Dear ECC 2020 conference applicants, dear ECREA members,
We would like to inform you that in consultation with Local Organising Committee, the ECREA Executive Board has made an uneasy decision to postpone the 8th European Communication Conference, which was scheduled for 2-5 October 2020.
The different timelines and strategies of gradual withdrawal of pandemic prevention measures adopted by individual European countries have made it impossible to organise the event according to our standards of academic quality and hospitality.
It might well be the case that the traveling restrictions and social distancing measures will not be in place in October, but the organisation of and participation at the event of such scale is not possible with so many variables beyond our control.
The conference is not cancelled but postponed to 2021. ECREA and Local Organising Committee are looking for viable alternative timing of the conference in 2021 and we will announce the new dates at the latest by the end of October this year.
In planning of the postponed event, we will protect the work already done for creation of the scientific programme of the conference. The review process has been concluded and the acceptance of papers and panels remains in place for the postponed conference. The details of the registration process (e.g. potential updating of abstracts, fee payments etc.) will be announced along with the new conference dates.
When deciding to postpone the conference, we considered various alternative formats, but we opted for a physical conference as a way of renewing the bonds that bring together a scholarly community that are difficult to achieve through various online tools and virtual conferences. Both the Executive Board and Local Organising Committee strongly believe that ECC conferences are more than merely occasions for presentation of research findings. They have always served as community-building events, as opportunities for greater integration into our rich and diverse field for scholars of all ages, groups and research interests. This mission of social nearing is simply unachievable under conditions of social distancing.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Braga in 2021.
Ilija Tomanic Trivundza, ECREA President
Helena Sousa, General Coordinator of Local Organising Committee
