a good crisis management plan. Even more essential, according to Cheryl Mei-Xian and Charlene Quek Wei-Ling Ho, is understanding how media hypes function, so the organization can avoid bad media coverage.
Audra Diers, a scholar from Marist College (EUA), pointed out five essential variables of analysis of a communication crisis: the industry, the crisis type, the nation where the crisis takes place and the channel that reports the crisis (traditional media VS. new media). Concluding, professor Diers stated that there is a need to study cross-national emerging crisis patterns, for they would serve as a comparison to national crisis, enhancing the disabilities of the national crisis.
Diana Teixeira, Eduarda Fernandes, Laura Vilaça and Neuza Alpuim
The first speaker, Andreas Schwarz from university of Technology (German), presented a complex and innovative study based on Kelley’s “Covariation”, concluding that there is still a long way to go before its practical application.
From University Helsingborg (Sweden), Eva-Karin Olson referred to crisis communication as a multi-level game. Analysing two communication crisis – the Australian 2007 elections and the candidates climate change policies and the 2005 “Jyllands-Posten” Muhammad cartoons controversy -, the lecturer concluded that non-linear crisis urge the individuals to show coherence throughout the whole process, specially when it concerns statements to the media and policies adopted to fight the said crisis. Nevertheless, the options taken to solve the situation must be flexible enough to adjust to the type and level of the crisis.
Cheryl Mei-Xian and Charlene Quek Wei-Ling Ho from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) focused their study on “media hypes”. The scholars then proceeded to explain how an organization should deal with the media during a crisis, in order to minimize the impact of the situation: firstly, the organization should have good relations with the media, which is key on a good crisis management plan. Even more essential, according to Cheryl Mei-Xian and Charlene Quek Wei-Ling Ho, is understanding how media hypes function, so the organization can avoid bad media coverage.
Audra Diers, a scholar from Marist College (EUA), pointed out five essential variables of analysis of a communication crisis: the industry, the crisis type, the nation where the crisis takes place and the channel that reports the crisis (traditional media VS. new media). Concluding, professor Diers stated that there is a need to study cross-national emerging crisis patterns, for they would serve as a comparison to national crisis, enhancing the disabilities of the national crisis.
Diana Teixeira, Eduarda Fernandes, Laura Vilaça and Neuza Alpuim
Tribute to Denis McQuail
The Communication and Society Research Centre hosted a tribute ceremony to Denis McQuail, in recognition of his work and long-standing contribution to the University of Minho.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Auditorium B1 and registered a massive affluence. In fact, the room was too small for so much enthusiasm.
Manuel Pinto introduced the session referring the importance of McQuail’s book to his academic career: “he inspires people”. Helena Sousa also talked about his humanity and his interest in everybody’s work. “Despite his status he’s generous and friendly. He reads a lot, he knows a lot”, said Helena Sousa.
Peter Golding, a special guest of the IAMCR, stated that there’s a piece of Denis in each one of us and also remembered his importance to the society. “We are lucky to have Denis contribution to Communication.” Denis McQuail thanked the tribute and said he’s up to do more.”It’s not time for balances. I’m not retiring”, joked. McQuail revealed the secret to his success: “To work along with special people”. After his discourse, McQuail left the room under a standing ovation.
António Vieira and Pedro Nogueira
Video by Nuno Pereira and Mariana Santos
The ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Auditorium B1 and registered a massive affluence. In fact, the room was too small for so much enthusiasm.
Manuel Pinto introduced the session referring the importance of McQuail’s book to his academic career: “he inspires people”. Helena Sousa also talked about his humanity and his interest in everybody’s work. “Despite his status he’s generous and friendly. He reads a lot, he knows a lot”, said Helena Sousa.
