The role of new communication technologies—such as the internet, social media, and mobile phones—in political and civic engagement has generated significant interest not only from scholars, but also organizations, politicians, and ordinary citizens. While recent events in parts of the world, such as the Middle East, help recognize the potential of new communication media as an agent contributing to macro-level political changes, these new communication tools are also actively utilized in more traditional political processes, such as electoral campaigns. Also important is everyday use of new communication technologies, which provides individuals with an opportunity to encounter public affairs news and discourse, enhance understanding of issues, and get involved in civic and political opportunities. One of critical elements that we should pay attention to when appreciating the role of new media—perhaps underlying all of these processes and practices—would be values, traditions, and history that define each Asian country and the region.

This preconference aims to showcase innovative scholarly work examining various subjects concerning the role of social media, mobile phones, and other new communication technologies in the formation of democratic citizenship writ large—in Asia. The preference seeks studies that address relevant topics in a particular Asian county, and comparative research on Asian countries or Asian and non-Asian countries is also welcome. In particular, the preconference encourages a theory-driven analysis of the role of new media in real-world, offline civic and political action, including recent elections and civic mobilization for sustainable development in environmental, economic, and social well-being. In addition, scholars whose research concerns the overall ICA conference theme, Communication across the Life Span, in an Asian-context are encouraged to submit a paper. 

Abstracts of no more than 500 words should be submitted by January 12, 2015, to newmedia2015ICA@umich.edu. For each author, please include name, institutional affiliation, and department, title/position, and contact information. The authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by mid-February. Final papers will be due by May 1, 2015.

Travel grants will be available by application to those whose abstracts are accepted, and priority will be given to those who are from developing/transitional countries that appear in Tiers B and C on the ICA country tier chart (country of residence, not of origin) and graduate students.

■ Conference Chairs

-Nojin Kwak, Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Michigan, U.S.A.

-Marko Skoric, Associate Professor, Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

-Natalie Pang, Assistant Professor, Division of Communication Research, WKW School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

-Baohua Zhou, Associate Professor, Journalism School at Fudan University, China

-Tetsuro Kobayashi, Associate Professor, Information and Society Research Division, National Institute of Informatics, Japan

-Scott Campbell, Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Michigan, U.S.A.

-Junho Choi, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Information, Yonsei University, Korea