ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

University of Groningen

Excellent research assessments, the launch of three new MA programmes and growing student numbers enable the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University of Groningen to hire an assistant professor. We are looking for candidates with expertise in a range of media

JOB DESCRIPTION

Excellent research assessments, the launch of three new MA programmes and growing student numbers enable the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University of Groningen to hire an assistant professor. We are looking for candidates with expertise in a range of media related fields, preferably (but not limited to):

- digital cultures, including data studies and/or digital literacy

- media, politics and democracy

- cultural industries and innovation

- social media

- audiovisual culture.

Although candidates with expertise in the above fields have a competitive advantage, the position is open to candidates with a wide range of research interests and theoretical and methodological expertise in media studies. Candidates should be able to teach courses in media studies on the BA and MA level, and contribute to our research programme. The position combines teaching (60%) and research (40%).

Successful candidates are expected to teach in our English-taught BA programme ‘Media Studies’ and our international MA programmes ‘Datafication and Digital Literacy’, ‘Social Media and Society’, and ‘Media Creation and Innovation’. Depending on their expertise, they may also teach in our minor programmes Media Studies and Journalism Studies, as well as our Dutch and international MA programmes in Journalism.

The international, English-taught BA programme in Media Studies focuses on the social and informative functions of media. It is rooted in the humanities but also draws upon methods and paradigms developed in the social sciences and other disciplines. The degree aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the affordances of different platforms and the interplay between them; the political and economic underpinnings of media systems; patterns of use, production and content; and the functions and impact of media in culture and society. Throughout the curriculum it provides a comparative perspective by studying media in their cultural, historical, economic, political and international contexts. The programme has an annual enrolment of 120 students from all parts of the world.

The new MA programmes ‘Datafication and Digital Literacy’, ‘Social Media and Society’, and ‘Media Creation and Innovation’ provide students with cutting-edge knowledge of the digital transformations that profoundly change society. The MA programmes in Journalism focus on high quality reporting in a cross-media setting with a strong focus on digital skills and innovation, and combine academic reflection with academic skills. Our BA and MA programmes rank first among all Media Studies programmes in the Netherlands in the national student survey.

Research is conducted within the interdisciplinary Centre for Media and Journalism Studies, which has been rated as “excellent/world-leading” in the last Research Review. Members of the Centre have been successful in recent years in attracting external research funding. If appointed, the candidates are expected to actively contribute to a vibrant research environment. They are provided ample support in applying for bids with national and international funding agencies.

The successful applicant is expected to:

- teach and supervise students in the department’s undergraduate and graduate programmes; international candidates will teach solely in English, they are offered the chance to follow a Dutch language course

- participate actively in curriculum development, design and administration of course modules

- conduct and generate top research in media studies or communication studies

- pursue research grants and other forms of external funding

- participate actively in international research networks and build international collaborations

- participate actively in the activities of the interdisciplinary research Centre for Media and Journalism Studies.

REQUIREMENTS

In addition to a number of basic requirements set by the University of Groningen, such as excellent social and communication skills, presentation skills, coaching skills and a results-oriented attitude, we are looking for candidates who have:

• a PhD in Media Studies, Communication Studies, or related fields
• wide-ranging knowledge in one or more of the media related fields, including, but not limited to: digital cultures, including data studies and/or digital literacy; media, politics and democracy; cultural industries and innovation; social media; audiovisual culture
• teaching experience at university level and proven didactic abilities
• gained their University Teaching Qualification or are prepared to do so within a year
• an excellent research track record, including relevant publications
• an outstanding national and international academic network as well as strong contacts with professionals in the field
• willingness to make substantial contributions to the development of the Department’s research and educational programmes
• organisational experience and skills
• excellent command of English (at least CEFR B2/C1 level for reading, listening, writing and speaking) and expected to have or gain understanding of the Dutch language (CEFR B2 for reading and listening, and CEFR B1 for writing and speaking) within two years.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- a salary, depending on qualifications and work experience, with a minimum of € 3,637 (salary scale 11) to a maximum of € 5,656 (scale 12) gross per month for a full-time position

- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees; favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants

- an appointment on temporary basis for four years.

For more detailed information about working conditions and working for the University of Groningen, please check: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/

Preferred date of entry into employment is 1 August 2020.

