IPPC Conference 2025: about
The annual International Public and Political Communication (IPPC) conference is organised by the School of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Sheffield, and takes place between Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 March 2025.
The theme of this year’s conference is Words of Unity, Acts of Hope.
Despite the widespread optimism heralded by last year’s global election marathon, the first few months of 2025 appear to have been marked by a return to the politics of fear and uncertainty. From the horrors of the wars in Gaza, Sudan and DRC and threats to international humanitarian law, the return of Donald Trump’s brand of nativist politics and the creeping ascent of the global far-right, to the more existential threats posed by climate change and the rolling out of Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives across social, political and economic life. Indeed, commentators believe that we are reaching a dangerous turning point in history and a shift towards a more unequal and chaotic world order.
Yet despite this uncertainty, there are many reasons to remain hopeful about the future. For example, in the days and weeks following the UK far-right riots during the summer of 2024, charities such as Conversations Over Borders and Action Foundation launched campaigns to deliver messages of compassion, solidarity and hope to many of those affected by the violence. Across the Occupied Palestinian territories, moreover, Jewish and Palestinian activists and civil society organisations are working together to raise awareness of the mass human rights abuses being committed by the state of Israel. Indeed, in the face of concerns about climate change and the role of AI, new communications technologies are creating stronger, more resilient networks of scientific collaboration and youth activism for change.
The annual IPPC conference brings together students, activists, politicians and public relations experts to discuss and address these vital challenges. Beginning with a special keynote address by the journalist and historian Taj Ali, the conference includes a series of lectures, workshops and film screenings organised around the themes of unity and hope.
As a key event in the IPPC teaching calendar, the conference is principally organised for those studying on this degree. However, students from across the Faculty of Social Sciences are welcome to attend select talks. Please contact the conference organiser, Jared Ahmad, for more details.
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