Founded in November 2005, European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) is an international non-profit association with the following aims:

a) to provide a forum where researchers and others involved in communication and information research can meet and exchange information and documentation about their work. Its disciplinary focus will include media, (tele)communications and informatics research, including relevant approaches of human and social sciences;

b) to encourage the development of research and systematic study, especially on subjects and areas where such work is not well developed;

c) to stimulate academic and intellectual interest in media and communication research, and to promote communication and cooperation between members of the Association;

d) to co-ordinate the circulation of information on communications research in Europe, with a view to establishing a database of ongoing research;

e) to encourage, support, and where possible, publish, the work of young researchers in Europe;

f) to take into account the desirability of different languages and cultures in Europe;

g) to develop links with relevant national and international communication organisations and with professional communication researchers working for commercial organisations and regulatory institutions, both public and private;

h) to promote the interests of communication research within and among the Member States of the Council of Europe and the European Union;

i) to collect and disseminate information concerning the professional position of communication researchers in the European region; and

j) to develop, improve and promote communication and media education.

The purpose of the Journalism Studies Section of ECREA is to support academic research that deepens understanding of the cultural, political, economic, social and professional aspects of journalism.

Its main objective is to promote research on occupational, regulatory, ethical, technological, political, commercial, cultural and educational factors in journalism.

The Journalism Studies Section aims to create a forum for dialogue between academics and practitioners from different disciplines and theoretical perspectives, who employ a variety of research methodologies to investigate aspects of journalism across different types of media, media content and geographical regions.

The Journalism Studies Section’s goals are:

a) to consolidate a European network of researchers on journalism, with the participation of as many countries as possible;

b) to promote the interests of journalism studies research and academic journalism education to EU and other European institutions and decision-makers;

c) to participate in the organisation of journalism studies panels at the ECREA conferences and at other conferences and events;

d) to organise regular seminars between ECREA conferences in order to foster the international exchange of ideas and knowledge;

e) to organise regular symposia of academics and professional journalists;

f) to develop its website as a clearing house for journalism departments and researchers in Europe, and

g) to work towards the authoring and editing of books and special journal issues.

More information: Modus operandi of the Journalism Studies Section of ECREA [PDF]