DEPARTMENT

Faculty of Arts

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 32.000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: It belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5.000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor's programmes and over 35 Master's specialisations. Our research, which is internationally widely acclaimed, covers Media and Journalism Studies, Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, and Linguistics.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Prof. Marcel Broersma, Professor of Media and Journalism Studies

+31 50 3635955,

m.j.broersma@rug.nl

Drs. Miralda Meulman, Degree programme coordinator (about the formal procedure)

+31 50 3638950,

University of Groningen

Excellent research assessments and growing student numbers enable the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University of Groningen to hire an assistant professor in Journalism Studies.

Candidates should be able to teach courses in our Dutch and international MA pr

JOB DESCRIPTION

Excellent research assessments and growing student numbers enable the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University of Groningen to hire an assistant professor in Journalism Studies.

Candidates should be able to teach courses in our Dutch and international MA programmes in Journalism, our minor programmes in Journalism, and our international BA and MA programmes in Media Studies. Moreover, we expect the successful candidate to contribute actively to our research agenda which we are conducting in the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies. The position combines teaching (60%) and research (40%).

Our BA and MA programmes rank first among all Media Studies programmes in the Netherlands in the national student survey. The MA programmes in Journalism focus on high quality reporting in a cross-media setting with a strong focus on digital skills and innovation, and combine academic reflection with academic skills. The department admits max. 30 Dutch and 30 international MA students on a yearly basis after a rigorous selection procedure. The minor programme in Journalism addresses a range of developments in the field of journalism studies, providing courses to students from a range of disciplines within the university.

Our international, English-taught BA programme in Media Studies focuses on the social and informative functions of media. It provides students with a thorough understanding of the affordances of different platforms and the interplay between them; the political and economic underpinnings of media systems; patterns of use, production and content; and the functions and impact of media in culture and society. The MA programmes ‘Datafication and Digital Literacy’, ‘Social Media and Society’, and ‘Media Creation and Innovation’ provide students with cutting-edge knowledge of the digital transformations that profoundly change society.

Research is conducted within the interdisciplinary Centre for Media and Journalism Studies, which has been rated as “excellent/world-leading” in the 2016 Research Assessment. If appointed, the candidates are expected to actively contribute to a vibrant research environment. They are provided ample support in applying for bids with national and international funding agencies.

The successful applicant is expected to:

- teach and supervise students in the department’s undergraduate and graduate programmes; international candidates will teach solely in English, they are offered the chance to follow a Dutch language course

- participate actively in curriculum development, design and administration of course modules

- conduct and generate top research in media studies or communication studies

- pursue research grants and other forms of external funding

- participate actively in international research networks and build international collaborations

- participate actively in the activities of the interdisciplinary research Centre for Media and Journalism Studies.

REQUIREMENTS

In addition to a number of basic requirements set by the University of Groningen, such as excellent social and communication skills, presentation skills, coaching skills and a results-oriented attitude, we are looking for candidates who have:

• a PhD in Journalism-, Media-, or Communication Studies, or related fields
• wide-ranging knowledge in Journalism Studies, preferably with a focus on the digital transformation of journalism
• teaching experience at university level and proven didactic abilities
• gained their University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) or are prepared to do so within a year
• an excellent research track record, including relevant publications
• an outstanding national and international academic network as well as strong contacts with professionals in the field
• willingness to make substantial contributions to the development of the Department’s research and educational programmes
• organisational experience and skills
• excellent command of English (at least CEFR B2/C1 level for reading, listening, writing and speaking) and expected to have or gain understanding of the Dutch language (CEFR B2 for reading and listening, and CEFR B1 for writing and speaking) within two years.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- a salary, depending on qualifications and work experience, with a minimum of € 3,637 (salary scale 11) to a maximum of € 5,656 (scale 12) gross per month for a full-time position

- 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees; favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants

- an appointment initially on a temporary basis for 4 years with the possibility of becoming a permanent position; this will be determined based on an appraisal, which will be made after 3 years, as well as the needs of the programme.

For more detailed information about working conditions and working for the University of Groningen, please check: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/

Preferred date of entry into employment is 1 August 2020.

DEPARTMENT

Faculty of Arts

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 32.000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study- and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: It belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5.000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor's programmes and over 35 Master's specialisations. Our research, which is internationally widely acclaimed, covers Media and Journalism Studies, Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, and Linguistics.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Prof. Marcel Broersma, Professor of Media and Journalism Studies

+31 50 3635955,

m.j.broersma@rug.nl

Drs. Miralda Meulman, Degree programme coordinator (about the formal procedure)

+31 50 3638950,

MeCCSA 2021

Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK

January 6-8, 2021

Submission deadline: July 17, 2020

Keynote Speakers:

• Professor Greg Philo, University of Glasgow
• Dr Anandi Ramamurthy, Sheffield Hallam University
• Professor Karen Ross, Newcastle University
• Dr Miklos Sukosd, University of Copenhagen

The Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association is pleased to invite the submission of abstracts, panel proposals and practice-based contributions for the MeCCSA 2021 Conference, to be held 6-8 January 2021 at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. The theme of the conference is Silenced Voices.

