Axe(s) of research
This research team's main focus was defined at the time of its creation by the relevant subtitle - Territorial representation dynamics, which limits the global dimension of symbolic studies (elaboration of representations).
Within the scope of information and communication analysis, space plays a role which is both fundamental (given that it assigns the stakes and references thereof) and structuring (as it assigns its place to each communication partner). The concept of territory is thus a symbolic intermediary of the fact that communication partners belong to the social order that defines the relevant rules and terms. The concept of identity therefore stems from the territory/communication partner relationship.
This team initially used to study traditional media rather than new media, because identity is the object of discourse - not that of data. The team's focus, which has moved to the electronic media, is due to the modifications entailed by Internet in space and research territories, e.g. public space (online newspapers), hence the team's integration into the federation comprising 17 teams at the Institute of Digital Document Sciences.
A more recent research development in organisation communication is due to the development of the team and the research (and teaching) focus of new members, and also to the resort to partners (companies and administrations) with which the team has undertaken research (within the scope of a contract).
Topic 1. Media forms and figures This topic is the very essence of the team, which focuses on the elaboration of media forms and systems (and their relevant reception conditions) from a semiological, sociological or socio-semiological standpoint.
The works carried out within the scope of this topic have enabled the publication of a kind of media grammar book in two volumes in the year 2000 (Information production and Information strategies), a book on Terrorism, the media and democracy, a published colloquium, Temporality, the media and democracy, at least two theses each year, 4 to 5 articles each year and the same amount of communications within the scope of national or international colloquia. The team has conducted the French part of a European study (Leipzig University) on press product broadcasting in Europe. The team is preparing an issue of the review Mots sur la représentation des émotions dans les médias' (A few words on the representation of emotions in the media), which is due to be published in 2004.
Topic 2. Institutional communication and the media: action representations and logic. The media and politics This topic is a continuation of the work previously carried out with public partners (chambers of commerce, region, Météo-France - French Met Office'). It has brought about the elaboration of two books focused on political communication, one or two theses each year, and an average of 3 communications within the scope of high-level colloquia. A volume was published in 2002 on Business communication at work.
This topic, which is developing rapidly, has been divided into two parts since 2003:
- Town, space and territory. Works carried out on the representation of urbanity in communication and the media, analysis and assessment of urban policies and towns as an area of design and broadcasting for forms and strategies of communication, information and representations (in cooperation with the Lyon area, the Ministère de l'Equipement' (Ministry of Equipment), the school of architecture and the Institute of Urbanism.
- Organisation communication. Research is now focused on communication in work situations.
Topic 3. New technologies and information changes After having studied local media online (network research under the aegis of Rennes University), the team has undertaken research on the development of journalistic styles. Moreover, it continues to focus on online media (federation of teams in the Rhône-Alpes region within the ISDN - Institute of digital document sciences).
Other information
Partner institution Central affiliation institute Lumière University (Lyon 2)
Partner institution IEP (Institute for Studies on Politics and International Relations), Lyon