The media is a significant player in shaping popular understandings of the Arctic region. With new stakeholders involved in circumpolar affairs, a “global Arctic” scene also translates into a growing interest from the media in many languages, whether from Arctic states (English, French, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, Russian) or non-Arctic states (Chinese, Korean, Japanese to name only a few). Few studies, however, seek to empirically demonstrate when and how media influences understandings of the Arctic region and, by extension, political decision-making.

To address this research and analytical gap, we hope to initiate comparative discussion and enhance collaboration across different national communities of scholars about how the Arctic is represented in the media. Our call for paper solicits theoretical as well as empirical contributions, and we will welcome both quantitative and qualitative studies.

Areas of focus include but are not limited to:

  • Media influence on public opinion
  •  Historical cases of media perceptions on Arctic crises, events, realities, or actors
  • Agenda-setting function of the media on Arctic issues
  • Studies of metaphorical images occurring in the media
  • Coverage of the Arctic region on social media
  • Framing of Arctic actors and events
  • Visual representations of the Arctic (documentaries, cartoons, etc.)
  • Diffusion of expert opinions in different media venues

Special attention will be given to diversity of languages and national contexts, in order to maximize comparative insights. All communications must be submitted in English. The objective is to publish an edited book by early 2018.

For more information or to submit a brief abstract about your potential contribution, please contact Dr. Mathieu Landriault (mland031@uottawa.ca) and/or Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer (pwlacken@uwaterloo.ca). Abstracts need to be submitted before January 15 2017 in order to be considered for the edited volume. Final papers are expected for early June 2017.