ECREA (European Communication Research and Education Association) is a learned society of communication scholars devoted to development of communication research and higher education in Europe. The purpose of the Journalism Studies Section of ECREA is to support academic research that deepens understanding of the cultural, political, economic, social and professional aspects of journalism.
The conference explored the broad theme of 'diversity'. Keynote speakers included The Guardian's Joseph Harker, who addressed the challenges of diversity in the media 25 years on from the Macpherson Report, and Dr Emma Heywood, who explored the gendered and gendering role of journalism in conflict zones.
These keynotes were complemented by a range of panel sessions covering topics as diverse as wellbeing in journalism; journalistic epistemology through an indigenous lens; the battle for equitable journalism inside an economy of attention; digital security threats in local and national media; kinship dynamics among diaspora journalists; Roma women’s representation in media and politics; and the real-world effects of constructive journalism in climate change news coverage.
Conference organiser Dr Lada T. Price, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, said: "It's been a privilege to host this conference in a year that marks three decades of teaching and research in journalism at the University of Sheffield. ECREA is one of the landmark events in the Journalism Studies calendar, and it's a hugely important opportunity for academic staff and PhD candidates to share their research with colleagues from across Europe."
