Call for Chapters:

Debates and Emerging Futures in Journalism, Media and Communication
Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group
http://commlist.org/archive/all/2026-all/msg01116.html

Editor: Dr Abdulgaffar Arikewuyo

Deadline for submission of chapter abstracts: September 30, 2026

Journalism, media and communication are continually being reshaped by technological innovation, political and economic transformations, cultural change, evolving professional practices, and shifting relationships between media institutions and their audiences. From the transformation of traditional journalism to social media, platformisation, artificial intelligence and synthetic media, the boundaries of journalism, media and communication are being continuously redefined. Debates and Emerging Futures in Journalism, Media and Communication is an edited scholarly volume that seeks to critically investigate the historical foundations, contemporary debates and emerging futures of journalism, media and communication studies. The book connects the past, present and future of these fields, examining how established theories, institutions and practices have evolved, how they shape contemporary communication environments, and how emerging developments may transform the field in the years ahead.

Importantly, the volume does not position artificial intelligence as the endpoint of media and communication transformation but seeks to begin building scholarly conversations on what comes after AI. Contributors are invited to critically examine emerging technologies, practices, theories, institutions and forms of human and machine communication that may shape the next phase of journalism, media and communication. The volume will bring together theoretical, conceptual, empirical, historical, critical and interdisciplinary scholarship. Particular attention will be given to contributions that connect established intellectual traditions with contemporary developments and emerging futures.

The book is intended to serve as a reference text for university and higher-education students, lecturers, researchers, media scholars and practitioners. Consequently, all chapters must be theoretically driven and demonstrate substantial engagement with relevant theories, concepts and scholarly debates. The book will be organised into three major sections.

SECTION ONE: FOUNDATIONS, HISTORIES AND ENDURING DEBATES

This section revisits the historical, theoretical and intellectual foundations of journalism, media and communication studies. It examines how earlier ideas, institutions and debates continue to influence contemporary scholarship and practice.

Contributions may address, but are not limited to:

1. Histories and Evolution of Journalism, Media and Communication
2. Foundational Theories and Intellectual Traditions
3. Media, Power, Ideology and Society
4. Journalism, Democracy and the Public Sphere
5. Decolonising and Rethinking Media and Communication Knowledge

SECTION TWO: CONTEMPORARY DEBATES AND TRANSFORMATIONS

This section examines major issues currently reshaping journalism, media and communication. Contributions should go beyond describing contemporary developments to critically interrogate them through relevant theoretical perspectives.

Contributions may address:

1. Digital Journalism and Transforming Media Practice
2. Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms and Automated Communication
3. Platforms, Social Media and Digital Cultures
4. Truth, Trust, Ethics and Information Disorder
5. Media, Identity, Inequality and Global Communication

SECTION THREE: EMERGING FUTURES OF JOURNALISM, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION

This section looks beyond present developments to examine possible future directions for journalism, media and communication. Contributions should provide theoretically informed and critically grounded analyses rather than unsupported technological predictions.

Contributions may address:

1. Beyond AI: Emerging Frontiers of Media and Communication
2. Future Journalism and the Reinvention of News
3. Immersive, Spatial and Synthetic Media Futures
4. Future Media Power, Governance and Ethics
5. Rethinking Journalism, Media and Communication Theory for the Future

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION

A central objective of Debates and Emerging Futures in Journalism, Media and Communication is to strengthen the relationship between theory, research and changing media realities.

All submitted chapters must therefore be theoretically driven.

Authors should clearly identify and engage with relevant theoretical or conceptual frameworks. Contributions may apply established theories to contemporary phenomena, compare theoretical perspectives, critique existing theories, extend established frameworks to new contexts, or propose theoretically grounded conceptual approaches.

Purely descriptive chapters discussing technologies, platforms, events or professional practices without substantial theoretical engagement will not be considered.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Prospective contributors are invited to submit an abstract of approximately 250–300 words.

Abstract submissions should include:

• Proposed chapter title;
• Central problem, argument or research question;
• Theoretical or conceptual framework;
• Proposed methodology or analytical approach, where applicable;
• Expected contribution to journalism, media or communication scholarship;
• Five keywords;
• Name(s) and institutional affiliation(s) of author(s); and
• A brief biographical statement (150 Words).

Accepted full chapters should be approximately 6,000–8,000 words, including references.

Each chapter should demonstrate a clearly articulated argument or research problem, engagement with relevant literature, an identifiable theoretical or conceptual framework, critical analysis, and a clear contribution to journalism, media or communication scholarship.

Interdisciplinary, comparative and cross-cultural studies are particularly welcome.

IMPORTANT DATES

Deadline for Abstract Submission: Wednesday September 30, 2026
Notification of Abstract Decisions: Wednesday October 14, 2026
Deadline for Full Chapter Submission: Monday February 1, 2027

SUBMISSION AND ENQUIRIES

Chapter proposals should be submitted to: (book.project26 /at/ gmail.com) or (abdulgaffararikewuyo /at/ gmail.com).

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Abdulgaffar Olawale Arikewuyo Ph.D. is an accomplished media professional, and lecturer with diverse experience in journalism and higher education and an award-winning academic at the Birmingham City University International College, United Kingdom. His research interests are extensive, encompassing communication psychology, media, AI, interpersonal communication, and journalism. His studies have contributed valuable insights into the changing landscape of media technologies and their influence on both personal and political spheres.