European Communication Research and Education Association

European Communication Research and Education Association
Name	European Communication Research and Education Association
Abbreviation	ECREA
Formation	1990s
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Brussels
Region served	Europe
Leader title	President

European Communication Research and Education Association is a pan-European scholarly association connecting scholars, institutions, and networks in communication studies across Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Palestine and scholars linked to institutions such as London School of Economics, University of Amsterdam, University of Oxford, Sciences Po, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Barcelona, Sapienza University of Rome, Helsinki University, Uppsala University, KU Leuven, Trinity College Dublin, University of Warsaw, Charles University, Jagiellonian University, University of Ljubljana, University of Zagreb, University of Belgrade, Eötvös Loránd University, Central European University, University of Bucharest, University of Sofia, University of Cyprus, University of Malta, Istanbul University, Bilkent University.

History

The association traces roots to collaborative gatherings influenced by scholars affiliated with European University Institute, University of Manchester, University of Warwick, University of Leeds, University of Glasgow, University of Birmingham, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University of Portsmouth, University of Sussex, University of Stirling and networks around events like the European Consortium for Political Research meetings, the International Communication Association conferences, the Nordicom symposia and the ISA World Congress. Early founders included academics with prior affiliations to University of Westminster, City, University of London, Goldsmiths, University of London, Complutense University of Madrid, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Navarra, University of Salamanca, University of Seville and research centres such as Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Reuters, BBC, European Broadcasting Union, Deutsche Welle, Agence France-Presse, ANSA, El País, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, Corriere della Sera, La Stampa. The association evolved alongside policy developments in European Commission research frameworks, interactions with Council of Europe, collaborations involving OECD, and scholarly exchange related to projects funded by Horizon 2020 and successor programmes.

Mission and Objectives

The association aims to foster communication research across institutions including Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Institut d'études politiques de Paris, Science and Technology Studies at MIT, Columbia University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago, Yale University, Princeton University by promoting comparative studies, interdisciplinary dialogue and scholarly exchange that engage with public spheres exemplified by cases like Brexit, Eurozone crisis, Migrant crisis in Europe, Arab Spring, Ukraine crisis, Syrian civil war, Greek financial crisis, Catalan independence movement. Objectives include supporting research on media systems such as BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle, France Télévisions, RAI, RTÉ, SVT, Yle, Euronews and fostering links with regulatory bodies like European Audiovisual Observatory, Ofcom, Bundesnetzagentur, Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel, Agcom, Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises individual scholars, research centres and university departments from institutions including University of Bergen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Tallinn University, University of Tartu, Vilnius University, University of Zagreb Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Belgrade Faculty of Media and Communications, Panteion University, University of Macedonia, University College Dublin, Maynooth University, University of Limerick, Trondheim affiliates and independent researchers connected to think tanks like Chatham House, RAND Corporation, European Policy Centre, Bruegel, Open Society Foundations, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Governance is typically structured with an executive board, elected officers and committees drawing members from European Parliament constituencies, national academies such as Polish Academy of Sciences, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Royal Irish Academy, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and liaison with journals and learned societies including International Association for Media and Communications Research, Society for Cinema and Media Studies, International Political Science Association.

Conferences and Events

The association organises biennial and annual congresses hosted at venues like University of Amsterdam Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University College London, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität Wien, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, University of Barcelona, University of Bologna, Trinity College Dublin, University of Warsaw, Masaryk University, Charles University in Prague, University of Ljubljana, often featuring keynote speakers from institutions such as Oxford Internet Institute, Reuters Institute, Tampere University, University of Tampere, University of Oslo, Leiden University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam School of Management and panels connected to events like European Conference on Information Systems, Society for Social Studies of Science symposia and collaborative workshops with Alliance of Universities for Democracy style networks.

Publications and Research Initiatives

The association supports journals and series affiliated with publishers such as Routledge, SAGE Publications, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Taylor & Francis, Palgrave Macmillan, and collaborates on edited volumes with presses at University of Michigan Press and Columbia University Press. It coordinates research initiatives investigating topics linked to cases and institutions like Facebook–Cambridge Analytica scandal, NSA surveillance disclosures, Wikileaks, Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence, General Data Protection Regulation implementation, and media coverage of events including Paris attacks (2015), November 2015 Paris attacks, Charlie Hebdo shooting, Nice attack (2016), Manchester Arena bombing. Research clusters often partner with centres such as Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (CMCI), Centre for European Policy Studies, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies.

Education and Training Programs

Training programs include doctoral schools, summer schools and workshops run in collaboration with universities like European University Institute, Central European University, King's College London, Goldsmiths, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universität Zürich, University of St Andrews, University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge, and networks such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Erasmus Mundus consortia, TEMPUS projects. Programs emphasize methodological training in qualitative and quantitative methods reflecting practices at Annenberg School for Communication, Blavatnik School of Government, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism fellowships, and pedagogical exchanges with media training centres like Reuters Institute.

Awards and Recognition

The association grants awards and recognitions modeled after prizes from bodies such as European Press Prize, Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, Princess of Asturias Awards, Bayeux-Calvados Awards, LUX Prize, and acknowledges lifetime achievement, early career contributions and best paper distinctions that align with honors from institutions including Academy of Social Sciences, Royal Society, European Research Council, Horizon Europe grants and fellowship schemes like Marie Curie Fellowship.

Category:European learned societies