Crowded out or limitless horizons? Minority language-media in the digital age

This international conference is co-organised by the Etxepare Basque Institute and the University of Edinburgh, within the framework of 2019 Scotland Goes Basque programme. Its aims are to exchange knowledge and promote collaboration between academics and professionals working on minority-language media. The conference will be in English.

This international conference is co-organised by the Etxepare Basque Institute and the University of Edinburgh, within the framework of 2019 Scotland Goes Basque programme. Its aims are to exchange knowledge and promote collaboration between academics and professionals working on minority-language media. The conference will be in English.

About the conference

In the early 1980s, the establishment of Catalan, Basque and Welsh TV channels motivated several European scholars to investigate key concepts concerning minority language media and undertake important case studies. In 1992, the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages emphasised that public authorities have important responsibilities in this field.

In the last two decades, the introduction of digitalisation and the Internet have developed a global world where the impacts, challenges and opportunities for minority language media have become increasingly complex. Despite these transformations, there has been little focused discussion and debate on the relationship between the digital and minority-language media.

Call for papers

We invite individual papers, pre-constituted panels or posters that engage with research and case studies on any of the following topics:

1. Communication and cultural policies
2. Media economics and the digital age
3. TV channels and online video platforms
4. Audience, genres and content analysis
5. Programming strategies and content commissioning
6. Production conditions and distribution opportunities
7. Commercialisation of programmes
8. Media education and language use
9. Nation, language and identity
10. Media and gender perspectives

Abstracts should not be longer than 250 words and should be submitted by email by Sunday 12th May to the conference organisers.

Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes for questions. Panels will be 90 minutes long, with three papers of 20 minutes and 10 minutes for questions.

Registration information will be provided by the end of May.

Confirmed speakers

As well as panel sessions, the conference will feature a number of plenary speakers. The following are confirmed as speaking:

Rob Dunbar, University of Edinburgh
Josu Amezaga, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, Mercator Media
Alan Esslemont, TG4 Irish TV General Director
Itziar Azpeitia Iruretagoiena, Head of Special Projects - Basque Public TV (ETB)

Scientific committee

Miren Manias-Muñoz, University of Edinburgh / University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
Aitor Zuberogoitia, Mondragon Unibertsitatea
Estibaliz Amorrortu, Deustuko Unibertsitatea
Helen Kelly-Holmes, University of Limerick
Tom Moring, University of Helsinki

Tarlach McGonagle, University of Amsterdam

Organising committee

Miren Manias-Muñoz, University of Edinburgh / University of the Basque Country (UPVEHU). miren.manias@ehu.eus
Garbiñe Iztueta Goizueta, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) / Etxepare Basque Institute. g-iztuetagoizueta@etxepare.eus

Further information:

English version
Scottish Gaelic version

English, Scottish Gaelic and Scots versions (pdf)