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World Summer School “Communication, Information Integrity, Social Justice and Democracy”

1) Definition

The World Summer School “Communication, Information Integrity, Social Justice and Democracy” is a three-day academic online event to be held from 21 to 23 October 2026. The official language of the activities is English.

Designed as a virtual initiative, the Summer School is aligned with the IAMCR Conference 2026 theme and will combine remote panels and roundtables, enabling broad international participation and fostering dialogue among senior scholars, early-career researchers, and master’s and doctoral students from diverse geographical, institutional, and epistemic contexts.

The proposal is grounded in the theoretical and normative framework of the IAMCR Working Group on Communication, Justice and Democracy (CJD), addressing communication as a central arena in struggles over information integrity, democratic governance, and social justice.

The activities involved people from the WG and also from the Latin American Association of Communication Researchers (ALAIC) and other entities indicated below.

In a global context shaped by platformization, algorithmic power, data extraction, media education, political polarization, and persistent inequalities in visibility and participation, the event seeks to examine how communication systems both reproduce and challenge power asymmetries.

The activities include debates on “peripheries and connections” through analytical and political lenses, rather than as fixed geographical categories. Peripheries are understood as relational positions shaped by history, political economy, race, gender, language, colonial legacies, institutional marginalization, and unequal access to communicative resources. At the same time, the concept of connections highlights transnational circulations of narratives, regulatory models, technological infrastructures, and resistance practices.

The event invites participants to reflect on how peripheral perspectives contribute to alternative understandings of democracy, justice, and information integrity, while also examining the tensions and possibilities created through global interconnections.It seeks to foster a critical dialogue on how knowledge produced from the margins can challenge dominant frameworks, illuminate overlooked experiences, and propose new conceptual and methodological approaches to addressing contemporary social, political, and communicative challenges.

Special emphasis will be placed on information integrity as a multidimensional concept encompassing disinformation and misinformation, platform governance, digital rights, media regulation, and media and information literacy. From this perspective, information integrity is not limited to the verification of facts, but also involves the social, technological, institutional, and cultural conditions that shape the production, circulation, and reception of public information. The event will therefore encourage participants to examine how unequal access to reliable information, algorithmic visibility, political polarization, and regulatory asymmetries affect democratic participation and public debate. It will also invite reflection on the role of education, civic engagement, and cross-regional cooperation in strengthening more inclusive, transparent, and accountable information environments.

Drawing on comparative and interdisciplinary approaches, the World Summer School aims to explore how information integrity is negotiated across different political, cultural, and regulatory environments, including, but not limited to, the Global South and European contexts. This focus resonates with ongoing international efforts to address disinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression and democratic participation.

The academic program will consist of thematic panels, paper sessions, and dialogical roundtables, in the format of a “summer school”, encouraging both empirical and theoretical contributions.

This summer school format presupposes student-centredness, multi-voiced feedback, and a sustained effort towards dialogue and respect for diverse perspectives and opinions, without diminishing the need for academic rigor and critical thinking.

In the first hours of each day, panels will feature academics who will give presentations and discuss topics directly or indirectly related to the research conducted by master’s and doctoral students.

After a 2-hour break, students will present their research projects and receive constructive feedback from peers, senior researchers, and invited academics. This format will allow participants to refine their theoretical frameworks, methodological strategies, and research questions, while also learning from the diverse academic traditions and regional experiences represented in the event. The program will encourage horizontal exchange, collaborative discussion, and the development of academic networks among master’s and doctoral students. Cultural and social activities will also be promoted as part of the learning experience, fostering dialogue, integration, and long-term cooperation among participants.

Proposed themes include: information disorders and democratic resilience; communication rights and social justice; platform regulation and accountability; media, extremism, and polarization; community, alternative, and public service media; digital citizen participation and depolarization; journalism and media education, decolonial, feminist, and Global South epistemologies; and the role of media education in strengthening democratic cultures.

Dedicated sessions for graduate students and early-career researchers will promote mentorship, feedback, and academic exchange. These spaces will offer participants the opportunity to present their ongoing or recently completed research, receive constructive comments from peers and senior scholars, and strengthen the theoretical, methodological, and communicative dimensions of their work. They will also help participants identify publication strategies, explore future research collaborations, and build academic networks beyond their home institutions. For recent graduates, the program will provide a valuable transition space between formal academic training and the development of a more autonomous research agenda.

As a consequence of universities´network, the initiative seeks to consolidate North–South and South–South dialogues, strengthen international research networks, and contribute substantively to the IAMCR CJD Working Group’s mission.

