Call for Papers for the 2008 HMF International Film/Media Festival & Conference

[Humanitarian Media Foundation (HMF)]

*** NOTE: Because of the overwhelming response to our Call for Papers, our servers have been overloaded; for those having problems sending abstract(s) via [e-mail], we have set up a non-server e-mail address:

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Call for Papers for the 2008 HMF International Film/Media Festival & Conference


The 2008 HMF International Film/Media Conference will be taking place concurrently with the 2008 HMF International Film Festival and the associated 2008 HMF International Art/Photo Exhibition.

The 2008 HMF International Film/Media Conference will be an integral part of the overall Festival & Conference, and will include Panels, Conference Papers, Debates, and Discussions relevant to the Media's Role in issues of international humanitarian importance.

Issues which the Conference will cover:

1) The media’s role in humanitarian histories, events, issues and crises – past and present - in the context of examples of such coverage, including as a lesson for what should – or in certain select cases - should not be done;

2) The role that the media has played and perhaps should play in the work of the UN, NGO’s and other agencies who help to support populations in need and are affected by certain issues or crises;

3) The future role of the media with the advent of new technologies, the possibilities inherent in the web, among other means of information and media dissemination, and how these new possibilities can be utilized by those seeking to bring further attention to the public sphere regarding issues of humanitarian importance;

4) The role of the artistic media (film, art, photogrpahy, music) in revealing the nuances of issues of humanitarian importance and the significance of “celebrity” involvement in such media and issues of humanitarian importance;

5) The role of print, television, web, and photojournalism and its importance in the humanitarian sphere – including issues of the bias of coverage, the preeminence or lack of coverage, the role journalists do or should play, and the responsibilities of journalism in humanitarian crises even despite the profit motive of for-profit corporate parents, such as in the United States, of news agencies, networks, newspapers, magazines, etc.
Other subjects are welcome, provided they merge the idea of the media—in any form—and issues and subject matter of humanitarian importance.

SPECIAL SECTION:

A special section, which also may be chosen, will be called “Never Again” : The Media’s Role in Past, Present, and Future Humanitarian Crises with a Focus on Genocide. This will also take place concurrently with a focused Sidebar series during the Film Festival portion of the 2008 HMF International Festival & Conference.

For further information, please contact us at [e-mail].

SUBMISSIONS FOR PRESENTATION CONSIDERATION

Abstract Deadline: August 1, 2008
Submit to [e-mail].

Submit a 200-word abstract. Early submissions are greatly appreciated. All submissions must be in Acrobat PDF format.

Please include the following information on the first page of the document:

1. Name(s) of author(s)
2. Address / Phone number
3. E-mail address
4. Institution or Organization
5. Title of Abstract/Paper

By submitting an abstract, and subsequently a paper for the Conference, you are agreeing that all submitted ideas and work are your own, and materials which may be used, if not in the public domain or are under permissable purpose allowances, shall have all necessary clearances provided to the HMF prior to the Paper being presented.

The HMF may disqualify any paper from presentation or publication for any reason, at its sole descretion. At no time will the HMF be held liable for any difficulties presented by the authorship, subject(s), and presentation of the Paper at the Conference.

The author(s), by virtue of submitting his/her abstract(s) and paper(s), agree that he/she will be solely responsible for the content of such abstract(s) and paper(s), the substance involved, and all necessary references necessary for the content submitted.

You will receive an email containing an acceptance or rejection letter by August 31, 2008. The letter will contain a submission number that you should include in all further correspondences. Directions will be provided for submitting your paper to the conference proceedings and for award consideration along with your acceptance letter.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE:

The HMF provides the academic community with an opportunity to share their research, ideas, and discuss administrative issues. it also offers a great opportunity for networking and placement.

- To publish an abstract of your paper in our refereed conference proceedings online (via http://www.humanitarianmedia.org and associated HMF websites);

- To present your research at an international conference;

- To receive feedback on your research;

- To compete for the Conference Award;

- To have your paper considered for publication in a peer reviewed journal, or in book form, with all presented papers being eligible for publication in a book of conference papers via the Humanitarian Media Foundation (HMF) and its partner publishing house;

- To network with potential employers and employees.

SHARE THIS CALL

We would warmly welcome you sharing this Call for Papers, and otherwise the Call for Entries in film (beginning June 25, 2008), or the Call for Entries in Art/Photography (began May 25, 2008) with your colleagues.

Further information on each may be found at http://www.humanitarianmedia.org.

To subscribe to our mailing list, please send an email to [e-mail] with “Subscribe” in the subject header, or sign up via the form on the HMF home page.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

- Call for Papers begins June 16, 2008
- Deadline for Abstracts: August 1, 2008
- Deadline for Accepted Papers, with any A/V requirements: November 1, 2008
- Deadline for all Confernce sign-ups: December 1, 2008
- Event dates December 10-14, 2008


CONFERENCE FEES:

Deadline: December 1, 2008
Conference registration is US$420 (early registration is $350) with the authors of accepted papers not being required to submit a fee. The registration fee for full-time students is $295 (documentation of full-time student status is required, sent via .pdf to [e-mail]).

Conference fees may be paid here via secured server.

LETTERS OF ATTENDANCE:

Upon acceptance of all information and fees, if applicable, and credentials submitted from a legitimate institition or organization, a Letter of Attendance will be made available via .pdf for those who need such a letter for visa requirements.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE:

Your registration fee includes Hors d’ouevres and drinks at the reception, as well as Event Tickets for the entirety of the 2008 HMF International Film/Media Festival & Conference. For those participants attending with guest(s), the price per Event Ticket is US$100.

For those conference attendees and their registered guests, tickets for screenings of films at the 2008 HMF International Film Festival (which happens concurrent with the conference), will be allowed to purchase a bloc of tickets at discounted prices.

HOTEL:

Hotel information TBA, including any special rates for the 2008 HMF Festival & Conference. We will let you know when such information becomes available.

TRAVEL INFORMATION:

Airfares & Airport TBA.

CONFERENCE CANCELLATIONS:

The HMF reserves the right to cancel the conferences in the event of a natural disaster, terrorist event, illness or other unusual circumstances as determined at the sole discretion of the Humanitarian Media Foundation (HMF). In such instances, the HMF will be responsible only for returning the attendee’s conference registration fee. The HMF looks forward toyour attendance, and meeting you at the 2008 HMF International Film/Media Festival & Conference.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at [e-mail]