The theme encourages engagement with a wide range of topics, which we hope will attract researchers interested in minority, excluded, alternative or powerless communities, and their ability to influence public discourses. It offers the opportunity for a wide variety of perspectives: from the historical to the contemporary; from group-centric to macro societal changes; from enablement to suppression; from psychological to technological; from the speakers unable to reach their audience, to audiences unable to find their voice.

The silencing of voices goes hand in hand with powerlessness and oppression. In a world grappling with the implications of fake news, cancel culture, the suppression of journalism, post-truth politics, debates about freedom of speech, and the mainstreaming of lies, we hope that this timely theme will inspire presenters to engage in analyses of the ways in which media and cultures work with and against those with silenced voices.

We invite proposals for scholarly papers, themed panels, posters, film screenings and other practice-based contributions. Proposals might engage with the various social, political, economic, artistic, individual, collective, institutional, representational and technological dimensions of media interactions and environments.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• * Censorship
• * Non-mainstream voices
• * Activism
• * Samizdat / Underground press
• * Voices from below
• * Whistle-blowing
• * Post-truth politics
• * Counter-culture
• * Cultural pluralism
• * Empowerment
• * Corporate power and the media
• * Minority languages
• * Translation and mediation
• * Freedom of speech
• * Pedagogies and educational practice promoting inclusivity and embracing diversity.

We welcome contributions across the full range of interests represented by MeCCSA and its networks, including, but not limited to:

• Race, ethnicity and postcolonial studies
• Representation, identity, ideology
• Film and television studies and practice
• Radio studies and practice
• Cultural and media policy
• Social movements and activism
• Climate change, sustainability and environment
• Digital culture and games studies
• Gender and sexuality studies
• Disability studies within media studies
• Media pedagogy
• BAME experiences of media and culture industries
• Children, young people and media
• Diasporic and ethnic minority media
• Political communication
• Methodological approaches
• Media practice research and teaching
• Community media

Submitting a proposal

Individual abstracts should be up to 250 words. Panel proposals should include a short description and rationale (200 words) together with abstracts for each of the 3-4 papers (150-200 words each including details of the contributor), and the name and contact details of the panel proposer. The panel proposer should coordinate the submissions for that panel as a single proposal. For both panels and individual papers please include up to five key words.

Practice-based work

We actively support the presentation of practice-as-research and have a flexible approach to practice papers and presentations. This may include opportunities to present papers and screenings in the same sessions or as part of a separate screening strand. We also welcome shorter papers in association with short screenings. We also have dedicated

presentation spaces to display practice artefacts including screenings,

posters and computer-based work. For displaying practice work, please

include specific technical data (e.g. duration, format) and a URL

pointing to any support material when submitting your abstract. We

expect delegates who are showing screenings to be present at the conference.

Please note that all proposals (abstracts and practice-based work) will

be peer reviewed. PGRs are welcome to submit.

The RGU organising committee are aiming to publish an edited collection of papers focusing on the conference theme with a reputable academic publisher. Further details of how to submit will be announced closer to the conference.

Timeline of submissions and reviews

Submission deadline: 17 July 2020

Review decision: September 2020

Submit proposals to: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=meccsa2021

Website: https://www.rgu.ac.uk/events/events-2021/2615-media-communication-and-cultural-studies-association-meccsa-conference

Twitter: @MeCCSA2021

ECC Braga pre-conference

October 2 2020

Braga, Portugal

Deadline: May 17, 2020

Concept

Interest in visual forms of communication is rising, but researchers seldom get insight on how to go about one’s research. During the pre-conference ‘Visual Work in Progress’ we will explicitly focus on ways of working with visual materials, thinking together about the pros and cons of various methodological alternatives.

Visual cultures as an emerging field of research and also recently approved ECREA section are important sites of ongoing social transformations and spaces for negotiation of trust, power and intimacy: What is made visible how to whom with what effect? Who are the actors involved, which media, formats, genres, technologies, aesthetics, platforms are relevant? Visual media became crucial elements of interpersonal communication and are omnipresent in social media, but also remain important in classic contexts like journalism and advertising.

