Past MediAsia Conferences

The Asian Conference on Media, Communication & Film (MediAsia) is one of IAFOR's longest established and best attended events, bringing together delegates from many different national, cultural and linguistic backgrounds to Japan, to present new research and exchange ideas. This exceptional platform welcomes speakers and delegates for challenging debate and stimulating discussions around the latest concepts and newest approaches. IAFOR's conferences are encouraging and nurturing environments where ideas can be shared and tested, where research synergies and collaborations can be formed, and where some of the biggest names in the field have the opportunity to interact with up-and-coming faculty members.

IAFOR’s media, communication and film conferences and events are held in partnership with some of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions, including the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (USA) and Sussex University (UK), as well as some of the most important academics and practitioners working in media and film.

IAFOR actively supports media, culture and the arts, namely by organising internationally recognised awards for both documentary photography and photojournalism (IAFOR Documentary Photography Award) and documentary filmmaking (IAFOR Documentary Film Award), which are supported by leading institutions and organisations, including World Press Photo, MediaStorm, Metro Imaging, Think Tank Photo, University of the Arts London, RMIT and Medill, as well as its prestigious IAFOR Vladimir Devidé Haiku Award.

Our conferences have included featured addresses by academics, top administrators, Emmy-award winning producers and filmmakers, award-winning actors, investigative journalists, media liaisons for government and the armed forces, and leading practitioners in media, marketing, public relations, and other fields. All of our conferences include original film screenings, frequent premieres, and the chance to exchange ideas and network with both established and up-and-coming scholars in a welcoming environment.


MediAsia2022

October 17–20, 2022

Held in Kyoto, Japan, and Online


MediAsia2021

November 9–11, 2021

Held online from Kyoto, Japan


MediAsia2020

November 12–14, 2020

Held online from Kyoto, Japan


MediAsia2019

Conference Theme: "Reclaiming the Future"

October 25-27, 2019 | Toshi Center Hotel, Tokyo, Japan


MediAsia2018

Conference Theme: "Fearful Futures"

October 9-11, 2018 | Toshi Center, Tokyo, Japan


MediAsia2017

Conference Theme: "History, Story, Narrative"

October 27-29, 2017 | Hyōgo Prefectural Museum of Art & Art Center Kobe, Kobe, Japan


MediAsia2016

Conference Theme: “Justice”

October 27–29, 2016 | Art Center Kobe, Kobe, Japan


MediAsia2015

Conference Theme: “Power & Human Rights, Justice, Media and Culture”

November 12–15, 2015 | Art Center of Kobe, Kobe, Japan


MediAsia2014

Conference Theme: “Individual, Community & Society: Conflict, Resolution & Synergy”

November 13–17, 2014 | Osaka International Conference Center, Osaka, Japan


MediAsia2013

Conference Themes: “Social Media and Responsibility; Globalization and Internationalization; Connectedness, Identity and Alienation”

November 8–10, 2013 | The Ramada Osaka, Osaka, Japan

Conference Report

The Fourth Annual Asian Conference on Media & Mass Communication (MediAsia2013) and the Second Asian Conference on Film and Documentary (FilmAsia2013) was held November 8-10 at the Ramada Hotel in Osaka. This joint conference hosted 150 international delegates from over 30 countries. The intimate size of MediAsia/FilmAsia allowed delegates the opportunity to develop close collaborative links, renew or make professional connections, as well as partake in a genuine opportunity of intellectual discovery.

The MediAsia 2013 themes continued the thematic explorations that we began last year: Social Media and Responsibility; Globalization and Internationalization; Connectedness, Identity and Alienation. With the focus on the social nature of media, communication ethics, and media during a time of globalization, these themes emphasized conceptual areas that are becoming more important for media makers and media educators in the decade ahead. The FilmAsia2013 Conference focused the same broad themes as the MediAsia Conference, however with their dialogue centered on the film and documentary form, delegates and presenters considered the themes through the perspective of producers, film-makers, critics, film educators, and fans.