Ultimately, the Summer School aims to position communication scholarship as a key field for advancing social justice, democratic values, and information integrity in an increasingly unequal and interconnected world. It also aspires to strengthen collaborative networks among master’s and doctoral students, encouraging them to develop research that is not only theoretically rigorous but also socially relevant and attentive to the voices, experiences, and struggles of diverse communities.

2) Estimated number of participants: 60 PhD or Master’s students

3) Date and time: From 21 to 23 October 2026, being:

a)    From 5 am to 8 am and from 10 am to 1 pm, CST (Central Standard Time) – UTC-6, the time zone used in countries such as Mexico and Costa Rica;

b)    From 8 am to 11 am and from 1 pm to 4 pm (BRT), defined as UTC-3, the time zone used in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil;

c)    From midday to 3 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm, UTC, the time zone used in countries such as the United Kingdom and Portugal;

d)    From 1 pm to 4 pm and from 6 pm to 9 pm, UTC+1, the time zone used in countries such as South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Spain and Germany;

e)    From 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm and from 9.30 pm to 12.30 am, (IST) defined as UTC + 5:30, the time zone used in countries such as India and Sri Lanka;

f)      From 7 pm to 10 pm and from midnight to 3 am (CST – China Standard Time), which is UTC+8, the time zone used in countries such as China, the Philippines and Singapore;

g)    From 8 pm to 11 pm and from 1 am to 4 am, UTC+09:00, used in countries such as Korea and Japan;

h)    From 10 pm to 1 am and from 3 am to 6 am, defined as AWST; summer time, UTC+11:00, the time zone used in countries such as Australia.

If you have any queries regarding the timetable, we recommend checking the World Summer School website (www.alaic.org) and/or contacting the Organising Committee. Unfortunately, it is not possible to offer the course during working hours in all countries.

4) Costs

For this inaugural edition of the World Summer School, registration and participation are free of charge.

5) Schedule

Registration for interested postgraduate students: From 18 May to 12 June, following this Call and form available at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Eny_JYTmcKxIkM_SRAyo3N_R-fL4EhnKogEmev97PMU   

Evaluation and selection of participants: From 15 June to 7 July

Announcement of selected participants: 10 July

World Summer School, online, from 21 to 23 October 2026, times above

6) Selection criteria and certificate

Those interested in participating in the World Summer School should submit their personal details and information about their current postgraduate research via the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Eny_JYTmcKxIkM_SRAyo3N_R-fL4EhnKogEmev97PMU

Below are the selection criteria for choosing participants. Each criterion is worth between one and ten points, with a maximum total of 50 points. The Organising Committee’s decision is final and cannot be appealed:

a) Research Problem (1–10 points)

Present the problem addressed by your research and conclude the text by explicitly stating the research question that guides your investigation (maximum 500 words).   

b) Theoretical Framework (1–10 points)

Describe the main theoretical foundations that support your research (maximum 500 words)

c) Methodology (1–10 points)

Describe the methodology used in your research. Please explain the methods, data collection techniques, data analysis procedures, participant groups and/or the corpus to be analyzed (maximum 500 words).  

d) Preliminary Results (1–10 points)

Describe the preliminary results of your research, if available (maximum 500 words).  

e) Interest and Expectations Regarding Participation (1–10 points)

Explain why you are interested in participating in the World Summer School and describe your expectations regarding participation in the program.   

The participants will only receive a participation certificate if I submit a paper that follows the Organizing Committee’s guidelines, attend the working groups online, and submit a participation report.

7) Initiatives envolved

a) Organisers

IAMCR Communication, Social Justice and Democracy Working Group, Latin American Association of Communication Researchers (ALAIC), University of Brasilia, Sao Paulo State University (Unesp), and Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil).

b) Supporters

CIESPAL, ECREA, AMIC, World Journalism Education Council (WJEC), SOCICOM, Intercom, Iberoamerican Organization of Public Defenders (OID. Capes (Brazil), Latin American Federation of Faculties of Social Communication (FELAFACS) and DAAD (Germany).

8) Organizing and Scientific Committee and/or Instructors

Vaia Doudaki

Associate Professor at Charles University. Her work is driven by social constructionist approaches, focussing on the study of representations, discursive practices, and the social construction of identities and social phenomena, in media and communication. Her fields of study include: democracy, participation and communication; media, conflict and crisis; justice and communication; environmental communication; theory and practice of news-making and journalism.

Tanius Karam
 Professor at the Autonomous University of Mexico City, México, specialized in media ethics, journalism education, and discourse analysis. His research addresses freedom of expression, media responsibility, and communication theory in Latin America. He has contributed to regional debates on journalism training and democratic communication.

Tania Rosas-Moreno
 Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Loyola University Maryland, USA. Her research focuses on global journalism, media history, and Latin American media systems. She examines transnational media flows, representation, and press freedom.