Working with visual data in media and communication research is a challenging endeavor: ontological, epistemological, ethical and practical questions accompany the research process. The abundance of visual material in social media and the intertwining sites of production and reception does not make it easier.

The pre-conference will focus on our “visual work in progress”, mainly the conceptualization of and methodological approach to visual data in ongoing research projects. We encourage participants to share some part of their research visual material, so that we can discuss together our ‘visual work in progress’.

The pre-conference will take place on October 2nd, and end right in time for the opening ceremony of the ECREA conference.

Workshop Mode

The workshop will be organised as ‘data sprint’. Data Sprints are inspired by hackathons organised by the open source community, and are workshops in which participants from diverse backgrounds meet physically and collaborate intensively on a pre-determined subject and dataset.

Potential participants can propose their topics and their data to the workshop organizers, and we will select about 4 to 6 projects, depending on how many submissions and participants we get. We will work with your concrete sets of visual data and/or text drafts in small groups in a workshop setting.

Of course it is possible to participate without your own data (registration will open in May).

Submission process

Please briefly describe (max 3000 characters)

• your project/topic/research question
• the visual data that you wish to discuss (you are welcome to include examples),
• where and how you obtained it (ethics/ consent?)
• your methods or methodological approach,
• questions and challenges you are currently dealing with and you would like to discuss at the preconference

Please submit your contribution to: visualwork_braga@sbg.ac.at until 17 May 2020

Timeline

• Submission until 17 May
• Registration open in May
• Program live June

Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University

Scholarship code: PS2020_033

About the Project 

The Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) is a research institute within Western Sydney University, that champions collaborative engaged research in the humanities and social sciences as the largest dedicated research concentration of its kind in Australia. We are now offering a research scholarship to highly motivated Indigenous PhD candidates to work in an innovative project looking at the social and technological imaginaries of outer space, in Australia and internationally.

The project is funded through the Australian Research Council and investigates the challenges, opportunities and implications of outer space as a site of economic, political, environmental and cultural interest. Combining ethnography, science and technology studies, and creative practice, the project analyses how a range of imaginaries of outer space are produced through a series of case studies including: the development of Australia’s National Space Agency; the role of new venture capital firms; scientific research on alien life in terrestrial analogue sites; and Indigenous imaginaries of outer space.

The project will be based at ICS with the opportunity to work with a number of experienced supervisors in both the Institute and the School of Humanities and Communication Arts.

What does the Scholarship provide?

Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $50,000(AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.

Up to $7,000(AUD) support for training, conference attendance, fieldwork and additional research costs as approved by the Institute. International applicants are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

How to Apply

For details on how to apply, and for more information including the eligibility criteria, please visit: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/grs/scholarships/current_scholarships/current_scholarships/ics_australia_a_space-faring_nation_imaginaries_and_practices_of_space_futures_yarramundi?fbclid=IwAR0wMWzrMrmbNR-Bjic6BGHpe6szbCldm7Ht_Ovo6uxF3ESVz3iuCn9buKU

Please contact the Graduate Research School via email atgrs.scholarships@westernsydney.edu.au for more information.

Applications close 31 May 2020, at 11:59pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

Deadline: May 8, 2020

The editors of an upcoming, interdisciplinary collection onthe future of journalism, Ville Manninen, Mari K. Niemiand Anthony Ridge-Newman, seek abstracts for chapter contributions.

Since the advent ofthe internet, the rapid development of emerging technologies has posed significant challenges and opportunities for journalism. Many of the implications, driven by a digital revolution, have been complex, latent and unforeseen. Rigorously researched and well-argued predictions can contribute to the planning and development of journalistic practice and output.

Arguably, the most crucial locus of change is the journalism-audience relationship. Or as more contemporary parlance would have it: the relationship between journalism and the “people formerly known as the audience” (Rosen 2006). The past few decades have already brought about seismic shifts of power in this relationship. Further technological advancements are likely to continue impacting on an increasingly fluid status quo.

We invite scholars from diversedisciplinary backgroundstoauthor chapters forming empirical, theoretical, critical, practice-reflections and policy-based contributions to an edited collection that aims to predict future trends in journalism. The focus isto offer a range of disciplinary perspectives that analyze technological interfaces that connect the practice of journalism to publics (audiences/user engagement/content producers).The underlying question the edited collection seeks to answer is:

How will journalism-audience-relationships be reconfigured in new technological environments?

