Jul 4, 2016 | News
Dr. Ang Peng Hwa, AMIC Chairman d’Honneur, will serve as the keynote speaker of the International Conference on Media, Communications, and Sociology (iCOMICOS). It will be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on November 18-19, 2016.
Conference theme is Questioning Locality: Community, Movement, and Global Challenge.
iCOMICOS is being organized by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of the Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta.
The forum will examine the impact of the ICT revolution on social movements within and outside geographic and socio-cultural borders. New ICT tools and applications have empowered non-state social actors, especially social activists who are actively pursuing change in society.
Among the sub-themes to be featured in the forum are media praxis, journalism revolution, creative marketing cooperations, customized stakeholder engagement, community-based business, innovative business communication, and information policy and ethics revisited.
Aside from Dr. Ang Peng Hwa, other speakers include Prof. Anne Gregory (University of Huddersfield, UK), Akihiko Kohno (McCann Erickson Japan); Dr. Loreto G. Camiloza (De La Salle University Dasmarinas); Bambang Kusumo Prihandono, MA (Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta); and Dr. Phil Martin Loeffelholz (Universitas Illmenau, Germany).
For more details about the conference, please visit:
https://comicos.uajy.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Publication-iCOMICOS-UAJY-2016.pdf
Jul 4, 2016 | News
Public Information Officers (PIOs) worldwide should be among the prime movers in the pursuit of open government. This was the main message of AMIC Secretary General Ramon R. Tuazon during the International Conference on Media and Information Literacy for Building a Culture of Open Government. It was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russian Federation from June 6 to 10, 2016.
Mr. Tuazon was one of the plenary speakers of the forum. According to him, PIOs play a key role in promoting and pursuing transparent, accountable, and citizen-oriented governance. These values are consistent with open government principles.
However, he warned that PIOs face challenges in the practice of open government. Traditional values, mindsets, and customs in the working environment—specifically, the governance culture in some countries —can pose hindrances to an open government. Prevailing governance culture in many societies includes “culture of silence” and “culture of good news only.”
To Tuazon, the culture of open government demands reengineeringpublic information principles and work processes as well as developing appropriate competencies and mindsets, as there is still resistance among many governments to easy access to information by the public.
What are some actions needed?
According to the AMIC SG, there should be recognition and acceptance among traditional PIOs that change is inevitable and must be reflected in all dimensions of competencies—knowledge, attitudes, values, and behaviors.
Tuazon called for more investment in public information work as there seems to be underinvestment in the area compared with expenses in public infrastructure.
Tuazon also believed that public information should not be perceived as a separate element of governance. Transparency, accountability, and citizen participation should be second nature to all government transactions and programs.
May 30, 2016 | News
AMIC Secretary General Ramon R. Tuazon urged research and academic institutions worldwide to conduct more scientific research studies on the safety and protection of journalists and media workers. The appeal was made during the closing plenary session of the UNESCO Research Conference on the Safety of Journalists held on 03-04 May in Helsinki, Finland.
According to Tuazon, while UNESCO believes that there is lack of research on the topic and there may be preponderance of anecdotal research, empirical research studies are lacking.
Tuazon cited the rich harvest of research studies presented during the two-day conference. “We need more of the latter to build solid knowledge and facilitate evidence-based planning and decision making on safety policies and programs,” Tuazon said.
SG Tuazon noted that the frequency and magnitude of attacks and violence committed against journalists and media workers worldwide have become more severe and relentless over the past few years.
The types of violence and their perpetrators have also become more diverse, while the violence committed can be more manifest (e.g., physical violence) or latent, or both.
After reviewing over 30 research studies presented during the conference, Mr. Tuazon observed that the concept of human security for journalists and media workers goes beyond life and limb. It also encompasses economic and social security.
Meanwhile, internal threats usually involves job insecurity resulting from suspension, dismissal from service, demotion, non-allocation of work, and transfers to other units
The other panelists for the closing session of the UNESCO conference were Ms. Albana Shala of the International Programme for Development of Communication (IPDC), Dr. Reeta Poyhtari of UNESCO, Dr. Silvia Marcesse, Prof. Jacqueline Harrison of the University of Sheffield, and Prof. Elisabeth Eide, Oslo and Akershus University College.
The conference brought together more than 50 academics from six continents. It was organized by UNESCO in partnership with the University of Sheffield (Centre for Freedom of the Media), University of Tampere, University of Helsinki, and International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR).
May 23, 2016 | Annual Conference
The AMIC Board of Directors has approved the postponement of the AMIC Conference, originally scheduled on 15-17 September 2016, to a later date in 2017, still to be held in Manila, Philippines.
