Call for Sessions: Conference "The Future is Public"
On 21 November 2025, the Austrian Commission for UNESCO will host “The Future is Public - Conference on strengthening democratic media spaces". Proposals for sessions can be submitted until 12 September.
The Austrian Commission for UNESCO invites participants from academia, journalism, the media, and civil society to submit session proposals for the The Future is Public conference. This event will explore the current challenges journalism and the media are facing - from financing issues and technological developments to questions of diversity and accountability. The focus lies on the role of journalism in a pluralistic, democratic society and how media actors can respond to social crises.
- Media financing and funding
- The role of digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices in journalism
- Media and information literacy
We are looking for innovative, interdisciplinary, and diversity-sensitive proposals for conference sessions - from theory or practice, preferably experimental in format or methodology. The aim is to develop new perspectives and create spaces for exchange, networking, and collaboration.
Submit your contribution now and help shaping the future of democratic media spaces.
We are looking for contributions on the following topics:
- Democracy, participation and media diversity in the digital age
- Media viability: new models of independent financing
- Algorithms and the role of digital platforms
- Participation and representation of marginalized groups in journalism
- Promotion of diverse perspectives in the media landscape (e.g., in terms of content, language, region)
- Media use, trust in media, and participation
- Media and information literacy
We particularly welcome sessions that:
- Include intersectional perspectives on diversity and inclusion
- Work with innovative, transdisciplinary, or interdisciplinary approaches
- Enable collaborative and dialogue-oriented formats (such as labs, workshops, or participatory settings)
- Bring international experience and comparative perspectives to the table.
Submission guidelines
- Session duration: 60 minutes
- Format: open (panel discussion, workshop, interactive labs, etc.)
- Languages: German, English, Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS)
- Budget: A total budget of EUR 700 per session is available to cover speakers' fees. In addition, travel expenses up to a maximum of EUR 1,000 per session can be reimbursed (subject to prior agreement and availability of funds).
Please send your proposal by September 12, 2025, via email to: isep@unesco.at
The proposal (max. 2 pages) should include the following information:
- Title and brief description of the planned session
- Name(s) and institutional affiliation of the contributors
- Objective, format, and methodological approach of the session
- Relevance to the conference theme: e.g., media diversity, democratic participation, innovation, diversity
Contributions will be selected by an interdisciplinary committee. The selection will be communicated by October 1, 2025, at the latest.
The conference “The Future is Public” is intended to be the kick-off for a sustainable platform for strengthening democratic public spheres in Austria and beyond. Be part of it.
REGISTRATION for the event is possible HERE.
Participation in the event is free of charge. Please note that registration is essential due to limited space.
Contact and enquiries:
Claudia Isep
Österr. UNESCO-Kommission
isep@unesco.at
+43 1 526 13 01 15
www.unesco.at
Downloads
- Call for Sessions: The Future is Public (DE) 87 KB (pdf)
- Save the Date: The Future is Public (DE) 92 KB (pdf)
