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Mobile phones, blogs, online social networks, wikis, user-generated news, and a plethora of ubiquitous digital media have facilitated access to information; allowed people from around the globe to connect; offered enormous potential for communication about, from, and among civil society groups, democracy advocates, and political activists; and presented vast possibilities for national development projects.

But the potential of digital media diffusion cannot be realized if people lack the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media content. Increasingly, digital literacy and media literacy are viewed as agents for the acquisition of such skills and knowledge, and as essential components for all levels of education and every member of society.

Integrating digital media literacy into educational curricula and public agendas will ensure that citizens, groups, and institutions are equipped with the essential analytical and communications skills required for success in the 21st century.

The AUSACE 2011 conference theme brings together these critical two concepts of digital literacy and media literacy. Participants are encouraged to interpret this theme broadly, and include issues as diverse as: new directions for media education, for national development, for democracy, for civil society, and for global engagement. Research papers, panels, and poster presentations submitted to the conference may include, but are not limited to the role of digital and media literacy in:

• Changing media education curricula at the school and university levels.
• Empowering civil society, advocacy groups, and political and social activism.
• Strengthening democracy and citizenship, and changing political processes.
• Supporting national development projects.
• Bridging the digital divide, empowering economically disadvantaged populations, and creating new jobs and markets.
• Evolving journalism and media professions including mainstream and citizen journalism, and traditional and new forms of journalism. 
• Innovating in the marketing, advertising, public relations, and political communications professions.
• Mediating the effects of globalization.
• Promoting government, media, and business accountability and transparency.
• Resolving or exacerbating conflict, war, and political turmoil, and promoting awareness of and offering potential solutions to global issues such as global warming, poverty, diseases, etc.
• Empowering women, minorities, and disadvantaged and disaffected groups in society.
• Addressing and solving the problems of sectarianism and religious fundamentalism.
• Media, communication, and mass communication theories and concepts.

Directions and deadlines for submissions:  

All Submissions: Researchers, scholars, experts, and advanced graduate students interested in presenting at AUSACE 2011 are required to first submit an abstract of their research, panel, or poster presentation by emailing the proper form to:

 ausace2011@aub.edu.lb by the deadline of May 31, 2011. 

Research Papers: To present a research paper, please submit an abstract of your research using the following Research Abstract Form  by May 31, 2011. Research Abstracts should be no longer than 500 words and include a brief explanation about: the topic under study, its scope and context, its significance, the methods used, its main findings, and its relationship to the conference theme: digital and media literacy. Those submitting research papers and wish their submission to be considered for the various conference awards and for publication in the Journal of Middle Eastern Media are required to submit a full paper by the deadline of August 31, 2011. Full papers should be scholarly in nature, original, and innovative, and may employ quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. Papers should be no longer than 7,500 words, including tables, figures, references, and notes.

Panels: To suggest a panel, please submit the following Panel Abstract Form  by May 31, 2011. Members of your panel presenting scholarly research papers and wish their full papers to be considered for the various conference awards and for publication in Journal of Middle Eastern Media, are required to submit a full paper by the deadline of August 31, 2011. Panels should include no less than three and no more than four presenters. Conference organizers may add additional members to the suggested panel.

Poster Presentations: Posters are the format of choice for research that is still at an early stage of development or for presentation of multimedia tools, portfolios, and classroom instruments.  Acceptance of a poster for presentation holds the same status as any other panel or paper presentation. Presenters who elect this form of presentation will have more time for displaying there work and a greater opportunity for interaction and discussion between the author and interested attendees visiting their poster stands. When preparing the poster submission, please indicate the equipment needed for display. In most cases, authors should plan to present their work in tabular or graphic form on an poster board. If special tools are needed (computer, TV, DVD player, speakers, etc.), it is the presenter's responsibility to acquire and set-up the equipment. We will do our best to assist in setup. Please submit the following Poster Submission Form  by May 31, 2011.

Authors will be notified of acceptance starting February 15, 2011.