Deadline: 11 October 2010
CALL FOR PAPERS
Investors and Entrepreneurship in Arab Media
Conference organised by the Arab Media Centre Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster in collaboration with the New Islamic Public Sphere Programme, University of Copenhagen and the CAMRI Media Management Group
Date: 15 April, 2011
Venue: University of Westminster, Regent Street Campus,
309 Regent Street, London W1
THE TOPIC
What impact have global financial turmoil and regional political struggles had on investment in Arab media and the way these media are managed? Growth in the number of free-to-air satellite television channels across the Arab region slowed markedly in the year to April 2010. Yet the same period saw new investment channelled into generating films and television content, led by Abu Dhabi bodies like Imagenation and twofour54.
Behind both trends are shifts in favoured business models, with moves towards strategic alliances, spreading risk and, in some cases, greater acceptance of the transparency imperatives imposed by the need to raise capital. After News Corporation’s February 2010 purchase of a 9 per cent stake in the entertainment group Rotana, the group’s owner, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, announced plans for an initial public offering of shares in the group, and the possible launch of a news channel.
This conference will showcase current scholarship on the processes that underlie contemporary ownership and management practices in Arab media organisations. It is the sixth annual international conference to be organised by the Arab Media Centre, which is part of the University of Westminster’ Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), and will be held in collaboration with CAMRI’s Media Management Group and the New Islamic Public Sphere Programme at the University of Copenhagen.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Potential topics for conference papers include, but are not limited to, the following:
This one-day conference will take place on Friday, April 15, 2011. The draft programme envisages at least one plenary session devoted to a keynote speech. The fee for registration will be £85, with a concessionary rate of £35 for students, to cover all conference documentation, refreshments and administration costs. Registration will open on January 10, 2011.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS
The deadline for abstracts is Monday, October 11, 2010. Successful applicants will be notified by Monday, November 8, 2009. Abstracts should be 250 words long. They must include the presenter's name, affiliation, email and postal address, together with the title of the paper and a 150-word biographical note on the presenter. Two copies of the abstract should be sent, one to Professor Naomi Sakr (N.Sakr01@westminster.ac.uk) and one to Helen Cohen, Events Administrator (H.Cohen02@westminster.ac.uk). The selection committee will comprise members of CAMRI's Arab Media Centre and Media Management Group.
TRAVEL EXPENSES
The conference organisers will apply for funding to assist with travel costs of selected participants whose own institutions are unable to provide the necessary support. Since the outcome of the application will not be known until close to the conference date, participants should ensure they have alternative arrangements to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.
PUBLICATION
Opportunities will be open for publication of selected conference papers in an edited book focusing on specific conference themes or in academic journals whose editors or co-editors are based in CAMRI. Articles may be submitted to the Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication Global Media and Communication Westminster Papers in Communication, Culture and Interactions.
More information here.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Investors and Entrepreneurship in Arab Media
Conference organised by the Arab Media Centre Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster in collaboration with the New Islamic Public Sphere Programme, University of Copenhagen and the CAMRI Media Management Group
Date: 15 April, 2011
Venue: University of Westminster, Regent Street Campus,
309 Regent Street, London W1
THE TOPIC
What impact have global financial turmoil and regional political struggles had on investment in Arab media and the way these media are managed? Growth in the number of free-to-air satellite television channels across the Arab region slowed markedly in the year to April 2010. Yet the same period saw new investment channelled into generating films and television content, led by Abu Dhabi bodies like Imagenation and twofour54.
Behind both trends are shifts in favoured business models, with moves towards strategic alliances, spreading risk and, in some cases, greater acceptance of the transparency imperatives imposed by the need to raise capital. After News Corporation’s February 2010 purchase of a 9 per cent stake in the entertainment group Rotana, the group’s owner, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, announced plans for an initial public offering of shares in the group, and the possible launch of a news channel.
This conference will showcase current scholarship on the processes that underlie contemporary ownership and management practices in Arab media organisations. It is the sixth annual international conference to be organised by the Arab Media Centre, which is part of the University of Westminster’ Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), and will be held in collaboration with CAMRI’s Media Management Group and the New Islamic Public Sphere Programme at the University of Copenhagen.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Potential topics for conference papers include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Management theory and its applicability to Arab media
- Political theory (e.g. elites, networks, clientelism) in relation to Arab media
- Horizontal and vertical integration of Arab media firms
- Business and political profiles of Arab media owners
- Gender dimensions of entrepreneurship in Arab media
- Law, policy and regulation affecting media ownership and competition in Arab countries
- New and emerging business models in Arab media
- Trends in Arab investment in content production and distribution
- Transparency and accountability in subsectors of Arab media
- Methodological issues in researching Arab media management
This one-day conference will take place on Friday, April 15, 2011. The draft programme envisages at least one plenary session devoted to a keynote speech. The fee for registration will be £85, with a concessionary rate of £35 for students, to cover all conference documentation, refreshments and administration costs. Registration will open on January 10, 2011.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS
The deadline for abstracts is Monday, October 11, 2010. Successful applicants will be notified by Monday, November 8, 2009. Abstracts should be 250 words long. They must include the presenter's name, affiliation, email and postal address, together with the title of the paper and a 150-word biographical note on the presenter. Two copies of the abstract should be sent, one to Professor Naomi Sakr (N.Sakr01@westminster.ac.uk) and one to Helen Cohen, Events Administrator (H.Cohen02@westminster.ac.uk). The selection committee will comprise members of CAMRI's Arab Media Centre and Media Management Group.
TRAVEL EXPENSES
The conference organisers will apply for funding to assist with travel costs of selected participants whose own institutions are unable to provide the necessary support. Since the outcome of the application will not be known until close to the conference date, participants should ensure they have alternative arrangements to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.
PUBLICATION
Opportunities will be open for publication of selected conference papers in an edited book focusing on specific conference themes or in academic journals whose editors or co-editors are based in CAMRI. Articles may be submitted to the Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication Global Media and Communication Westminster Papers in Communication, Culture and Interactions.
More information here.
