CFP: Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations

Call for Papers: ‘Truth, Democracy, and Misinformation’ Special Issue of Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations (Emerald)

This special issue of Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations (Emerald) will follow on from the 2026 AAPAA Symposium, to be hold online on November 17 (Australian Eastern Daylight Time).

 Submission of abstracts for the Symposium have now closed but registration for attendance remains open at: https://aapae.org.au/events/truth-democracy-and-misinformation-online-workshop

Papers are very welcome from all of those who submitted abstracts for the Symposium, as well as other authors interested in this topic.

  Topic of the Special Issue:

In an era shaped by accelerating technological change, social fragmentation, political polarisation and growing distrust in institutions, questions surrounding truth, misinformation and democratic legitimacy have become some of the defining ethical challenges of our time. From artificial intelligence and algorithmic influence to climate communication, public health, energy transitions, media ecosystems and governance, misinformation (unknowingly shared untruths) and disinformation (deliberate lies) increasingly shape how societies understand reality, negotiate difference and make collective decisions.

What are the ethical dimensions of misinformation and its implications for democracy, public trust, governance, and social cohesion across diverse sectors and industries?

The workshop seeks to explore not only the harms associated with misinformation, disinformation and epistemic manipulation, but also the broader ethical questions surrounding truth, knowledge, communication, responsibility and democratic participation in increasingly complex and contested social environments. A public panel discussing misinformation and ethics will precede the workshop.

Focus of the Special Issue and Suggested Topics

Possible themes include but are not limited to:

•  AI, algorithms, and social media, including questions regarding digital ethics, censorship and platform responsibility
• Democracy, governance and institutional trust, including questions of political polarisation, democratic resilience, education, civic responsibility and legitimacy
• Misinformation and conspiracy in critical domains, including climate, public health, science and energy 
• The contested roles and responsibilities of gatekeepers, guardians, experts and knowledge brokers, including journalists, professionals and scholars
• Ethics of persuasion, influence, epistemic justice and public discourse 
• Indigenous knowledges, storytelling and truth-telling

Paper and submission details:

We invite submissions of papers of between 5,000 – 8,000 words.  

Papers should be submitted to [email protected] by .

Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations (REIO) encourages a cross disciplinary approach and aims to draw on a wide range of fields. We encourage authors to submit rigorous research studies (essayistic or empirical) from a wide variety of academic perspectives including (but not limited to) business management, philosophy, sociology, psychology, religion, accounting, and marketing. 

We also welcome submissions from not only academics but also practitioners, policymakers, industry leaders, activists, educators, artists and community organisations to critically examine these questions.

Deadlines and Submission Process

Full papers should be submitted to [email protected] by February 28, 2027. All papers will undergo REIO’s double blind review process.

Contact

Jacqueline Boaks: [email protected]