AMIC apologizes to all abstract writers who have already made arrangements for this event for any inconvenience this would cause them.
The decision was made to enable the newly-established AMIC Secretariat in Manila to focus on urgent administrative matters to ensure the Centre’s smooth operations.
Among the major concerns currently being addressed are the following: (1) financial management, including settlement of outstanding obligations incurred during the last few years of operation in Singapore, collection of AMIC outstanding receivables, closing of Singapore-based bank accounts, and preparation of 2015 financial reports, (2) closing down of AMIC Ltd. under the Members Voluntary Liquidation of Singapore, and (3) rationalization of selection and terms of reference of AMIC Country Representatives.
In addition, the postponement of the 25th International Conference will enable AMIC to focus on equally important projects such as: (1) inauguration of the new AMIC office at the Philippine Women’s University, (2) launching of an extensive membership drive, and (3) launching of AMIC Textbook Project and related publications, e.g., Asian Communication Handbook 7th edition.
AMIC will also proceed with the selection of its 2016 AMIC Asia Communication Award laureates.
AMIC sincerely apologizes to all colleagues who have responded positively to its Call for Abstracts. AMIC received at least 140 abstracts during the first two initial calls as of 18 May.
AMIC assures all those who submitted their abstracts that these will still be considered in the 2017 conference (as AMIC will keep the conference theme and strands).
AMIC will continue to give feedback on the abstracts submitted and provide some suggestions on how the eventual papers can be enriched and made more consistent with our theme. The reschedule will give the abstract writers adequate time to review and enhance submitted abstracts/papers.
The Philippines and India, countries where most of AMIC members come from, are also planning to convene their own AMIC national conference within the year. AMIC welcomes such initiatives as these forums provide platforms for members to exchange developments and innovations in communication, as well as AMIC updates. AMIC shall update members about these national forums soon.
AMIC also takes this opportunity to cite its accomplishments since the transfer of AMIC to Manila: (1) reorganization of AMIC Board of Management, (2) transfer of physical assets, including equipment, books, and supplies and materials, (3) setting up of new AMIC office at PWU annex building, (4) registration of AMIC with the Philippines Securities & Exchange Commission, securing of business permits and tax registrations, and opening of bank accounts, (5) resolution of ownership of AJC and Media Asia and agreement with WKWSCI-NTU on royalties and editorial fees in favor of AMIC, (6) reconstruction of databases – current and past members, subscription lists for Asian Journal of Communication (AJC) and Media Asia, (7) digital archiving of majority of past issues of Media Asia, (8) continuing networking with partners, including UNESCO, IAMCR, etc., and (9) preparation and submission of programme/project proposals to partners.
We call on our members to rally behind the organization by engaging in the following: (1) renewing institutional and individual memberships and inviting colleagues to be part of AMIC, (2) renewing subscriptions to Media Asia and Asian Journal of Communication, (3) organizing AMIC national events in coordination with country representatives, (4) participating in future programmes and projects, and (5) linking AMIC with potential donors.
The AMIC Board of Directors, Board of Management, and Secretariat are working together to reinvigorate AMIC to become a more relevant professional association. We are confident that our members will do their part in building AMIC.
Apr 5, 2016 | Annual Conference
25th AMIC Annual International Conference
Manila, 15-17 September 2016
2nd CALL FOR PAPERS – DEADLINE IS 30 MAY 2016
The deadline for submission of abstracts for the 2016 AMIC Conference in Manila, Philippines has been extended to 30 May 2016. Notification of acceptance for abstracts submitted for the new deadline is on 30 July 2016.
For abstracts submitted on or before 30 March 2016, writers will be advised on the acceptance of their abstract on 15 May 2016.
The theme of the conference is Rethinking Communication in a Resurgent Asia
FORMAT FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstracts should be submitted via email to conference@amic.asia. Indicate your proposed conference stream in the subject line of your email. Please choose from the following:
Communication Philosophies, Theories, and Paradigms
Communication and Culture
Communication Education
Communication Media
Communication Strategies and Approaches
Inclusive Knowledge Societies
Global Communication
Asian Business Communication
Please refer to First Call for Papers for the specific topics under each conference stream. You may visit AMIC website: www.amic.asia
E-mail should include the following:
- paper title
- author name, position, institution
- short biography of author (100 words)
- paper abstract (500 words)
For more information, please contact Mr. Ramon R. Tuazon (r.tuazon@amic.asia or rrtuazon722@yahoo.com)