Sivaldo Pereira
 Professor at the University of Brasília (UnB), Brazil. His research focuses on digital communication, internet governance, data politics, and platform regulation. He works on issues related to disinformation, digital rights, and democratic accountability.

Santiago Gómez Mejía
 Colombian scholar serving as Executive Secretary of FELAFACS. His work focuses on communication studies, digital strategies, and higher education innovation. He has designed graduate-level programs on artificial intelligence in education and digital political communication, promoting ethical communication, democratic values, and regional cooperation in Latin America.

Rafael González Pardo
 President of the Latin American Federation of Social Communication Faculties (FELAFACS). His career integrates university governance, international academic cooperation, communication studies, and strategic institutional development across Latin America, especially in areas concerning the future of communication education in the digital age and epistemologies of communication.

Nico Carpentier
Extraordinary Professor in the Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism at Charles University and Visiting Professor at Tallinn University. His research focuses on media and democracy, participation, discourse theory, conflict studies, and community media, also using arts-based research. He is widely known for his contributions to participatory communication studies and critical media theory.

Milena Marra
 Journalist, filmmaker, and researcher whose work focuses on audiovisual communication, documentary practices, and human rights. Her research and creative projects address memory, social justice, and the role of media in amplifying marginalized voices. She is engaged in academic and cultural initiatives that connect communication, art, and democratic participation.

Maximiliano Peret
 Communication scholar specializing in digital media, journalism, and innovation. His research addresses new journalistic practices, technological transformations, and the relationship between communication and democracy. He collaborates in international research networks on media and digital governance.

Marta Rizo García
 Research Professor at the Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México. She conducts research on epistemology and communication theories, intersubjective communication, and the relationship between gender, communication, and emotions. Since 2018, she has served as Vice-Coordinator of the ALAIC Working Group on Theory and Methodology of Communication Research.

Mariana Ferreira Lopes
 Professor at the University of Brasília, researcher in digital communication, journalism, and platform studies. Her work explores disinformation, algorithmic governance, and the impacts of digital technologies on democratic processes. She contributes to interdisciplinary projects on information integrity and media literacy.

Marcos Urupá
 Communication scholar and activist working on diversity, inclusion, and media democratization. His research and professional activities focus on communication rights, social participation, and the representation of marginalized groups in media and public policies. He is actively engaged in national and international networks promoting equity in communication.

Luisa Ochoa
 Professor of Communication at the Universidad de Costa Rica, specializing in journalism studies, media systems, communication policy, and gender studies in Latin America. Her research examines media governance, press freedom, gender representation, and the relationship between journalism and democratic institutions. She actively collaborates in regional and international academic networks focused on communication rights, gender equality, and journalism education.

Liziane Guazina
 Professor at the University of Brasília (UnB), Brazil, specializing in political communication and journalism studies. Her research focuses on media and politics, election coverage, gender and representation, and the relationship between journalism and democracy. She has contributed extensively to debates on media systems and democratic accountability in Brazil and Latin America.

Lena Garbovtzky
 Researcher in media and communication with expertise in journalism, gender, and political communication. Her work examines representation, media discourses, and the intersections between communication, power, and social inequalities. She has participated in comparative and international research projects.

Laura Martínez Águila
 Researcher and professor specializing in journalism, communication policy, and freedom of expression. Her work explores media regulation, digital governance, and the role of journalism education in democratic societies. She participates in international networks dedicated to media reform, press freedom, and communication rights in Latin America and beyond.

Juliano Domingues da Silva
 Professor of Communication and President of Intercom (Brazilian Society of Interdisciplinary Studies in Communication). His research focuses on media regulation, digital platforms, competition policy, and the political economy of communication in Brazil. He has also contributed to public debates and regulatory processes related to digital markets and media systems.

Jonas Valente
 Researcher at the Laboratory of Communication Policies (UnB), he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, and holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Brasília.

Jairo Faria

PhD in Communication, researcher at the Community Communication Project (University of Brasília) and at the OUTROCAMPO Project (University of Tocantins). He was a postdoctoral researcher at the Erich Brost Institute (TU Dortmund). He currently porsues a Teaching Degree in Theatre at University of Tocantins (UFT).

Janara Nicoletti
 Postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Siegen and a research fellow at the Erich Brost Institute for International Journalism (TU Dortmund). Her research addresses work precarity, journalists’ safety, and gender-based violence, particularly in Brazil and Latin America.

Jair Vega Casanova
 Professor of Communication at Uninorte, Colombia, researcher in communication, citizenship, and social change in Latin America. His work explores community communication, participatory media, and communication for development. He has led international projects on media, democracy, and civic engagement.

