By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief
The International Institute of Communications(IIC) has announced the return of its Future Leaders’ Competition for 2022, even as the constitution of the judging panel has been made public. A communication from the office of the IIC Director-General, Lynn Robinson, sighted by Cyber Era NG, confirms.
Now in its fifth year, the IIC Future Leaders’ competition provides international exposure to ambitious young professionals (aged 35 and under) and the opportunity for them to demonstrate their knowledge and skill as they build their careers. With so much talent in the communications sector the organisers hope to encourage submissions from across the digital ecosystem.
This year the IIC is asking young professionals to produce an essay on the following topic:
“Across the Metaverse: Policy Priorities”
Oxford Reference defines ‘the metaverse’ as a virtual representation of reality implemented by means of virtual reality software.
This world of augmented reality and virtual reality brings technologies that could offer new ways of communicating and interacting. But as with digital platforms and artificial intelligence, the emerging ‘metaverse’ challenges policy-makers and regulators to encourage innovation in products and services, while watching for content and conduct that might be harmful to users or other businesses.
Will there indeed be a whole new ‘metaverse’ or just an adaptation of current business and social practices? Are the policy issues limited to the use of digital assets and biometric data, or is there more to consider?
In this essay, the IIC wants entrants to create a picture of how they see the world evolving and to consider whether steps should be taken now to help shape its future, or whether the sector should be left to develop without direct policy intervention.
The judging panel is made up of the following:
- Chair, Co-Director, Centre for Media Transition, University of Technology, Sydney; President, IIC Australia Chapter, Derek Wilding.
- Vice Chair, Principal, Millwood Hargrave Ltd, Andrea Millwood Hargrave.
- Co-Founder and Chief Legal Officer, Fazz Financial, Group and Xfers, Samson Leo.
Sajda Ouachtouki.
- Senior Manager, Engagement, Global Public Policy, The Walt Disney Company, Sajda Ouachtouki.
- Canada Research Chair in Communication Policy and Governance; Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies and Multimedia, McMaster University, Sara Bannerman.
- Director Government & Industry, Relations, Ericsson, Maria Ramstedt.
Final deadline for entries is June 20 2022 by 1600 GMT.
Winner shall be announced August 1, 2022
Now, What are the rules?
Eligibility
- Other than the ones enumerated above, entries must be the original work of the author and previously unpublished.
- Collaboration with colleagues is permitted, however, there must be one lead author.
Submission requirements
Allowing an essay word length of 2500 – 3000 words (to include an abstract of no more than 150 words), footnotes and figures are not included in the word limit
- IIC does not stipulate any special format for footnotes and referencing but you must acknowledge your sources and we ask that you be consistent in your style
- Please submit your essay directly to e.garbett@iicom.org
- Only 1 submission per person may be made (if collaborating with colleagues – the lead author will need to submit the entry)
- Entries must be submitted in English
- Entries will be evaluated on criteria including original thought and analysis – all submissions will be reviewed anonymously
The judges may determine not to award some or all the prizes and the judges’ determinations will be final
Awards
The overall winner will receive:
- An invitation to present their winning entry to the IIC’s Annual Conference (3-4 November 2022), subject to current travel advice, with all expenses paid and £250 subsistence
- Their winning entry to be published in InterMedia (the IIC’s quarterly journal). online and on our social media channels
- One year’s complimentary membership to the IIC Future Leaders’ Network – which includes access to the IIC’s networks and resources
The top ten entries will receive:
- Their abstract to be published in InterMedia
- Their entry to be published online
- One year’s complimentary membership to the IIC Future Leaders’ Network – which includes access to the IIC’s networks and resources
