2nd MEDIACON 2026

As the world witnesses the massive expansion and intensification of media use, the public is increasingly afforded space and platforms to articulate and circulate their own versions of ‘reality’ in their everyday lives. In this evolving media landscape, the boundaries that once demarcated production and consumption have been practically erased. We no longer merely consume vast amounts of information but also produce media content on an unprecedented scale. Our relationship with the world is therefore no longer mediated in the traditional sense by legacy media institutions; rather, it is increasingly mediated through the pervasive, interconnected infrastructures of contemporary media, particularly social media. 

This transformation unfolds amid a series of overlapping global crises that have marked the contemporary moment. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has experienced successive shocks: unstable global economic conditions, intensifying political polarization across regions, and escalating conflicts such as the ongoing war in Iraq. This raises an existential question about the future of media in an era shaped by crisis and technological acceleration. The current war on Iran reveals how mainstream media institutions face severe constraints that limit the reporting of certain war casualties, while amplifying pro-war narratives and displays of military power. This dynamic is further complicated by the use of artificial intelligence to generate highly convincing images and mediated realities that intensify both the drama of war and the confusion over what is happening. These crises do not merely form the backdrop of media transformation; they actively shape and are shaped by the ways information is produced, circulated, and consumed. 

The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence further accelerates this shift, ushering in an era marked by heightened awareness of the complexity and often inaccessibility of reality itself. Multiple, often conflicting versions of ‘truth and reality’ can now be generated not only by individuals but also by machines spreading at extraordinary speed and scale. This transformation is closely intertwined with the logic of virality that governs digital media ecosystems. Virality, in this sense, operates as a double-edged sword: it can democratize visibility, amplify marginalized voices, and foster new forms of participation, yet it can also intensify misinformation and deepen social divisions. In times of crisis, these viral flows of information can simultaneously mobilize solidarity and exacerbate panic. 

Yet, within this turbulent landscape, there remains space for hope and resilience. Media continue to adapt, developing new practices of accountability and ethical engagement. Resilience emerges not only from technological innovation but also from the collective capacity of media actors and audiences to critically navigate what is being portrayed in the media. In this sense, the very forces that destabilize may also contain the potential for more reflexive and resilient media practices. 

The 2nd Mediacon 2026 invites scholars, researchers, students, and practitioners to critically engage with these challenges and explore the evolving relationships between media and resilience in times of crisis. The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and generate practical insights toward more hopeful media futures. 

The conference will be held from the 5th of August to the 7th of August 2026 at the Faculty of Humanities Universitas Indonesia, Depok Campus, Indonesia.

The 2026 Conference focuses on the theme “Hope or Hype? Media Democratization and Resilience in Times of Crisis”, which covers but not limited to the following subthemes:

1. Media representation of war, conflict, and humanitarian crises

2. Digital activism and grassroots communication

3. Social media influencers and accountability

4. Artificial intelligence in content creation and news reporting

5. Collaborative media practices and public resilience in crisis situations

6. Media literacy in navigating information during crises

7. Media, memory and public history

8. Language, framing, and narratives in crisis communication

9. Political rhetoric and crisis narratives in the media

10. Indigenous knowledge systems, media, and crisis resilience

11. and other relevant, intersecting topics in line with the main theme.