Media innovation broadly describes the reciprocal developments around media technologies and media practices that create new opportunities for envisioning, creating, consuming, storing, sharing, and transforming content that enables the creation, capture and management of value in a large variety of settings (Prenger & Deuze, 2019; Storsul & Krumsvik, 2013). It is a complex and dynamic process that involves the continuous interplay between technological developments, changes in media practices and transformations in society, with each influencing and shaping the other (Bruns, 2014). Acknowledging and investigating the influence of technological innovation processes is crucial in understanding the possibilities of media innovation (Ní Bhroin & Milan, 2020) as well as its broader implications for society. For instance, trends in digitalization, datafication and communication enable new modes of organizing, producing, distributing, and promoting content (Horst & Hitters, 2020; Evens, Raats & von Rimscha, 2017). Artificial Intelligence increasingly pushes our boundaries of what individuals and organizations can do, specifically, e.g., how processes of creation can be supported, leveraged, and transformed. This creates new possibilities and significant challenges for media organizations (Oliver & Picard, 2020) and many industries and contexts more broadly (e.g., McKinsey Digital, 2023).
As barriers across organizations, industries and societies become fluid, less tangible and more porous, how content and value are created and managed become more complex, multifaceted, and increasingly novel (as seen in creative applications for and of the use of blockchain technology or AI). This challenges existing approaches to strategy, leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, and operations, to just name a few, and emphasizes continuous learning, adaptation, trial-and-error, and flexibility. But certainly, these ways of managing and organizing have multitudes of consequences for the functioning of media and related organizations and how the media and creative industries are conceived, as well as how they influence society. The complexity of media innovation goes well beyond technologies and is inevitably linked to and driven by new understandings, processes, and practices of creating and managing attention, content, relevance, and value through new forms of work, adequate business models and evolved human relations. Furthermore, the media’s role as a catalyst for change, moulding attitudes, and behaviors (Vallor, 2016; Christians, C. G. (2019), highlights its potential and responsibility in addressing prevailing societal challenges. Consequently, how media is managed and how responsibility is (or should be) an inherent part of these processes and practices, has important implications for different levels of actors and stakeholders, be they individual creatives, journalists or knowledge workers, managers, teams in (media) organizations, or policymakers. These impact organizations, platforms, structures, and industries.
#emmaleeuwarden seeks to examine the intersections of media innovation and societal transformations. It aims to contribute to the academic conversation about the potential of media innovation and transformation for media management, media strategy, media entrepreneurship, media education, (marketing) communication and society.
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Travel information
For more information about traveling and staying in Leeuwarden, check this travel guide. This guide also provides hotel information and discount codes for selected hotels.
Conference fees
- Delegate fee €400 (excluding membership fee)
- Delegate fee PhD-candidate €290 (excluding membership fee)
- Guest Ticket €190 (only includes activities outside of the conference: reception, dinners, lunches
- Reduced fee according to UN model €290
- Social event €190 (A day filled with Dutch experiences in Leeuwarden including cycling, beer- and cheese tasting and enjoying the canals).
Membership
emma membership is a prerequisite for attending #emmaleeuwarden. Make sure to become a member before May 5th if you are planning to attent the conference. You can become a member here.
PhD-workshop
Fore more information about the PhD-workhop at June 5th, click here.
emma conference grant
Early career researchers who wish to apply for an emma conference grant are referred to the Call for Applications here.