Concept

JRFM is an Open Access platform dedicated to publishing innovative contributions in the field of media and religion. Conceived as an interdisciplinary and international project, it brings together scholars from different areas and academic traditions in Europe and beyond. From its first issue published in 2015 until today, JRFM offers a publishing venue to authors of innovative scholarly articles. With JRFM’s commitment to the high quality of the published articles as the central criterion, there are no fees either for authors or readers, which is very important particularly for early-career scholars.

Open Access is a response to the new challenges posed to the publication and distribution of the results of research in the humanities. Therefore, the founders of JRFM, experts in theology, the study of religion, film and media studies and fine arts, developed JRFM according to a Golden Open Access policy. The University of Graz in cooperation with the Ludwig Maximilian University Munich and Villanova University provides financial, technical and human resources in order to guarantee high standards of selection, review and production. The Land Steiermark (Austria) generously supports JRFM financially, and the publishing house Schüren in Marburg offers expertise in designing and distributing the journal. The university library of the University Graz hosts the journal.

Today, JRFM is well established and has built a large international network, including the members of the editorial and advisory boards, authors, readers, and reviewers. The journal is listed on the principal databases for scholarly journals and Open Access publications and is well received in the academic community and beyond. However, there are problems that need to be addressed and consolidation strategies that yet have to be developed to ensure its publication in the long term. Since neither readers nor authors are charged, the journal does not have a long-term financial perspective, which is a challenge for almost all Open Access journals in the humanities.

The conference also aims at tackling questions linked to the topics our journal will pursue in the next decade and their connection to Open Access publication: How will the field of film, religion and media develop? What challenges and questions arise from digital media, the interaction among media, and broader processes of mediatisation? How do publications policies impact theories, methodology and subject matters? Which mutual influences might we discover?

The conference, which is held in English and German, is articulated in two main parts. While in the first part we focus on Open access policies and challenges, the second part is dedicated to the discussion of research trends in religion, film and media.