Call for Papers
International Workshop
Quotation Practices in News Media across time, formats and cultures
6-7 November 2025, Innsbruck
Quotations, understood broadly as any linguistic or multimodal way of reproducing content generated in a previous communication situation, are a key element of news reports (Schröder 2003: 116). It could be argued that news reports revolve entirely around quotations: “Searching for quote-worthy statements orients news production from the very beginning and, similarly, quotes-to-be are the starting points for the actual writing around which the journalist-narrator’s own running text is then drafted” (Haapanen 2020: 378). The selection of sources, the choice of statements and individuals to be quoted, and the various functions of quotation are shaped by multiple factors—both linguistic and extra-linguistic- These include the material aspects of media production, audience expectations and the affordances of different media platforms, shaping the diverse formal manifestations of quotation. Additionally, the multimodal design of quotations—such as typography, layout, and the integration of audio clips, images or video—affects how quotations are framed, interpreted, and received across different media formats. This applies to both legacy news media—such as newspapers, TV and radio–and to digital environments that include online news platforms, social media outlets, and emerging news formats such as podcasts and short-form video.
This workshop aims to bring together researchers from (historical) linguistics and media linguistics, communication research and related fields to examine quotation practices in news media from a diachronic and cross-cultural perspective and investigate how the selection, presentation and linguistic or multimodal realization of quotations vary across historical periods, cultural and linguistic contexts, and media platforms. We particularly welcome contributions that fall into one or more of the following thematic areas:
1. Conceptual and Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Quotation in News Media
Theoretical perspectives on quotation in news media
Cross-linguistic and cross-cultural comparisons of quotation practices
The role of quotations in shaping news narratives
Variations in quotation norms across different news media systems and cultural contexts
2. Historical and Diachronic Perspectives on Quotation Practices
Changes in quotation norms over time
Emergence of new forms of quotation over time
The role of historical media transformations in shaping quoting practices
The impact of political, social, and technological transformations on quotation strategies
3. Multimodal and Digital Quotation Practices
The impact of social media on journalistic quotation practices
Shifts in journalistic norms from print to digital news
Affordances and media-specific constraints in the use of quotations
Quotation formats in digital news media (e.g., embedded social media quotes, hyperlinks, screenshots, video/audio clip)
4. Strategic Functions of Quotation
Quotations as a communicative device in news reporting
The role of expert quotes in journalistic authority construction
Translation, adaptation, and contextualization of quotes in international news reporting
Ethical and manipulative uses of quotation in news media
Submission Guidelines
We invite scholars from media studies, linguistics, communication, and related fields to submit an abstract (max. 300 words). Submissions should be sent to lucia.assenzi@uibk.ac.at and daniel.pfurtscheller@uibk.ac.at by 30 June 2025. Accepted participants will be notified by 30 August 2025.
Abstract Requirements
Length: Maximum 300 words (excluding references).
Language: The workshop will be held in English. Abstracts must be submitted in English.
Format: Please submit your abstract as a PDF or Word document (.docx).
Suggested Structure:
The research question and relevance to the workshop theme
The theoretical or methodological framework
Key findings (if applicable)
A brief list of references (optional)
Workshop Format, Schedule & Practical Information
Presentation Formats: Accepted papers will be presented as 20-minute talks, followed by 10 minutes of discussion. A limited number of poster presentations may also be considered. If you prefer to present a poster, please indicate this in your submission.
Schedule Overview: The workshop will begin with an optional warm-up dinner on the evening of 5 November. Sessions will take place on 6 November from 09:00 to 17:30 and on 7 November from 09:00 to 12:00.
Participation & Fees: There is no conference fee. However, please note that we are unable to provide financial support for travel or accommodation expenses.
Publication Opportunities: We plan to invite selected papers for publication in an edited volume or a special journal issue. Further details will be provided after the workshop.
We look forward to your submissions and to an engaging discussion on quotation practices in news media!
Contact
Lucia Assenzi & Daniel Pfurtscheller
Email:lucia.assenzi[at]uibk.ac.at, daniel.pfurtscheller[at]uibk.ac.at
Institute of German Studies
University of Innsbruck, Austria