After an intense peer review process of all the submissions for ICA25, the results were finally announced last week. Congratulations to all those who were successful! In this newsletter, we’re sharing some important information about the review process, deadlines and more!
*******ICA 2025: Peer-review process results *******
We’re thrilled to share some impressive numbers from this year’s GCSC submissions and review process for ICA25 in Denver! We received 175 individual proposals and 10 panel proposals, marking a 25% increase compared to submissions for ICA24 in Gold Coast. This growth is a testament to the vibrant scholarship within our community.
A heartfelt thank you to the 163 reviewers who participated in the process, ensuring a thoughtful and constructive review experience. With an acceptance rate of 34%, we remain in line with ICA’s overall response rate.
We deeply appreciate the efforts of our authors for contributing their work and our reviewers for their invaluable feedback during this busy season. Stay tuned for announcements about top papers and other awards—coming soon!
*******Renew Your ICA & GCSC Division Membership*******
All ICA annual memberships expired on September 30 and renew on October 1 each year. Be sure to renew your ICA and GCSC memberships promptly to enjoy a full year of ICA member privileges. You can renew here: [https://www.icahdq.org/login.aspx]. Your membership directly impacts our division’s budget and determines the number of sessions and panels we are assigned at annual conferences.
*******Register Early for ICA25*******
Planning to attend the Annual Conference? Don’t miss out on discounted registration rates! Be sure to register before 12:00 (noon) ICA headquarters time on March 26 (EDT). We look forward to seeing you in Denver!
*******Travel Bursaries*******
Apply for the Haley Travel Grant before it closes on 12 February. You must be an ICA member to apply. Additionally, The GCSC division offers three travel bursaries (USD 500 each) for student members of our division. Apply before 28 February by sending an email to our International Liaison officer, Sara Monaci (sara.monaci@polito.it). Your email should include a 400-word statement outlining other sources of funding available and what the travel bursary will be used for.
*******Best Dissertation Award 2025*******
The ICA Global Communication and Social Change Division is inviting nominations for its Best Dissertation Award, which recognizes outstanding dissertations defended between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024. The review committee evaluates dissertations based on the importance of the issue addressed, the strength of evidence, and the significance of the conclusions relative to the Division's mission. Additional factors include methodological rigor, writing quality, and argument clarity, along with the nominating letter(s).
A complete nomination package should include:
- A nomination letter (2 pages maximum) addressing the award criteria.
- The nominee’s CV.
- Up to two sample chapters, including either the introduction or conclusion.
- An optional additional letter of recommendation (2 pages maximum) from a supervisor or committee member.
Nominations should be submitted by the nominee or a nominator, and the nominee must be a member of the GCSC Division. The awardee must attend the ICA conference in Denver in 2025 and participate in the Division's business meeting and reception.
All materials must be emailed electronically to Professor Saba Bebawi (S.Bebawi@westernsydney.edu.au) by 11:59 pm GMT on March 15, 2025.
*******Recent Publications*******
Technocolonialism: When Technology for Good is Harmful (Polity, November 2024) by Mirca Madianou critiques the role of AI and big data in humanitarian aid, arguing that digital technologies deepen global power imbalances. Madianou introduces "technocolonialism" to describe how digital infrastructures and AI perpetuate colonial legacies and inequities between the global North and South. Drawing on ten years of research, the book explores practices like biometric data use and technological experiments in refugee camps, offering new insights into humanitarianism, postcolonial theory, and critical AI studies. This work challenges the prevailing view of technology as a force for good in global aid. (https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=technocolonialism-when-technology-for-good-is-harmful--9781509559022)
The second edition of Global Journalism: Understanding World Media Systems, edited by Dr. Daniela Dimitrova, offers an in-depth exploration of global journalism issues and the evolution of media systems across regions. It examines local contexts and technological changes shaping media industries. The book covers global journalism theories, including the Four Theories of the Press, and introduces a five-dimensional framework for studying media systems. Topics include media freedom, global news cultures, ethics, and education. It also addresses generative AI, fake news, disinformation, and international news flow. Pedagogical features include summaries, discussion questions, and case studies on topics like the FIFA World Cup and media scandals.
(https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538193587/Global-Journalism-Understanding-World-Media-Systems-Second-Edition)
Communication and Social Change in Africa: Selected Case Studies, edited by Manfred A.K. Asuman, Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, and Modestus Fosu, explores the dynamic relationship between communication, media, culture, and social change in Africa. Through thirteen case studies from across the continent, the book sheds light on how communication is reshaping Africa’s future, highlighting challenges, opportunities, and successes in communication-driven narratives. It provides valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. Ideal for students and researchers, the book offers a rich understanding of Africa’s cultural and developmental dynamics, provoking curiosity for further exploration. Available for free download at the Institute of Network Cultures website. (https://networkcultures.org/blog/publication/tod-55-communication-and-social-change-in-africa-selected-case-studies)
Other recent publications include:
Jiménez-Martínez, C., Orchard, X., & Herrada, N. (2025). Rethinking the Protest Paradigm: Media Kettling in the Television Coverage of the 2019 Chilean Uprising. International Journal Of Communication, 19, 21. Retrieved from [https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/23135/4883]
Liu, S. (2024). Personalization of Trump and Xi in the U.S.–China trade conflict news: Comparison between the U.S. and China. International Communication Gazette, 86(8), 672-692. [https://doi.org/10.1177/17480485231206364]
(If you would like your publication featured in the next newsletter, please contact the division secretary, Pablo Morales, at P.S.Morales@lse.ac.uk.)
*******Social Media*******
Our division is active on multiple social media platforms. Follow us on X (@gcsc2020), join our Facebook group ([https://www.facebook.com/groups/ICAGCSC]), and connect with us on LinkedIn ([https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13050587/]). If you have information you’d like us to help distribute (e.g., CfP, job announcements, new books, personal successes), send us a message on any platform, and we’ll be happy to share the news. You can also share your news directly via email or social media and tag us on X @gcsc2020.
That’s all for this edition. If there’s something you’d like to see in future newsletters, feel free to contact our Secretary, Pablo Morales, at P.S.Morales@lse.ac.uk.
We’ll be back soon with more information about ICA25.
ICA Global Communication/Social Change Division
Saba Bebawi (University of Technology, Sydney, Australia), Chair
Wenhong Chen (University of Texas at Austin, USA), Vice-Chair
Pablo Morales (LSE, UK), Secretary
Sara Monaci (Politecnico di Torino, Italy), Internationalization Liaison
Florence Zivaishe Madenga (Boston College, USA), Student and Early Career Scholars Representative