A peer-reviewed journal Mediální studia / Media Studies welcomes proposals for articles for the issue „Power, Publics, and Press: Role of Media in Shaping Political Narratives“.

Please submit your manuscripts via e-mail address iuliiatsyrfa7@gmail.com

The manuscripts should correspond with the Submission guidelines

Please also familiarize yourself with the Review process

The recommended length of the studies is 6,000 – 8,000 words, including footnotes and references, with an abstract of up to 150 words, up to 10 keywords, and brief information about the author (up to 100 words).

Deadline for submission is December 30, 2025.

Publication Date: March 2026

With guest editors Iuliia Tsyrfa and Aina Duishekeeva
Iuliia Tsyrfa holds a PhD in Political Sciences and works as an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of International Regional Studies, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine. Between 2010 and 2013, she served as a junior research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. She is the author of more than 30 scientific and educational works on international relations in Europe and North America, including the textbook „Introduction to University Studies: Country Studies“ (2016, co-authored), „Regional Studies: Textbook“ (2017, co-authored); „Introduction to International Regional Studies: Textbook“ (2018, co-authored); „Regional Studies: Countries of the Baltic-Black Sea Region: Textbook“ (2019, co-authored); „Regional Studies: Countries of the Baltic-Black Sea Area“ (2020, co-authored), etc. Research interests: Foreign Policy Identity Theories, World Humanitarian Politics, European and North American Country Studies.

Aina Duishekeeva works at the Institute of Journalism and Communications at Kyrgyz National University, named after Zhusup Balasagyn, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, where she holds the position of dean. She is also the author of numerous scientific publications, particularly in the field of media and communications. Her research encompasses topics related to the transformation of traditional media in the era of social networks, as well as the role of media in shaping social tolerance within multicultural societies. She is a prominent scholar and educator who actively promotes the development of media education and research in Kyrgyzstan.

The media has always played an important role in shaping how people understand politics. In recent years, this role has become more complex. The intersection of political communication and the evolving mediascape has transformed the way political meanings are produced and disseminated. Political events are now shaped not only by governments and traditional media but also by online platforms, digital communities, and independent voices. This interplay between media environments and political communication forms a constantly shifting landscape where meaning, influence, and authority are negotiated. Despite this shift, research still tends to focus on well-known institutions, overlooking smaller or alternative spaces where political talk and action also occur. At the same time, more people are getting their news from social media, where facts, opinions, and false information often mix together. This makes it harder for the public to know what is true and what to trust.
The problem is not just about where people get their news. It is also about how stories are told, who controls them, and what is left out. In many countries, political narratives are shaped by a small number of powerful voices. These stories influence how people see events, leaders, and public issues. Yet in today’s global mediascape, political communication no longer operates within fixed boundaries – it flows through multiple platforms, cultures, and publics, where messages are constantly reframed and contested. Yet, the same media can also provide space for protest, disagreement, and alternative ideas. There is a growing need to better understand these tensions – between control and resistance, between official news and grassroots voices, between truth and manipulation.

For this thematic issue, we invite authors who explore how political stories are shaped and shared across various media. We strive to bring together studies that explore media in a wide range of settings, with a special focus on less-examined regions, social movements, and public debates. The articles in this issue will demonstrate that the media is not just a tool for disseminating information, but a space where power is created, challenged, and negotiated. Whether covering foreign policy, social protest, or public diplomacy, the media plays a crucial role in shaping how people make sense of politics in their daily lives.
We also invite contributors who are interested in researching the role of media in constructing national identity, responding to social unrest, and disseminating political messages both domestically and internationally. In this issue, we also aim to draw attention to the risks of misinformation, the exploitation of emotional and dramatic content to disseminate false news, and the challenges journalists face in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
The aim of this issue is to explore how the media help build political meaning within today’s complex mediascape. It focuses on how people — including journalists, governments, activists, and ordinary users — engage in political communication to shape public opinion and influence events, highlighting the ways these processes unfold across multiple and interlinked media spaces.

We invite manuscripts on the following topics:

• The influence of social media on political discourse
• The dynamics between mainstream media and alternative media
• The rise of misinformation on digital platforms
• Media’s role in constructing national identities
• The effects of media narratives on foreign policy and international relations
• The ethical implications of emotional content
• Media as a tool for social movements