Potential topics might include (but are not limited to):

• Social and cultural impactsof new journalism technologies
• Role of VR, iDocs, immersive documentary and AI in changing journalism
• Future of big data, social media and journalism
• Market implications of journalism and new user-interfaces
• Immersive technologies and journalistic user experience
• Enhanced audience/prosumer agency
• New, technology-enabled monetization models
• Role of camera drones and satellite data in future journalism
• Audience trust in introducing novel journalistic technologies
• Future of journalism and the digital economy
• Role of new technology in reporting national and international crises
• Future of handheld devices and interactive and converging tech in journalism

We especially encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration,including scholars offering perspectives across journalism,media,policy, business, information technology, computer science and future studies. The editors are willing to help facilitate cross-fertilization forauthors seeking suitable cowriters.

Chapter proposals, in the form of short abstracts (maximum 400 words), should be sent to ville.manninen@uwasa.fi by May 8th 2020. The abstracts should clearly outline the content of the chapter, including methodology and data where applicable. The submission should also include a brief introduction tothe author(s) (excluded from word limit).

Acceptance will be communicated to prospective authors by the end of May.

Full chapters, approximately 4000 words each,are due by January 2021. The anticipated publication date of the book is early 2022.

The book will be edited by Dr Ville Manninen,Dr Mari K. Niemi, both of University of Vaasa, and Dr Anthony Ridge-Newmanof Liverpool Hope University.It is part of a Helsingin Sanomat Foundation funded project, Disrupting the media scene, jointly conducted by University of Vaasa and Åbo Akademi’s Experience Lab.

Twitter: @Media_Futures

Editors:

Dr Ville Manninenis a researcher at University of Vaasa’s InnoLab. His previous work has focused on the journalism-audience relationship in online journalism. Currently he is working on two research projects, one on disruptive technologies in journalism, and one on the use of drones and satellite imagery in Finnish newspapers. Villehas also worked as a journalist in seven Finnish newspapers.

Dr (Docent) Mari K. Niemi is the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship InnoLab, which is an open, multidisciplinary research platform part of the University of Vaasa. Both the platform and Maripersonally are engaged with numerous research projects on novel technologies (e.g. blockchains and satellites) and their business applications. Mari’s earlier work also encompasses studies on political communication, media and populism.

Dr Anthony Ridge-Newmanis a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication at Liverpool Hope University. His interdisciplinary interests include new media and emerging technologies, and their impact on organizations, society and culture. He has published three books, including 'Cameron's Conservatives and the Internet' (2014)and ‘Reporting the Road to Brexit’ (2018). In 2019, he gave invited talks at Oxford, Melbourne and Australian National universities. Anthony has industry experience as a former journalist and news editor.

Abstract submission deadline: April 15, 2020

Full chapters due: October 15, 2020

Editors: Ehab Galal, Mostafa Shehata and Claus Valling Pedersen

The pace of immigration from the Middle East has accelerated over the past decade, and for many reasons. The most notable of these is the political instability triggered by the failure of the 2011 Arab uprisings. The region has also seen significant political transformations in addition to these pivotal uprisings, such as the 2009 Iranian Green revolution, the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, and the continuing Kurdish and Palestinian struggles for independence.

2019 presents the rebirth of Arab uprisings in some other countries (Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq), and the acceleration of political and economic oppression in others. There are many Iranian towns which are experiencing new waves of demonstrations, and, in Turkey, new laws have been passed to stabilise the regime after the coup d'état attempt. The possibility of yet another rise in immigration to Western countries and elsewhere has therefore increased, adding to the importance of diasporic communities. Based on this premise, we invite researchers to examine the role and influence of Middle Eastern diasporic communities on the political developments in their countries of heritage and of residence.

These diasporic communities, in light of post-uprising authoritarianism, have acted as opposition groups which seek to support a democratic transition in their countries of heritage. The role of digital media has consequently been with their countries of heritage and of residence. The political role of digital media in the Middle Eastern diaspora, however, has become increasingly ambivalent. Contesting the authoritarian rule of Middle East countries, on the one hand, and the rise of fake news, misinformation, and digital authoritarianism on the other, has had an impact on the oppositional role of digital media.

The impending new decade presents the need for an empirical-based theorisation of how political communication works in diaspora, and its influence on transnational mobilisation has become more urgent. The importance of this work increases in light of four significant considerations:

(i) The change of digital media’s political role within the last few years, compared to its intense role in the early 2010s.