IAFOR was very pleased to have Professors Gary E. Swanson and Bradley J. Hamm as the joint conference keynote speakers. Professor Swanson is the Mildred S. Hansen Endowed Chair in Journalism at the University of Northern Colorado, USA and is an internationally recognized and highly acclaimed documentary producer, director, editor, photojournalist, consultant and educator. Professor Swanson’s Keynote speech titled “Cheating and the Breakdown of Fundamental Values Within Education and Society,” examined the modern demise of integrity amongst tertiary students in 21st Century Universities and how we as academics and educators are confronted and challenged by the dilemma of how to teach our next generation of media specialists the essential values of ethics including honesty, citizenship and hard work in a world perpetrated by dishonesty and deceit.

The second conference Keynote address was made by Professor Bradley Hamm. Professor Hamm who is currently Dean of the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications, at Northwestern University, USA. Professor Hamm has taught in Japan, China and Great Britain and started his career as a newspaper reporter. His teaching and research interests are in journalism history and media theory, particularly agenda setting theory. Professor Hamm gave a very well received keynote address titled “The Power of Journalism in a Post-Mass Media Age” which postulated that though we can expect in an era of greater choice in media types for the publics attention, the size of audiences for specific mass media such as printed newspapers and traditional free to air TV will decline and that each era of new media leads to innovation and success that we have not imagined.

The joint conference featured speaker for 2013 was Professor Jerry Platt, the Vice-Chair of the International Academic Forum’s Advisory Board. Professor Platt is Professor Emeritus at San Francisco State University, and is currently teaching at Akita International University in Japan. Professor Platt spoke on the evolution of international public opinion regarding Japan, from the Post-war period of the early 1950’s through to the current Post-Fukushima environment in 2013, examining both media texts and public opinion polling over that time.

IAFOR would like to thank our joint conference co-chairs Professor Gary E. Swanson (University of Northern Colorado) and Professor Tamara Swenson (Osaka Jogakuin University), as well as our other programme advisers.


MediAsia2012

Conference Theme: “Power & Responsibility in an Era of Change’”

November 2–4, 2012 | The Ramada Osaka, Osaka, Japan


MediAsia2011

Conference Theme: "New Horizons"

November 4–6, 2011 | The Ramada Osaka, Osaka, Japan

Conference Report

MediAsia 2011 was an intimate event and one in which attendees were able to learn from each other in more than 40 presentations from delegates from around the world. While the national backgrounds were varied, many of the recurring themes, such as power and responsibility were shared and the perspectives from those of different backgrounds shaped debates over a variety of subjects, such as the extent, proliferation and use of social media.

Conference Chair Gary Swanson, a multi-award winning US network producer and presenter looked at just this question in a keynote entitled: “Social Media: It’s Impact on Journalism, Communication and Society in The 21st Century”. Swanson then turned over the floor to MediAsia 2011 keynote, Pulitzer Prize Nominee Professor Richard J. Roth Jnr., Dean of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (Qatar) who continued the theme, looking at the subject of mobile technology and its impact on the spread of journalism in the Middle East.

MediAsia 2011 saw more than 40 presentations in a variety of disciplines related to media and mass communication, and we look forward to 2012 with confidence.


MediAsia2010

Conference Theme: "Brave New World"

October 28–30, 2010 | The Ramada Osaka, Osaka, Japan

Conference Report

The Asian Conference on Media & Mass Communication was held on the weekend of October 28–30, 2010 and was a great success. More than 100 participants from 25 countries around the world congregated in Osaka for the inaugural conference on Media.

IAFOR aims to make internationalization in the university world a reality by encouraging academics throughout the world to forge partnerships across boundaries of subject discipline, creed, and nationality. We were greatly encouraged to see the well-attended sessions challenge and inspire serious and challenging debate in a climate of mutual respect. We have every reason to hope that the conference will grow in the future, and are optimistic that the goals of IAFOR to facilitate and inspire closer links between peoples are being met.

We would like to thank the keynote speaker and each and every participant for making MediAsia2010 a success. We would also like to thank our global academic affiliates for their role in the conference, as well as our sponsors and exhibitors, and last, but not least, the small team of volunteers who staffed the event.