RMIT Melbourne, 4–5 September 2025 

‘Archives and Archetypes: Recovery and Renewal’ 

CALL FOR PAPERS 

RMIT School of Media and Communication is proud to announce it is hosting the 14th Australian Media Traditions biennial conference on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th of September 2025. The conference will be held in-person at RMIT University’s City Campus, 123 Swanston Street, Melbourne. There will also be a social event at the Capitol Theatre on the afternoon of Wednesday 3rd of September. 

We are calling for paper and panel proposals that speak to the theme ‘Archives and Archetypes: Recovery and Renewal’. 

Archives and archetypes are each about conservation. Archives are materially conservative. By maintaining records in a specific location under certain conditions they secure historical records. Archetypes is a dynamic framework within which endures universal identities complete with their own weaknesses and strengths. Yet this is only so within a tradition of western cultural thought. 

We invite you to join us in challenging what media traditions may be. AMT2025 aims to recover an understanding of key ideas and approaches to media as we work to reveal past histories of resisting the status quo and renew relationships to audiences and the public. 

Conference submissions from academics, students, media practitioners, representatives of cultural institutions, and other scholars are warmly welcomed. Proposals can cover diverse areas including media institutions, advertising, audiences, book publishing, digital gaming, journalism, libraries, media preservation, policy and regulation, publishers and printers, convergence and technological developments. 

Submissions could consider: 

- New practices and methods shaping the future of archival collection and preservation 

- New technologies enabling the creation of an archive 

- The role of archives in documenting marginalized voices and underrepresented histories 

- Challenges and gaps in preservation and accessibility 

Although submissions connected to the theme are encouraged, all proposals for papers and panels connected to media history will be considered. 

A special journal issue is in planning. More details to come closer to the conference. 

Please send paper abstracts and panel proposals to ausmediatraditions2025@gmail.com by Monday 31 March. 

Paper abstracts should be no more than 200 words, and be accompanied by a title, author biographical note (up to 50 words), and up to 5 keywords. 

Pre-constituted panel proposals (for up to 5 people) should include a title, up to 5 keywords, and a 200-word overview, plus 200 words from each participant on their contribution, as well as a biographical note of up to 50 words for each speaker. 

Further questions can be addressed to the conference convenors, Dr Josie Vine (josie.vine@rmit.edu.au), Dr John Tebbutt (john.tebbutt@rmit.edu.au), Dr Alexa Scarlata (alexa.scarlata@rmit.edu.au) or Damien O’Meara (damien.omeara@rmit.edu.au).