Three days of academic dialogue on the future of communication at the international conference “Envisioning the Future of Communication III” in Kastoria

The first day of the international conference Envisioning the Future of Communication III (EFoC 2025) began on the morning of Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Department of Communication and Digital Media of the University of Western Macedonia in Kastoria, in an atmosphere of strong participation and meaningful academic dialogue.

The conference proceedings opened with welcome addresses by the Head of the Department, Professor Domna Michail; the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Extroversion and Holistic Care, Professor Eleni Griva; and the Dean of the School of Social and Human Sciences, Professor Sophia Iliadou-Tachou.

This was followed by the first keynote address of the conference, delivered by Dr Despoina Chronaki, entitled “Black Femininity and the Media: Ideas for a (More) Inclusive Journalism”, which set the theoretical and thematic framework for the day.

Subsequently, the four sessions of the first day took place, focusing on key aspects of the contemporary communication landscape:

• Session 1: Gender dimensions of communication and the media
• Session 2: Political communication in the contemporary era
• Session 3: Public narratives and new identities: Environmental crisis, social justice, and digital generations
• Session 4: Media discourse, technology, and misinformation: Challenges and transformations

The day concluded with a Round Table discussion on “Gender and the Media”, highlighting critical issues related to equality, representation, and journalistic practices.

The first day of the conference was co-organized with the Women’s Counseling Center of the Municipality of Kastoria.

Watch the presentations of the 3rd International Conference Envisioning the Future of Communication in the playlist below.

Photo highlights from Day 1 (December 8, 2025)

The second day of the conference opened with the keynote address by Associate Professor Kostas Karpouzis, entitled “Digital Games as a Medium and an Object of Research.”

This was followed by a series of thematic sessions highlighting critical areas of contemporary communication research and practice:

• Session 5: Interactive and immersive media in learning
• Session 6: Frames and practices in contemporary journalism
• Session 7: Technology, ideology, and the public sphere: historical and contemporary perspectives
• Session 8: Technological innovations (and impacts) in audiovisual media and communication
• Session 9: Interdisciplinary tools for studying media impact – iMedius project
• Session 10: Digital intelligence and applications in education, media, and the environment

Photo highlights from Day 2 (December 9, 2025):

The final day of the conference highlighted contemporary approaches and research directions in the fields of education, journalism, sports communication, and culture, through the following sessions:

• Session 11: Education, communication, and literacy in the digital age
• Session 12: Data journalism and digital media in Greece
• Session 13: Sports communication and technological transformation
• Session 14: Innovation and creative approaches in communication and culture

Photo highlights from Day 3 (December 10, 2025):

as well as in the folder:
https://uowm.pixieset.com/folder/g0K3mZbLxLsF/

With the conclusion of the proceedings, the Envisioning the Future of Communication III (EFoC 3) conference reaffirmed its role as a dynamic forum for academic dialogue on the present and future of communication.