CFP – Conference in Sunderland, UK
Creative Audio Praxis – Radio in the Reel World
Call for Papers
Friday 31 March 12.00 until 6pm Saturday 1st April 2023
University of Sunderland
Organised by MeCCSA Radio Studies Network (RSN) &
The Charles Parker Archive Trust
Join the welcoming and active Radio Studies community for its 2023 conference where (pr)academics, researchers, managers and creatives will meet to discuss their passion for radio, audio and podcasting. For the first time we are bringing together two events in the same place. The Charles Parker Day is held annually to celebrate the innovative work of BBC producer Charles Parker. We then follow this with a one-day conference of the Radio Studies Network. Although each event is separate, by hosting across consecutive days we hope that delegates will be encouraged to make the most of the opportunity to experience both events. The conference will be in person with some options for online viewing of presentations..
Friday March 31st: The Charles Parker Day is a well-established event in the national radio conference calendar which brings together practitioners, researchers and media teachers to consider developments in radio and television that maintain the spirit of Parker’s work in a UK and international context. The event incorporates the announcement of the 2023 Parker Prize winners for best radio feature made by a student. In the evening there will be entertainment from one of Sunderland’s incredible new community performance venues where folk singer and radio producer Kellie While will introduce BBC Radio 2’s 21st Century Folk songs based on Sunderland people.
Saturday April 1st: Creative Audio Praxis – Radio in the Reel World – The conference theme is celebrating the Radio Studies Network’s 25 year anniversary, with an emphasis on research and practice about diverse creative radio, audio and podcasting. Speakers and panels will include UK and international radio practitioners.
Keynote speakers:
- Kate Lacey, Professor of Broadcasting History and Theory, University of Sussex
- Peter Lewis, Professor of Media and Culture, London Metropolitan University
- Tim Wall, Professor of Radio and Popular Music Studies, Birmingham City University
Plus:
“Creativity and Diversity in Radio and Audio” a panel hosted by Ngunan Adamu (Broadcaster, CEO/Founder iWoman Academy CIC, EDI Champion and Cultural Change Specialist) with Dumisani Senda, (Diversity & Inclusion Lead, BBC England)
Call for Papers
Creative Audio Praxis – Radio in the Reel World conference, presented by the MeCCSA Radio Studies Network, will celebrate and critically examine the conditions under which creative and diverse radio is produced and can thrive within different sectors and platforms, including BBC audio, radio and podcasts; community radio, podcasting, independent and commercial radio.
After 2022 marking 100 years of the BBC, the spotlight turns to four anniversaries of importance to radio scholars and practitioners, including the anniversary of the RSN itself:
65th Anniversary of the broadcast of the first Radio Ballad
50th Anniversary of the start of Independent Local Radio
40th Anniversary of the founding of the Community Media Association
25th Anniversary of the Radio Studies Network
Following the conference, there will be the opportunity for submission to a peer reviewed issue of Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast and Audio Media (TBC)
The MeCCSA Radio Studies Network invites proposals for 15-minute presentations from academics, independent researchers, archivists, postgraduate students, and broadcast professionals and practitioners. We are happy to receive proposed panels comprising no more than 4 papers each but reserve the right to organise these as we think best.
Proposals are invited which focus on, but are not limited to, the following key themes:
- Perspectives on the history, practices and output of Commercial and Independent Radio
- The conditions under which Community Radio can thrive and survive
- Social mobility and the broadcast space
- The boundaries of Radio, Sound and Podcast Studies
- The history, achievements and challenges of Radio Studies
- Broadcaster and audience diversity and inclusivity
- Critical reflections on diversity policies
- Post-colonial Radio/Audio/Podcasting practices
- How to nurture creativity and authenticity in radio, audio and podcasting
- Methods, approaches and new forms of Oral Storytelling, including unheard/untold stories
Submitting a proposal
Please use the following format for proposals:
- Name, affiliation, and email
- Title of paper or presentation
- 250 word abstract
- 100 word biography
- Send proposals as a Word doc by email to: rsn2023.abstracts@gmail.com
- Deadline for proposals: midnight, Monday 6th February, 2023
Confirmation of conference papers/panels accepted will be emailed by Tuesday 28th February 2023. Details on how to register for each event and ticket prices will follow.
Contacts:
Radio Studies Network conference: sunderlandconference@gmail.com