Peter Golding, a special guest of the IAMCR, stated that there’s a piece of Denis in each one of us and also remembered his importance to the society. “We are lucky to have Denis contribution to Communication.” Denis McQuail thanked the tribute and said he’s up to do more.”It’s not time for balances. I’m not retiring”, joked. McQuail revealed the secret to his success: “To work along with special people”. After his discourse, McQuail left the room under a standing ovation.
António Vieira and Pedro Nogueira
Video by Nuno Pereira and Mariana Santos
Pop Culture: Transculturation and Regionalisation
The first speaker, Peichi Chung, from National University of Singapore, presented her study, "The emerging media exchange in the cultural regionalisation of Asia". The scholar reported ncreasing media and cultural exchange in Asia duo to a more liberal environment, a significant growth in the use of new technologies and rising consumption power of asian audiences. Chung advocates that this contributes to an expansion of the asian media activity, which helps shaping a self-sustainable cultural economy for Asian countries. Stating that the exchange occurs by two main processes (format and adaptation and hybrid strategic regionalism), Peichi Chung refers to this cultural phenomenon as a "hybridizing of the Asian identity", where "regionalization happens at a place of gloCalization".
Michael Preiler, the second speaker, presented an investigation entitled "Popular Culture in an anging Society: changes in Japanese advertising". Starting by briefing the audience about the increasingly aging japanese population, Preiler went on to talk about the results of his study: advertising spots staring older people increased in Japan and the roles given to them were of major importance, thus concluding that advertising and other forms of media were adapting to the aging society in japan. The investigator concluded that advertising spots casting older people in ads will continue to rise and that this situation, that is true for Japan, can also be true for other industrialized nations with an aging population. Moreover, Popular Culture, which is usually created by young generations, is likely to be dominated by an older population.
Catarina Burnay started her presentation by asking "Is the fiction of RTP Açores a place of presentation of açoreanidade?". After a brief exposition of the story of the channel and the reality of the azorean viewers, the lecturer then proceeded to conclude that RTP Açores is a channel based on the assumption of the difference, for it praises the particular elements that constitute the "açoreanidade" through fiction, giving the feeling of belonging while representing of costumes and local traditions. RTP Açores presents contents that are faithful to the identity of the Azores, becoming a place of presentation, production and reproduction of the azorean essence.
Yock Sian Tee became the last lecturer of the session, for Santaru Chakrabati wasn't able to appear. On "Americanizing the Chinese martial Arts Film Genre: Transcultural in Kung Fu Panda and Kill Bill", Yock Sian Tee spoke about the cinematic transculturation of the movies "Kung Fu Panda" and "Kill Bill". Borrowing elements from the "wuxia" film genre (martial arts movies), these films reconfigured traditional chinese cultural elements, in order to appeal to broader audiences. The investigator then proceeded to analyze the level of accuracy of this transculturation, concluding that "Kung Fu Panda" managed to achieve a more successful cultural hybridization than "Kill Bill", for it had studied the culture and its motif.
Daniel Coelho, Diana Teixeira, Eduarda Fernandes, Laura Vilaça and Neuza Alpuim
Communication during times of crisis
"War, Civil War and Crisis Communication" was the theme on the first session of the emerging theme Crisis Communication. The works of Azi Lev-on, Kari Andén-Papadopoulos, Evgeny Pahentsev and Stuart Allan were put forward for discussion. Aretha Asakitikpi and Aderogba Adeyemi, from the Covenant University of Nigeria, were not present at the session.
Azi Lev-on, from Israel, presented his work on "New-media uses in wartime: Internet-based collaborations during the Israel-Hezbollah war". He told that during the conflict the internet was very useful in fundraising for emergence situations and some websites"transformed themselves in order to help the population". Internet was also the main information channel. "Information always appeared on the web before it appeared on traditional media" explained Lev-on.
From Stockholm University, Kari Andén-Papadopoulos presented "Crisis Communication on Youtube", a study about the role of Youtube in keeping the memory of war. Besides creating an international solidarity community and alternative spaces for community grief, the memorial videos on Youtube are also "building an important record" of war. These videos, often made by american soldiers or their families, present a different view of war.
