Call for papers: fifth Arcom study day

Arcom, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, is the guarantor of freedom of communication and expression in audiovisual and digital spaces. Responsible for protecting democratic freedoms, creativity, audiences and social cohesion, Arcom also safeguards the sector's economic equilibrium and encourages audiovisual and digital players to reduce their environmental footprint.

The research community conducts research that sheds light on the functioning of the audiovisual and digital industries, and on certain phenomena that can occur within them, such as the manipulation of information or online hatred. Arcom is therefore keen to follow and benefit from the contributions of academic production on subjects related to its areas of expertise.

The 4th Arcom Study Day was held on November 13. During the day, organized around several themes, some twenty researchers from a wide range of disciplines (economics, sociology, law, political science, information and communication science, data science, etc.) presented their work on the challenges facing the audiovisual and digital media industry. The event attracted over 100 spectators on site, and was widely followed from a distance: nearly 3,000 people viewed the event on social networks and the Arcom website. The event provided an opportunity for the research community to gather around common research issues, from a multi-disciplinary perspective, to meet industry players and exchange views with members of the Arcom College and its teams. The program for the day, the list of speakers, and a recording of all presentations are available on the Arcom website.

The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, in partnership with the Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, is inviting contributions for the organization of the 5th Arcom Study Day, to be held in Paris in November 2026.

Researchers, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, basic sciences and engineering sciences, whose research interests lie in the field of audiovisual and digital media, are invited to apply to take part in this new event. French and foreign researchers are welcome to submit papers in French or English.

The issues addressed may relate to the following subjects (non-exhaustive list):

• Democratic challenges: information, content moderation and freedom of expression. Changing patterns of information consumption in audiovisual and digital media; developments in the information and journalistic landscape (content creators, artificial intelligence, etc.); media concentration; cost of producing information; research into information manipulation and virality, the dissemination of false information, disinformation; freedom of expression; measuring the plurality of opinion; editorial independence; opinion-making, electoral processes and the effectiveness of democratic mechanisms.
• Challenges for social cohesion: protecting audiences, representing society in the media and online. Digital platforms, social networks and systemic risks (in particular: protection of minors, hate speech and health issues); algorithmic biases, persistence of stereotypes and discrimination; auditing of platforms' algorithmic systems; representations and support for the ecological transition; consumption and regulation of harmful content; challenges for education in audiovisual and digital media; uses, consumption and protection of young audiences; moderation, regulation and self-regulation of platforms.
• Cultural sovereignty challenges: creation, production and illegal use. News and prospects for legal supply; the economics of streaming, influencer marketing and alternative business models; challenges in financing the production and promotion of European and French content; discoverability and promotion of content, the impact of artificial intelligence; royalties; technical, legal and socio-economic challenges in terms of piracy and the use of infringing content.
• Economic sustainability challenges: digital transformation, regulation and the media economy. Developments in the media landscape and breakdown of value; functioning of advertising and attention markets; socio-economic impact of artificial intelligence tools on the audiovisual industry; environmental challenges of digital uses; studies on the application of the Digital Services Regulation.

We also welcome applications for technological and computational research (e.g. computational social sciences, algorithmic auditing) - covering more technical and methodological considerations (reliable/representative data collection methods, auditability issues, relevant data analysis schemes, etc.) - as well as research based on the exploitation of data made available by the DSR (advertising register, content moderation database, transparency reports from major platforms, etc.).

The work to be presented and discussed at the conference may be recent research articles intended for publication in scientific journals, or research projects at an advanced stage.

The call is open to the entire scientific community. Applications from both experienced and younger researchers (PhD students, post-docs), from France and abroad, are encouraged.

Researchers wishing to participate in this study day and present their work are invited to submit a single document containing :

• the name(s) and contact details of the author(s) (with details of the speaker(s)), including e-mail address(es) ;
• a short biography or presentation of the work of the speaker(s), together with their institution(s) or laboratory(ies);
• anabstract of the paper to be presented, no longer than two pages. The abstract should include a title, the research question, the methodology adopted and the main results of the article. Authors may, if they wish, specify the stage the paper has reached in the academic publication process and, if possible, provide a complete version of the article.

Researchers are encouraged to justify their application by briefly explaining its relevance to Arcom's work and the above-mentioned themes.

Applications should be sent by August 28, 2026, to the following e-mail address: journee-etudes@arcom.fr. Arcom, in collaboration with the members of its scientific committee and ENS Paris-Saclay, will select the contributions for this fourth study day.

The day will be structured around several themed sessions, moderated by Arcom and ENS Paris Saclay. Presentations can be made in French for French-speaking researchers, or in English.

The study day will be attended by all selected speakers, members of the Arcom College and its scientific committee, and industry players. Successful candidates are strongly encouraged to be present throughout the day, in order to contribute fully to the dynamics of the exchanges.

Presentations will also be broadcast online, using Arcom's means, via video-conferencing software and subtitled in French.

• May 18, 2026: opening of applications for the study day
• August 28, 2026 (midnight) : deadline for submissions
• September 2026 : information on selected contributions and opening of registration for the event

• November 2026 : event held

For further information, please contact Arcom's Direction des études, de l'économie et de la prospective at journee-etudes@arcom.fr.