Call for Papers: Refugee Communications in the Digital Age

Guest Editors: Colleen Connolly-Ahern (Penn State University) and Daniela V. Dimitrova (Iowa State University)

Political, economic and sectarian conflicts in Central America, Africa and the Middle East have forced millions of people from their homes, often into temporary camps or the protection of foreign governments. Their outsider status leaves them vulnerable to violence, disease and hunger, both during their escape and throughout the asylum-seeking process. The ethical treatment of such at-risk populations by governments, non-profit organizations and other actors, such as populations of areas to which refugees have relocated for either the short- or long-term, is sadly not always assured. And even the best treatment of refugees cannot replace the cultural and family bonds lost in the displacement experience.

Improved communications may be one key to helping these populations overcome their current situation. The way governments and journalists frame humanitarian crises is important as it defines our understanding of the crisis and also significantly impacts public opinion and decision-making by populations about accepting refugees within their midst. Advances in and improved access to telecommunications and ICTs may further allow displaced groups to maintain their cultural ties despite physical separation from their homeland. Improved interpersonal and intercultural communications skills might ease newcomers’ paths into their new homes. The significance of communications research in this area cannot be understated. However, as an area of scholarly research, refugee communications is only beginning to emerge.

This ABS special issue seeks to further define and extend this critical area of research. The issue will consider manuscripts from an array perspectives, disciplines and methodologies, including content analysis, discourse analysis, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and experimentation and will provide most recent data on refugee communications around the world. Each contributor will be asked to include recommendations on best practices in refugee communications, including suggestions for ways communications professionals, governmental officials and other actors can contribute to dominant discourse about refugees, which ultimately shapes public opinion and policy making.

The following are examples of the kinds of topics the editors consider relevant to this issue:
• Analysis of portrayals of refugees in both traditional or social media
• Empirical examination of the effects of media portrayals of refugees on audiences
• Communications interventions aimed at improving social outcomes for refugee populations
• Discussions of ethics and refugee communication
• Documentation of communication use by refugee populations

Information for submitters:

• Submitted manuscripts must be in MS Word (.doc or .docx) format, include a title page that includes the title of the paper, a 300 word abstract, names, affiliations, and contact information for all authors.
• Manuscripts should contain a maximum of 10,000 words.
• The manuscript and references should follow APA (6th ed.) style.
• Only manuscripts containing original, unpublished material that is not under review elsewhere will be considered for this issue.
• Manuscripts should be submitted via email to Colleen Connolly-Ahern at cuc15@psu.edu.

Timetable:
• Submission deadline: February 15, 2017
• Notification of editorial decision: April 15, 2017
• Anticipated publication: Summer-Fall 2017

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