AWiM26 Conference Call for Papers

African Women in Media (AWiM) is pleased to invite submissions for its 10th annual conference and Global Forum, AWiM26. AWiM Conferences bring together leaders from media, creative industries, technology, policy, academia and finance to explore how inclusive leadership can shape the future of media systems. It marks ten years of AWiM’s work advancing gender equality in and through media, representing a moment to reflect on progress while addressing structural barriers that continue to limit participation in media economies and leadership.

Subtheme 1: Media, Power and Narrative Leadership 

How leadership is exercised through storytelling, representation, and cultural authority. 

Possible themes include:

• Leadership in film/TV, radio, publishing, advertising, music, gaming, sport media, and community media
• Platform visibility, algorithmic gatekeeping, and narrative extraction
• Political communication, elections, and public trust
• Representation of women in leadership
• Feminist storytelling, archives, memory, and counter-narratives
• Media ethics, credibility, and the future of public-interest content
• Political economy of the media

Subtheme 2: Resources, Ownership and the Future of Creative Work 

How economic structures, technology and investment shape labour, ownership, and participation in media and creative industries. 

Possible themes include:

• Gender-lens investing in media and creative industries
• Financial models for independent media and creator economies
• Access to capital for women-led media enterprises
• Intellectual property ownership and copyright protection in digital environments
• Revenue sharing and labour rights in global media collaborations
• Labour conditions in media and creative industries, including informal work, precarity, and the care economy
• AI in creative industries: opportunities and risks
• Data rights, bias, and inclusion in systems affecting content distribution
• Community-led and feminist approaches to technology design
• Market access for African media and cultural producers in regional and global value chains
• Sustainable business models for independent media in smaller markets
• Audience development across borders; diaspora markets; language and localisation
• Creating and maintaining responsible platforms in small communities

Subtheme 3: Governance, Participation, and Rights 

How governance systems can enable safe, equitable participation in media ecosystems 

Possible themes include:

• Media regulation and gender equality outcomes
• Platform governance and digital accountability
• Women’s political leadership and the media’s role in democratic participation
• Political will, implementation gaps, and accountability in gender equality policies
• Anti-corruption, information integrity, and public communication
• Implementing AU Agenda 2063, the Africa Free Trade Agreement and regional bloc commitments in national and sectoral policy
• Online violence, harassment, doxxing, deepfakes, and risks to media integrity
• Organisational duty of care in media organisations and platforms
• Digital protection for journalists, creators and public-facing leaders
• AI governance, algorithmic accountability, and intellectual property protection
• Synthetic media governance, authenticity, and trust

Requirements

We welcome proposals that are research-based, practice-based, policy-oriented, tech-focused, creative, experimental, or cross-disciplinary. Selected contributions will feed into a range of programme formats, including:

• Research papers (academic or applied) – 15–20 minutes
• Panels/Roundtables – 60–90 minutes, multi-stakeholder
• Skills workshops / Masterclasses – practical and interactive
• Creator showcases – short, high-energy demonstrations of methods or models
• Policy labs – sessions designed to produce draft frameworks, guidelines, or tools
• Exhibitions – photography, film, audio, XR, interactive and digital projects
• Lightning talks – 5–7 minutes, focused provocations
• Special Invitation: Emerging Creators and Youth Voices

If you are building an audience through TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, Instagram, newsletters, streaming platforms, or community channels, we want you in the room, especially if you are:

• Experimenting with sustainable income models
• Navigating platform risk or harassment
• Producing cultural or political content
• Developing new formats for African storytelling

How to apply

Please fill in this application form to submit: Title; Subtheme (1–3); Format; Abstract (250–350 words); Technical or space needs; Bio(s) (max 120 words each); Selection criteria: relevance to theme; originality; practical value; inclusivity; clarity; and fit for action-oriented spaces

Timeline

• 25 March – CFP announced
• 30 April – Deadline for submissions
• 31 May – Early Bird registration open
• 31 September – Early Bird registration closes
• 3-4 December – Conference dates

For more information, please visit this page.