Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture (WPCC) wishes to engage international scholars in a critical debate about the relationship between communication, culture and society in the 21st century.
WPCC is a peer-reviewed journal, published online. The interdisciplinary nature of the field of Media and Cultural Studies is reflected in the diverse methods, contexts and themes of the papers published. Areas of interest include – but are not limited to – the history and political economy of the media, popular culture, media users and producers, political communication and developments arising from digital technologies in the context of an increasingly globalized and networked world.
Contributions from both established scholars and those at the beginning of their academic career are equally welcome.
WPCC’S issue on Media Activism has been published.
Editors Anastasia Denisova and Michaela O’Brien highlight some key issues for the field in their editorial ‘From High Visibility to High Vulnerability: Feminist, Postcolonial and Anti-Gentrification Activism at Risk’.
Contributions reflect on the progressive and problematic aspects of social media activism with opportunities being countered by resistance and the cooption and control of new media channels by repressive governments and reactionary groups.
Materials in the issue take a look at activism in Brazil, Liverpool (UK), Mexico and Zimbabwe with Twitter, Facebook, community radio, newspapers, arts-based activism and Whats App all under scrutiny. A focus on ethical issues for researchers working with WhatsApp groups is highlighted in an article by Sergio Barbosa and Stefania Milan and work on the Las Morras feminist collective in Mexico City highlight the dangers and risks activists face in a hostile contemporary environment.
Posted on 12 Sep 2019
Posted on 05 Jul 2019
In a time of political upheaval with the extreme right on the rise globally, and the techniques of fascism (populism, propaganda and fake news, hate speech and rise of hate crimes) dominating discourse around societal and political issues, what is the potential for progressive activists to use the media to enable resistance and open up space for alternatives? This special issue emphasises the importance of collective action and media visibility (Meikle, 2018; Tilly & Wood, 2013; Melucci, 1996) in generating positive change.
We define ‘activism’ as ‘the widest range of attempts to effect social or cultural change’ (Meikle, 2018: iii), while ‘the media’ includes a broad range of communication platforms, from traditional journalism to digital networks.
We welcome papers on the subject of (but not limited to):
This special issue invites the most recent theoretical interventions and empirical research that explores how media activism across the globe opposes the current crises in Western democracies and beyond.
Posted on 12 Dec 2018
03 Sep 2019
03 Sep 2019
20 Aug 2019
14 Aug 2019