Call for papers for issue 16 of Virtualis, Technological Appropriations and Media Practices Surrounding the Search for Disappeared Persons.

Important Dates:
• Deadline for Submissions: June 30, 2025
• Final Publication Date: September 30, 2025

Thematic Editors:
Dr. Darwin Franco Migues (University of Guadalajara)
Dr. Fernanda Ramírez Santos (University of Guadalajara)

Issue Focus: This issue addresses the critical topic of using digital tools and media in the efforts to locate missing persons. We aim to explore and analyze the communicational, media, and journalistic practices surrounding this issue in Mexico and Latin America.

Topics of interest include:

• Use of social digital networks by search collectives.
• Employment of digital media for the search for missing persons.
• Application of analog and digital technologies in these efforts.
• The role of artificial intelligence in generating content, analysis, or statistics related to missing persons.
• Coverage by digital media of the search for missing individuals.
• Journalistic narratives concerning the disappearance of persons.
• Analysis of digital content related to disappearances.

In addition to the thematic articles, Virtualis welcomes original research articles on digital culture and topics related to communication, sociology, journalism, political science, art, creative industries, education, accessibility, anthropology, and digital humanities. Contributions for this Miscellaneous section are accepted year-round and will be published alongside one of the issues of the year.

Virtualis publishes articles in both Spanish and English.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to enrich this special issue of the journal.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us:
📧 Jacob Bañuelos jcapis@tec.mx
📧 Rubria Rocha rubria.rocha@tec.mx