[Air-L] New Media & Society Special Issue

[Scott Campbell]

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*Special Issue:*

*The Future of Mobile Communication Research*

*A Tribute to Rich Ling*

Call for papers for a special issue of *New Media & Society*, Volume 24,
2022.



*Guest editors *(ordered alphabetically by last name)

Scott W. Campbell, Constance F. and Arnold C. Pohs Professor of
Telecommunications, Department of Communication and Media, University of
Michigan

Adriana de Souza e Silva, Professor, Department of Communication, North
Carolina State University

Leopoldina Fortunati, Professor, Department of Mathematics, Computer
Science, and Physics, University of Udine

Gerard Goggin, Professor, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and
Information, Nanyang Technological University



*Overview*

In recent decades mobile communication has become central to how people
navigate and experience everyday social life. As mobile phones diffused
globally in the 1990s, scholars began investigating changes in how people
relate to distant and proximal others, as well as the physical
surroundings. Among the first was Rich Ling, a sociologist with one foot in
industry and the other in academia. Throughout his career as a researcher
with Norway’s Telenor Group and a faculty member at universities around the
world, Rich Ling has contributed to the foundation of the emerging field of
Mobile Media and Communication.

In light of Ling’s approaching retirement as an endowed professor at
Nanyang Technological University, this special issue pays tribute to his
scholarly contributions as we look to the future of mobile communication
research. It is no stretch to suggest that Rich Ling is one of the most
prolific and influential scholars of mobile communication. He wrote the
first single-authored book on the social consequences of mobile
communication, *The Mobile Connection* (2004, Morgan Kaufmann), which
remains one of the most heavily cited volumes on the subject. His second
book, *New Tech, New Ties* (2008, MIT Press) reveals how ritualistic use of
mobile media facilitates cohesion in the intimate sphere of friends and
family. He extended this analysis in his subsequent book, *Taken for
Grantedness *(2012, MIT Press), which offers a broader theoretical
framework explaining how mobile communication has become embedded in social
structure. Along with these and other books, Ling has also published
hundreds of journal articles, book chapters, and industry/policy reports on
the uses and consequences of mobile media and communication.

In addition to his own scholarship, Rich Ling’s influence in the field is
evident through his leadership, serving as editor of many volumes, editor
of *Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication*, and founding co-editor of
the journal *Mobile Media and Communication*. Ling is also recognized for
being a generous mentor, providing opportunities for new generations of
scholars to become active in the field. As such, Rich Ling’s contributions
not only shape the past, but also strongly influence the future of mobile
communication scholarship.

This special issue seeks papers that envision the future of mobile
communication scholarship in the light of Ling’s contributions to research
and theory. While articles should primarily raise and address questions
about future scholarship in the field, they should also be, at least to
some extent, grounded in some aspect of Ling’s work. Submissions can focus
on different types of topics and approaches. Articles may centrally address
future directions in research questions pursued, theory, methods, or other
aspects of mobile communication scholarship. We are also open to different
types of manuscripts, ranging from theoretical essays, empirical
investigations, critical/cultural analysis, and other forms of scholarship.



*Submission *

Proposals of no more than 1,000 words should include a brief abstract and a
clear explanation of the main argument and how the full submission would
contribute to the aims of this special issue. Please email your proposal to
Future.of.Mobile.NMS at gmail.com no later than *December 30, 2020*. Authors
can expect feedback on their proposal by *February 1, 2021*, and invited
paper submissions will be due *May 1, 2021*. Invited submissions will
undergo peer review following the usual procedures of *New Media & Society*.
Approximately 10-12 papers will be sent out for full review. Therefore, the
invitation to submit a full article does not guarantee acceptance into the
special issue. Full articles will need to follow the *New Media &
**Society* submission
guidelines. The special issue is scheduled for publication in *Volume 24 of
2022*.



*References *

Ling, R. (2004). *The mobile connection: The cell phone’s impact on
society. *San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufman Publishers.

Ling, R. (2008). *New tech, new ties: How mobile communication is reshaping
social cohesion.* Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Ling, R. (2012). *Taken for grantedness: The embedding of mobile
communication into society. *Cambridge, MA; MIT Press.