Call for Papers:

Future of Magazine International Conference: (Re)Thinking Magazines: Challenges and Opportunities
October 29- 31, 2025
Lusófona University
Lisbon, Portugal [and online]
https://maglab.cicant.ulusofona.pt/fom-2025

Deadline for submission of abstracts: June 9, 2025 (extended)

MagLab is pleased to announce the open call for the second edition of the biennial Future of Magazine (FoM) international conference, organized by CICANT, Lusófona University’s research center, taking place from October 29 to 31, 2025.

The conference will feature paper presentations, poster sessions, and a remote panel, offering multiple formats for sharing and discussing original research. The most outstanding contributions will be invited to develop their work for publication in the next issue of the International Journal of Magazine Studies (IJMS), further enriching the academic dialogue on the future of the magazine medium.

FoM25 brings together a diverse range of researchers to share insights, ideas, and discuss the current state and future challenges of the magazine medium, as well as issues relevant to understanding this field of study. Papers will be presented as part of a comprehensive conference program, including keynote talks from internationally recognized experts, interactive discussion circles for knowledge exchange, and valuable industry insights from publishing professionals.

We invite contributions that engage with the theme of “(Re)Thinking Magazines: Challenges and Opportunities”. We seek to open new perspectives on how the magazine medium can adapt and innovate in the face of technological and cultural shifts, exploring both the threats and potential avenues that the future holds for this universal and dynamic format.

The absence of a physical presence in the digital realm endangers the core identity of magazines, making this a crucial moment for academia and industry to collaborate and reflect on the relevance and solutions for the medium’s future. Magazines have historically served as gathering points for communities of shared interests and values. In our current era of constant connectivity yet increasing social isolation, the magazine format offers unique potential to create meaningful connections and curated experiences. This makes academic research into magazine studies particularly relevant as we seek to understand and shape the future of this evolving medium.

FoM 2025 is an interdisciplinary conference, and we encourage submissions from all fields of study, including, but not limited to:

• Media Studies
• Journalism Studies
• Critical and Cultural Studies
• Gender Studies
• Sociology
• Linguistics
• History
• Visual Communication
• Communication Design
• Strategic Communication
• Business Models

Topics that can be addressed (but not limited to):

• Magazines and digital transition
• The social role of Magazines
• Magazines as communities
• Magazines as cultural artifacts
• Magazine as art objects
• Theoretical approaches to Magazine Studies
• Methodologies for analyzing Magazines
• Innovation and Magazines
• Social Media and Magazines
• Magazine Journalism
• Magazine History
• Indie magazines
• Specialized magazines (e.g. Women Magazines, Sports Magazines, Gaming Magazines…)
• Communication design and Magazines
• New multimedia narratives applied to Magazines
• Magazine journalists, editors, and workplaces
• Magazine formats on TV and Radio
• The role of magazine format inside enterprises
• The role of advertisement in Magazines
• Magazine world representations in Literature and Cinema

The FoM 2025 conference uses a dedicated system to handle the submission and reviewing process. Submissions are double-blind (anonymized).

Abstracts presenting original research efforts should have a maximum of 500 words, plus references.

Posters proposals should not exceed 500 words, excluding the title, abstract, tables, figures, and references. If the submission is accepted as a poster, authors will be expected to prepare a poster display of the research for presentation at the conference. Authors of accepted posters should bring a physical paper or fabric poster.

The deadline for submitting is June 9 2025.

Please submit your ABSTRACT in our submission platform.

Any special inquiries, please contact by email: maglab@ulusofona.pt

SUBMITTING & PRESENTING

All submissions must be made through the official submission platform.

Each accepted presentation will be allocated 15 minutes for delivery, followed by Q&A.