This book features selected papers from the International Conference on Communication and Applied Technologies (ICOMTA 2026), held at Federal University of Paraíba, Joâo Pessoa, Brazil, during 8–10 September 2026. It covers recent advances in the field of digital communication and processes, digital social media, software, big data, data mining, and intelligent systems.

Daniel Barredo Ibáñez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism I at the University of Seville (Spain). He holds a PhD in Journalism from the University of Málaga, a master’s degree in communication, and bachelor’s degrees in Hispanic Philology and in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Granada. In 2021, he co-founded and currently serves as President of the International Organizing Committee of the International Conference on Communication and Applied Technologies (ICOMTA). He is currently Principal Investigator 1 of the project “Spanish Universities in the Media (MECU-ESP): Methodological Strategies and a Web Tool for the Study and Classification of News Dissemination”, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science (PID2023-153339NAI00).

Kellyanne Carvalho Alves, Vice-Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Journalism (PPJ) and Professor in the Department of Communication (Decom) at the Center for Communication, Tourism and Arts (CCTA), Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Brazil. She is a researcher at the Digital Applications Laboratory (LAVID) within UFPB’s Center for Informatics, and the leader of the Research Group PLIM – Media Industries’ Policies and Languages (CNPq/UFPB). She holds a PhD in Communication from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), with a doctoral internship at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona, Spain). She also holds a master’s degree in digital television: Information and Knowledge from São Paulo State University (UNESP, 2010), and bachelor’s degrees in Broadcasting (2007) and Journalism (2009) from UFPB. Member of Rede Telejor (Network of Television Journalism Researchers) and of the Intercom Research Group on Television and Televisualities. Her research focuses on television studies, digital TV 3.0 applications, active sources in audiovisual journalism, AI-driven audiovisual production, and interactive and collaborative content creation.

Paulo Carlos López López is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the University of Santiago de Compostela and researcher in the Political Research Team. His research interests are political communication, technology, emotions and political behaviour. He has more than 150 published papers (of which 53 are in Scopus), presented more than 50 papers in National and International Congresses, participated in more than 35 Scientific Committees and was a reviewer for more than 20 scientific journals, most of them indexed in Scopus or Web of Science. He is academic secretary of the international network XESCOM (ED341R 2016/2019). Associate editor or member of the Editorial Board of several journals in Ibero-America. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Valencia and a PhD in Communication from the University of Santiago de Compostela, with a thesis on communication and electoral processes. He holds a Diploma in Advanced Studies. He holds a degree in Journalism in the field of electronic journalism (2003-2007) and a degree in Political Science and Administration in the field of International Relations (2007-2011) from the same University. He holds a Continuing Education Course in Political Information (2009). Work experience in electoral campaigns, organisational communication, press office and parliamentary management.

Úrsula Freundt Thurne, Doctorate in Business Administration and Management. Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona Spain/UPC. (2016)- MS in Higher Education – Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile (2012). Dean of the Faculty of Communications (6 Majors); Former Head of the Communication and Journalism Department; Director UPCTV Chanel; Former Director of the University Editorial Fund; Member of the Latin American Council of Accreditation of Education in Journalism and Communication (CLAEP), Program run by the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA).