Call for Papers

Call for Papers

Rethinking Health Communication from the Global South: Local Knowledge, Global Challenges, and Digital Futures

Hosted by: Peking University, Beijing, China

In collaboration with: International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Health Communication Working Group

Location: Peking University, Beijing, China (in-person)

Date: 3 July 2027 (in conjunction with the 10th MHM International Conference, 4 July 2027)

Registration: Free of charge

Conference Theme

You are warmly invited to submit papers to Rethinking Health Communication from the Global South: Local Knowledge, Global Challenges, and Digital Futures, a conference organized by Peking University in collaboration with the IAMCR Health Communication Working Group on 3 July 2027. The conference takes place in conjunction with the 10th Medicine, Humanity and Media (MHM) International Conference, held at Peking University on 4 July 2027.

Much of health communication theory and practice has been developed in Western contexts, raising questions about how well established frameworks capture the social, cultural, political, and economic realities of the Global South. Communities across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East bring their own knowledge systems, healing traditions, media ecologies, and relationships of trust with health institutions, and these deserve a central place in the field.

This conference critically examines health communication from Global South perspectives, emphasizing local knowledge, community experience, and culturally grounded approaches to global health challenges. It also asks how digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and changing media environments are reshaping health communication, opening new possibilities for access and participation while amplifying misinformation and deepening inequalities. We invite scholars and practitioners from diverse regions, disciplines, and methods to explore how the field can become more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to local and global needs.

Suggested Topics

We welcome paper submissions addressing topics including, but not limited to:

• How might health communication theories and frameworks be rethought, adapted, or developed from Global South perspectives?

• How do Indigenous knowledge, traditional medicine, and local practices shape health beliefs, behaviors, and communication?

• How do health misinformation and disinformation circulate in Global South media environments, and how do they affect public trust in health institutions?

• What opportunities and risks do digital health tools, social media, and artificial intelligence present for health communication in resource-constrained settings?

• How do communication barriers contribute to health inequalities among marginalized, rural, and underserved communities?

• How do news media and digital platforms represent and frame health issues, risks, and populations?

• What role do community engagement, participatory communication, and health advocacy play in improving health outcomes?

• What lessons can be drawn from communication during pandemics, disasters, conflicts, and other public health emergencies?

• How are climate change, environmental health, and risk communicated to and within affected communities?

• What is the role of health and science journalism, and of health journalists themselves, in public health?

• How do health communication policies, governance structures, and global health partnerships shape communication practice?

• What can cross-cultural and comparative approaches reveal about health communication across regions?

We encourage submissions from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including communication, journalism, public health, medicine, sociology, anthropology, media studies, and related fields. Submissions are welcome from scholars at all career stages, including doctoral students and early-career researchers, as well as practitioners working in health communication, public health, and the media.

While the conference centers Global South perspectives, we also welcome comparative research and contributions from other regions that critically engage with the conference theme. We particularly encourage work that brings attention to communities, regions, and voices that remain underrepresented in health communication scholarship.

Key Dates

• 28 December 2026: Abstract submission deadline

• 10 February 2027: Notification of acceptance

• 10 April 2027: Registration deadline

• 15 May 2027: First draft of the program shared with registered participants

• 3 July 2027: Rethinking Health Communication from the Global South conference held at Peking University, Beijing

• 4 July 2027: 10th Medicine, Humanity and Media (MHM) International Conference held at Peking University, Beijing

Submitting Proposals

We invite individual paper abstracts of no more than 250 words (excluding references). Accepted papers will be scheduled for presentations of [15] minutes.

Abstracts should clearly state:

• the research question or objective;

• the theoretical or conceptual framework;

• the methodology (where applicable); and

• the key findings or expected contributions.

All abstracts must be grounded in relevant health communication literature and demonstrate a clear connection to the conference theme. We welcome empirical, theoretical, and conceptual contributions using qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and other appropriate approaches.

Formatting and Submission Guidelines

Please prepare your abstract as follows:

• File format: Submit the abstract as a Word document (.docx) or PDF, single-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman.

• Content: Include the paper title, author name(s), institutional affiliation(s), the email address of the corresponding author, three to five keywords, and the abstract text (no more than 250 words, excluding references).

• File name: Name the file using the format AuthorLastName_Institution_ShortTitle (e.g., Wang_PekingUniversity_DigitalHealthRuralChina.docx).

• Email subject line: Use the format Conference Submission: Author Last Name, Institution, Short Title (e.g., Conference Submission: Wang, Peking University, Digital Health in Rural China).

• Multiple authors: Use the last name and institution of the corresponding author in the file name and subject line.

Please submit abstracts to the organizing committee at:

• Ou Mengxue, Peking University (mengxueou@pku.edu.cn)

• Jiang Shaohai, National University of Singapore (cnmjs@nus.edu.sg)

Organizing Committee

• Xu Jing, Peking University (xujing@pku.edu.cn)

• Jiang Shaohai, National University of Singapore (cnmjs@nus.edu.sg)

• Ou Mengxue, Peking University (mengxueou@pku.edu.cn)

• Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah, Auburn University (fawad.shah@auburn.edu)

Joint Event: 10th Medicine, Humanity and Media (MHM) International Conference

We are also pleased to announce that the 10th Medicine, Humanity and Media (MHM) International Conference will be held at Peking University on 4 July 2027, immediately following the Rethinking Health Communication from the Global South conference. The MHM conference will focus on the theme “Building Health Communication Knowledge Systems and Translating Research into Social Impact,” exploring how health communication scholarship can advance theoretical knowledge, inform real-world practices, and generate meaningful societal impact.

Scholars and practitioners are warmly invited to participate in both conferences and engage in these complementary discussions on the future of health communication.

For further information and updates on the MHM conference, please visit https://mhmjournal.net/mhm.

Please note: The MHM conference has its own call for papers and submission process. Abstracts submitted to this call will be considered only for the 3 July conference, and participants in the 3 July conference who also wish to attend MHM must register separately for MHM.

Further Information

Registration is free for all participants. Details on the conference program, registration process, travel, and accommodation will be shared in due course.

We look forward to welcoming scholars and practitioners to Peking University in July 2027 for a lively exchange of ideas on rethinking health communication from the Global South.