The issue of the raising of the citizen photojournalist and the problem of the amended photos during times of crisis were the subjects of the study "Witness of War: Photojournalism in Times of crisis", from Stuart Allan, Bournemouth University.
"Information warfare under the crisis conditions: The experience of Russia" was the work presented by Evgeny Nikolaevich Pahentsev, from the Communication Management Center, Russian Federation.
The aim of the emerging theme on Crisis Communication is to provide a forum at IAMCR conferences where communication scholars can debate the mediation of political and economic crisis, wars and disasters.
Helena Nunes and Mafalda Trindade
The importance of the new media
"Internet amplified the power of public opinion in China, but the State control over the internet is more and more severe" said Fen Lin, from the City University of Hong Kong, while presenting the work "Online Activism, Framing Strategy and Media Representation - The Green Dam Youth Escort Software Incident in China". Lin asserted that despite of all the control that the chinese government has over the media, the new media "do promote citizen-centered issues, in social movements in China".
Yah-Huei Hong, from the Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, explained the research "Third-person effect on Singaporeans' perception of censorship and information sharing toward online political information". Despite "strict regulation" of mainstream media in Singapore "the online content is much more mildly regulated". She conclude the presentation by saying that Singaporeans are used to and resigned to the censorship that the government applies.
The portuguese Flavia Santos, from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, introduced her study "Young activists online: The Political use of the Internet in the Portuguese context". She discussed the role of Internet in shaping the participation and interest of young people in the political scene, concluding that the Internet "can play an important role in motivating civic attitude, online and offline".
Rainer Rubira García, from Cuba, stated that the Internet has become a space for political participation and activism. His study, "Political communication and participation in Cuban growing blogosphere: generation Y, a case study", was about the most renowned Cuba's blog "Generation Y". In a country marked by censorship "Generation Y has had the courage to provide a place where people can discuss politics and practise their citizenship".
Helena Nunes and Mafalda Trindade
Diasporas and the Media
From the University of London, in the United Kingdom, Ana Catarina Pereira brought "Sensing Memories and Belongings through Media Consumption among Portuguese Muslims of Indian and Mozambican Origin". She focused on the way these groups experience and deal with the contact with some cultural signs or memories of their home.
"Latin American Diaspora and the Media - a Comparative Study of Ethnic Media in Los Angeles and Madrid" by Jessica Retis, from the University of California (California State), in USA, focused on how the media controle the image of, for example, the latin population: including or excluding them in the social living.
Andreia Mandim and Inês Espojeira
2010-07-20
Civic Journalism and Citizens
Sarah Lewison from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA, presented “The Land: Stabilizing the soil with words and pictures” with many illustrated examples. Her study case was “The Land”, a US independent newspaper from 1939 to 1954. She discussed its relationship with the corporate agricultural media and explained how the journal helped the education of farmers.
From the Kasembundit University, Thailand, Chanette Tinnam presented “Citizens' Consciousness of Thai Women and Thai Mass Media during the Era of Democratic Bloom”. Focusing on the years of 1973 to 1976, she presented illustrations and political cartoons, including women as a social problem and as sexual objects. She also presented the resistance of discourse in showing women as active citizens. She believes that there is no reference in the media on citizen’s consciousness of women as self reliant.
Shi Li from Indiana University, USA, presented “The April 5th Movement: Birth of China's Citizen Photojournalism and New Social Documentary Tradition”. She showed the historical background on the April 5th Movement and explained how journalists and citizens protected their photos from Chinese authorities. “This paper, based on interviews with several of the photographers and an examination of their photographs from that time, on existing memoirs and other archival materials, intends to reconstruct the event on Tiananmen Square, and address many still unanswered questions: What prompted ordinary citizens to pick up their cameras to document what would be remembered as such a significant historical event, and this at great personal risk?”
Diogo Soza e Renata Freitas
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