ECREA Journalism Studies Section Conference 2027: Sustainable Development Through Quality Journalism and Media Literacy

22 - 23 April 2027 UNWE

The UNWE and the  Media and Public Communications Department — a UNESCO Chair in Media and Information Literacy and Cultural Policies for Sustainable Development — have been selected to host the Annual Conference of the Journalism Studies Section of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) — ECREA Journalism Studies Section Conference 2027.

On 22 and 23 April 2027, Sofia and the UNWE will welcome leading researchers, faculty members, Doctoral students, journalists, experts, representatives of civil society, and professional communities from Europe and beyond.

The theme of the main Conference is Sustainable Development Through Quality Journalism and Media Literacy. It will focus on quality journalism, media and information literacy, critical thinking, and the role of the media in the sustainable development of democratic societies.

In an environment marked by the spread of disinformation, misleading content, algorithmically curated news feeds, generative artificial intelligence, deepfake technologies, and a crisis of trust, the issue of the quality of public information is becoming increasingly significant. The conference will focus on how citizens can develop skills to access, evaluate, create, and responsibly use information in media, digital, and platform ecosystems.

On 21 April 2027 the UNWE will also host the 7th ECREA Journalism Studies / Future of Journalism PhD Colloquium, aimed at Doctoral students in the field of journalism studies. The colloquium will create an international academic environment for the presentation of research projects, in-depth feedback, and professional exchange among young scholars.

As part of the programme, the UNWE will also host the Conference Reclaiming Digital Infrastructures for Journalism: Ownership, Dependency, and Public Interest Alternatives, which will take place on 21 April 2027. The Conference focuses on one of the most critical issues facing contemporary journalism: how the media can regain control over the digital infrastructures on which they increasingly depend.

The event is organized by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Public Tech Media Lab),

the University of Amsterdam, the University of Virginia, the Università della Svizzera italiana, and the University of Twente.

Application Deadlines

For the main Conference: 18 September 2026

For the PhD Colloquium: 14 September 2026

For the Pre-conference: 17 January 2027

Further information can be seen HERE.