University of Social and Media Culture in Toruń, Poland
Institute of Journalism and New Media
Office of International and Interuniversity Cooperation
Scientific Circle of Media Experts

have the honor to invite you to the international conference entitled:

#creativity

Challenges of contemporary media

which will take place at the University of Social and Media Culture in Toruń, Poland

21st May 2024

Already in 1962, Herbert Marshall McLuhan, in his publication The Gutenberg Galaxy, wrote that we live in a global village. He pointed out that mass electronic media allow us to overcome time and space barriers, and thanks to this type of communication, people can be closer to each other. Today, it is hard to resist the impression that what, according to McLuhan’s theory, was supposed to bring people closer to each other, is increasingly driving them farther apart.

Nowadays, technology is developing dynamically, artificial intelligence is becoming responsible for many processes, and we live in a bubble of new media. However, the world constantly poses new challenges for us, young people, which often simply surprise us.

New media offer a wealth of fantastic communication opportunities and perspectives for creative content creation to show the truth about this world. However, poorly used space of new media can also be – as we often see today – a source of manipulation and lies that distance us from the truth.

This raises several questions. Firstly, how to create content in modern media to show goodness, beauty and truth? How to find your way in the maze of information and be able to select it properly? How to properly use new media for contemporary communication – from those closest to us to messages reaching many recipients?

The process of popularizing the Internet and new media – which McLuhan wrote about – and, above all, the increase in the awareness of many people about its power, has made it the foundation for the functioning of the information society today. Therefore, we cannot ignore the questions posed earlier.

We cannot ignore such a significant issue. Especially since in this area we see not only positive aspects of using this type of media and messages in practice; but we also see very clearly that they can generate anxiety and even painfully hurt other people, and even become a tool for conducting criminal and disinformation activities.

At the University of Social and Media Culture in Toruń, each year, together with scientists, lecturers, practitioners and students, we reflect on the functioning of new media.

In 2024, we want to pay special attention to the contemporary challenges we face in the use of new media. How can we creatively use their potential in the work of a journalist, but also in other areas: from financial, medical, publishing and IT services, through politics, to art and culture. Indicating such broad areas that we want to cover makes us clearly and unquestionably see the enormous potential that this type of media has on our everyday lives and the choices we make.

We encourage the entire academic community to unite in this discussion and take part in our proposed conference.

Let our creative approach to the issue of new media lead us to innovative ideas, and these to the implementation of modern solutions!

Applications for active participation in the conference (for presenting a paper) are accepted
no later than April 30, 2024 via the appropriate link on this website (available on the website of the University of Social and Media Culture in Toruń)

Contact: nowemedia@aksim.edu.pl