FoM 2025 CFP

2025-01-28

Future of Magazine International Conference: (Re)Thinking Magazines: Challenges and Opportunities

29 – 31 October | Lusófona University | Lisbon

MagLab is pleased to announce the open call for the second edition of the biennial Future of Magazine (FoM) international conference, organized by CICANT, Lusófona University's research center, taking place from October 29 to 31, 2025.

FoM25 brings together a diverse range of researchers to share insights, ideas, and discuss the current state and future challenges of the magazine medium, as well as issues relevant to understanding this field of study. Papers will be presented as part of a comprehensive conference program, including keynote talks, discussion circles, and a full day dedicated to the industry.

We invite contributions that engage with the theme of “(Re)Thinking Magazines: Challenges and Opportunities”. We seek to open new perspectives on how the magazine medium can adapt and innovate in the face of technological and cultural shifts, exploring both the threats and potential avenues that the future holds for this universal and dynamic format.

The absence of a physical presence in the digital realm endangers the core identity of magazines, making this a crucial moment for academia and industry to collaborate and reflect on the relevance and solutions for the medium's future. Magazines have historically served as gathering points for communities of shared interests and values. In our current era of constant connectivity yet increasing social isolation, the magazine format offers unique potential to create meaningful connections and curated experiences. This makes academic research into magazine studies particularly relevant as we seek to understand and shape the future of this evolving medium.

FoM 2025 is an interdisciplinary conference, and we encourage submissions from all fields of study, including, but not limited to:

  • Media Studies
  • Journalism Studies
  • Critical and Cultural Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Sociology
  • Linguistics
  • History
  • Visual Communication
  • Communication Design
  • Strategic Communication
  • Business Models

Topics that can be addressed (but not limited to):

  • Magazines and digital transition
  • The social role of Magazines
  • Magazines as communities
  • Magazines as cultural artifacts
  • Magazine as art objects
  • Theoretical approaches to Magazine Studies
  • Methodologies for analyzing Magazines
  • Innovation and Magazines
  • Social Media and Magazines
  • Magazine Journalism
  • Indie magazines
  • Specialized magazines (e.g. Women Magazines, Sports Magazines, Gaming Magazines…)
  • Communication design and Magazines
  • New multimedia narratives applied to Magazines
  • Magazine journalists, editors, and workplaces
  • Magazine formats on TV and Radio
  • The role of magazine format inside enterprises
  • The role of advertisement in Magazines
  • Magazine world representations in Literature and Cinema

The FoM 2025 conference uses a dedicated system to handle the submission and reviewing process. Submissions are double-blind (anonymized).

The deadline for submitting abstracts presenting original research efforts (maximum 500 words, plus references) is 19 May 2025.

Please submit your ABSTRACT here: https://revistas.ulusofona.pt/index.php/futureofmagazine/about/submissions

All information is available at:

http://maglab.cicant.ulusofona.pt/fom-2025

Any special inquiries, please contact by email: maglab@ulusofona.pt