Gabriel Kaplún
 Uruguayan communication scholar, MSc in Education and PhD in Latin American Cultural Studies. Professor at the University of the Republic, where he currently coordinates the Laboratory of Participation and Technologies (ParticipaLab). He was President of ALAIC (Latin American Association of Communication Researchers).

Fernando Oliveira Paulino
 Professor at the University of Brasília; coordinator of the Communication Policies Lab; president of the Latin American Association of Communication Research; and Co-Chair of the “Communication, Social Justice and Democracy Working Group.”

Eliseo Colón
 Professor of Communication at the University of Puerto Rico and a leading scholar in cultural and media studies. His research focuses on media, globalization, popular culture, and the political economy of communication in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has published widely on communication theory, digital culture, and the transformations of contemporary media systems.

Diogo Lopes de Oliveira
 Professor at the Federal University of Campina Grande, scholar in Communication and Journalism Studies, with research focused on media regulation, journalism education, and democratic governance. His work examines freedom of expression, public communication policies, and the institutional frameworks shaping journalism in contemporary societies. He collaborates in international academic networks dedicated to media freedom and communication rights.

Deqiang Ji
 Professor of International Communication at the Communication University of China. He is the Deputy Dean of the Institute for a Community with Shared Future and a Research Fellow of the State Key Laboratory of Media Convergence and Communication at CUC. He was a visiting researcher at Simon Fraser University (2010–2011) and City University of Hong Kong (2009).

Danilo Rothberg
 Professor at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil. His work focuses primarily on the sociology of communication, journalism theory and ethics, public communication, communication and politics, health communication, and the popularization of science.

Daniela Monje
 Professor at the National University of Cordoba, Argentina, researcher in communication, media policies, and digital governance. Her research examines media regulation, information integrity, and the impact of digital platforms on democracy in Latin America. She collaborates with regional and international academic networks on communication policy.

Cristina Gobbi
 Professor of Communication at the State University of São Paulo and a leading scholar in Latin American communication studies. Her research focuses on media, education, and scientific communication, with strong engagement in international academic cooperation. She has held leadership roles in regional and global communication associations.

Claudia Lago

Professor at the University of São Paulo, where she teaches and researches journalism, communication, and diversity. Her academic work focuses on media representation, gender, race, intercultural communication, and epistemological perspectives in communication studies. She is widely recognized for her contributions to critical media studies and for promoting inclusive and socially engaged approaches to journalism and communication research in Brazil.

Claudia Lago has also participated in national and international academic networks dedicated to communication, democracy, and social justice.

César Bolaño
 Professor of Communication and Political Economy of Communication at the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Brazil. A leading scholar in critical media studies, his research focuses on media industries, digital capitalism, and cultural production in Latin America. He is widely recognized for his contributions to the political economy of communication and for his leadership in international academic networks.

Camila Sánchez Delgado
 Communication researcher focusing on journalism, media literacy, and digital cultures. Her work explores the role of communication in promoting democratic participation and social inclusion. She is involved in academic and civic initiatives on information integrity and communication rights.

Anderson Santos
 Professor at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Brazil, and President of SOCICOM (Brazilian Federation of Scientific and Academic Communication Associations). His research focuses on communication, citizenship, public policies, and the social role of media. He is actively engaged in strengthening academic cooperation and promoting diversity and inclusion in communication studies

9) Short description

Communication, Information Integrity, Social Justice and Democracy

This event will take place online from October 21 to 23, 2026. Its primary objective is to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration among senior scholars, early-career researchers, and master’s and doctoral students representing a range of geographical, institutional, and epistemic backgrounds. In addition to panel discussions and individual presentations, the event will offer interactive workshops and networking opportunities designed to encourage knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary engagement.

Grounded in the theoretical and normative framework of the IAMCR Working Group on Communication, Justice and Democracy (CJD), the event approaches communication as a central arena in contemporary struggles over information integrity, democratic governance, and social justice. In a global landscape shaped by platformization, algorithmic power, data extraction, political polarization, and persistent inequalities in voice and visibility, the Post-Conference seeks to critically examine how communication systems simultaneously reproduce and contest power asymmetries.

The concept of “peripheries and connections” is mobilized as an analytical lens rather than a fixed geographical distinction. Peripheries are understood as relational positions shaped by historical, political, economic, and cultural inequalities, while connections emphasize transnational circulations of narratives, regulatory frameworks, technologies, and resistance practices.

With a strong focus on information integrity, the program will address disinformation, platform governance, digital rights, media regulation, and journalism and media education through comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives. Organized in a summer school–style format, the event will include thematic panels, paper sessions, and roundtable discussions to strengthen international research networks and advance communication scholarship committed to democracy and social justice.

10) Contact

If you have any questions, please email: contactoalaic@gmail.com, copying the message to: paulino@unb.br and fopaulino@gmail.com