Call for Papers – Special Issue
Algorithmic Images and Informational Urgencies: Challenges and Transformations in Contemporary Photojournalism
Guest Editors
Nieves Limón-Serrano (University of Castilla-La Mancha)
Marta Martín-Núñez (Jaume I University)
Mathias-Felipe-de-Lima-Santos ( (University of New South Wales, Universidade Federal de São Paulo y Universitat Pompeu Fabra)
Presentation and Objectives
Digital technologies have revolutionized photographic imagery and photojournalism. Although the potential to transform representations of reality has been inherent to photography since its invention—and used since its inception—the ease of use, widespread accessibility, and cost reduction brought by these technological developments have significantly reshaped the paradigm of creation, dissemination, and study of our visual culture, particularly from the 21st century onward. In this context, where the shifts brought about by generative artificial intelligence (AI) add to other technical transformations, the challenges facing contemporary photojournalism have intensified and diversified, affecting its aesthetics, ethics, and industrial environment.
This special issue aims to explore the complexities of photographic and documentary imagery (photojournalism, press photography, and documentary practices for informational purposes) in a contemporary setting marked not only by technological change but also by pressing global informational demands. Issues such as climate change, gender inequality, migration movements, and the global rise of the far right—and their corresponding graphic representations—are among the primary concerns that this monograph seeks to address.
Priority Topics
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Transformation of the Image
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Ethical boundaries in photojournalism in response to AI-generated and AI-altered images
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Disinformation processes and deepfakes in contemporary photojournalism and visual journalism
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Visual standards and diversity: new models of representation in photojournalism in the face of algorithmic bias
Transformations in the Representation of Reality Through Images
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Graphic activism and technological developments: new forms of mobilization and ethical challenges
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New visual formats and hybrid narratives for representing contemporary informational reality
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Challenges of migration journalism and the visual portrayal of humanitarian crises in an age of image saturation
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Photographic practices in representing climate change and its impacts
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Graphic coverage of the far-right surge: ethical limits and the informative relevance of images in polarized narratives
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Old and new dilemmas in war reporting and the role of technological developments in the creation and dissemination of images
Structural and Professional Challenges
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Photojournalism and gender in the 21st century: toward effective gender equality in the profession
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The sustainability of the graphic journalism industry: business models, economic return, and the photojournalistic enterprise
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Contemporary visual culture, visuality studies, and press photography: toward a critical understanding of the image
Submission Format
Original articles must be submitted through the journal’s online platform. All manuscripts must adhere to the journal’s submission guidelines:
https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ESMP/about/submissions
Submission Deadline
The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2026.
This special issue is scheduled to be published in October 2026.
Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered under any circumstances.
Peer Review Process
All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process in accordance with the journal’s policies, ensuring the quality and relevance of the contributions.
Contact
Nieves Limón Serrano (University of Castilla-La Mancha): nieves.limon@uclm.es
Marta Martín Núñez (Jaume I University): mnunez@com.uji.es
Mathias Felipe de Lima Santos (University of New South Wales, Universidade Federal de São Paulo y Universitat Pompeu Fabra): m.de_lima_santos@unsw.edu.au
