The Department of Journalism, in collaboration with the Department of Visual Arts, hosted the 2024 SACOMM Conference from 10–12 September. Nearly 160 colleagues from across the country, along with several international delegates, gathered to share the latest insights from their research in media, communications, journalism, and cultural studies.
The conference theme, The Politics of the Present, invited participants to explore how their research connects to the pressing political, economic, cultural, and communicative challenges facing society today. Three plenary sessions were organized, each addressing different facets of these “politics of the present.”
In the first plenary, Stella Viljoen convened a panel of leading critical thinkers from Stellenbosch University to explore local complexities surrounding belonging and transformation in Stellenbosch. The second plenary, chaired by Prof Simphiwe Rens (UNISA), highlighted the theme of West African cultural platforms and featured two Nollywood Studies experts, Ikechukwu Obiaya and Alessandro Jedlowski, who shared the latest research on this influential creative industry. The conference concluded with a plenary session hosted by Herman Wasserman, featuring Raed M. Sharif, a Palestinian communications and technology researcher. Sharif’s talk focused on the links between online gender-based violence and the media’s role in perpetuating the dehumanization of Palestinians during the ongoing genocide.
In addition to these key sessions, the conference showcased 36 panels of research from scholars at all career levels. It also celebrated SACOMM’s 50th anniversary with a special screening of the iconic anti-apartheid film Last Grave at Dimbaza, marking its 50th year since release, curated by Alette Schoon.
The conference was an enriching experience for all participants, made possible by the hard work of dedicated student volunteers who ensured the smooth running of the event.
