The Department of Communication and Digital Media, the Lab for Social and Migration Studies and the Digital Media and Strategic Communication Lab of the University of Western Macedonia organized, for the third year, the scientific conference titled “Envisioning the Future of Communication III: Challenges · Trends · Opportunities”.
The aim of the Conference is to serve as a meeting point for academics, researchers and professionals in the field of communication, fostering discussion of contemporary developments, challenges, trends and opportunities, as well as exploring the directions shaping the present and future of communication in an ever-evolving digital and social environment.
Three days of scientific dialogue on the future of communication were offered at the international conference “Envisioning the Future of Communication III” (EFoC 2025), which began on 8 December and successfully concluded on 10 December 2025, in Kastoria. The Department of Communication and Digital Media of the University of Western Macedonia hosted more than 100 speakers from Greece and abroad and over 70 scientific presentations.
In a context of rapid technological and social changeς, from the rise of Artificial Intelligence and new models of journalism to modern digital communication practices, the Conference focused on highlighting key trends, challenges and applications that shape the present and future of communication.
The first day of the EFoC 2025 international conference began on the morning of Monday, 8 December 2025, at the Department of Communication and Digital Media of the University of Western Macedonia in Kastoria, in an atmosphere of active 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, Global Engagement and Student Affairs, Professor Eleni Griva and the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor Sofia 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 Counselling Centre of the Municipality of Kastoria.
Watch the presentations of the 3rd International Conference Envisioning the Future of Communication in the playlist below.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLo_9qqKaeI5oDCszmekykA
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
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
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.
More photos: https://uowm.pixieset.com/folder/g0K3mZbLxLsF/
University of Western Macedonia