(ii) The rise of new voices calling for democracy in the Middle East in the so-called second wave of the Arab uprisings.

(iii) The lack of holistic works that theorise political communication in diaspora, and its transnational influence. The diaspora has mainly been investigated from an inter-cultural communication perspective, focusing on globalisation, hybridity, integration, belonging, and so on. An embodied political communication perspective has, however, been disregarded. This perspective would be unique if followed, to handle the diaspora’s transnational political participation, contentious politics, political campaigns, voting behaviour, and so on.

(iv) The transformations of global immigration policies that have led to a conflict between pro-and-anti-immigration positions.

We invite authors to suggest chapters for two kinds of contributions:

• Theoretical chapters addressing one or more of the following concepts: Mediatisation, Diaspora, Multimodality, Contentious Action Formation, and how each of these concepts relates to political communication among (Middle East) diasporas.
• Empirically-based chapters that examine one or more Middle East diasporas, and how these diasporas use traditional and (or) digital media to politically mobilise and transnationally connect.

Research questions

This book asks fundamental and critical questions about media (both traditional and new) and politics in the diaspora, such as:

• What is diasporic political communication?
• How political communication comes closer with intercultural communication and organisational communication in the diaspora?
• What is the role of media technology in diaspora’s contentious politics?
• How do media politically disconnect or re-connect users to their countries of heritage?
• How do media shape a diasporic political identity?
• How do misinformation and digital authoritarianism affect the political role of diaspora?
• How might digital media change the collective identity of diasporic communities?
• How do media facilitate connection with their countries of heritage and of residence?
• How do diasporic media activities empower or disempower democratic actors residing in the Middle East?
• How do media facilitate the diaspora’s participation in the politics of the country of residence?
• How do diasporic communities contribute to their countries of heritage during a crisis?
• Why are diasporic communities interested in matters of their countries of heritage, regardless of whether they have or have not lived in or visited those countries (second and subsequent generations)?

Topics

Contributions include but are not limited to the following topics:

• Conceptualising diasporic political communication.
• Political communication in relation to inter-cultural and organisational communication in diaspora.
• Media and diasporic empowerment.
• Media and diasporic contentious actions.
• Media and diasporic political identity.
• Media and integration into the country of residence, and sense of belonging to their country of heritage.
• Transnational digital authoritarianism.

Format

This edited book will be a combination of invited contributions and chapters from this open call.

The book will be published, subject to peer reviews with no author fees.

TIMETABLE

• 15 April 2020: Deadline for abstracts (approx. 500 words).
• 1 May 2020: Editors’ response to abstracts.
• 15 October 2020: Deadline for full chapters (8,000 words).
• 15 December 2020: Authors receive reviews.
• 15 January 2021: Deadline for revised chapters.
• Summer 2021: Publication of edited book.

MORE INFORMATION & CONTACT DETAILS

Please send your abstract of approx. 500 words to this email: mediasp@hum.ku.dk

by 15 April 2020.

Book editors

1. Dr. Ehab Galal

Ehab is an Associate Professor at the department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Copenhagen University. He has approached research questions from a cross-disciplinary perspective inspired by media as well as ethnographic, cultural, and religious studies. He has been leading a research team working on a project (Mediatised Diaspora) since 2018. This research investigates transnational media and contentious politics among the Arab diaspora in Europe. For more information about Ehab, please follow this link: https://ccrs.ku.dk/staff/?pure=en/persons/164164

2. Dr. Mostafa Shehata

Mostafa is an Associate Researcher with the University of Copenhagen, and an Assistant Professor at Menoufia University. He holds both a Master’s and Ph.D. degree in mass communication. His research addresses a broad spectrum of issues in political communication and diaspora, such as contentious politics, collective action and mediatisation. His current research within the project of Mediatised Diaspora focuses on the transnational media and contentious politics among Tunisians in Europe. For more information about Mostafa, please follow this link: https://ccrs.ku.dk/staff/?pure=en/persons/644713

3. Dr. Claus Valling Pedersen

Claus is an Associate Professor in Persian Studies at the department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Copenhagen University. He specialises in Persian language and literature. Claus is currently conducting research on literature written by the Iranian diaspora in Europe and the U.S. The literature is written in both Persian and the language of the country of residence. For more information about Claus, please follow this link: https://ccrs.ku.dk/staff/?pure=en/persons/165592

University of Nottingham in Ningbo China

Apply here: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BZS993/assistant-professor-lecturer-in-mobile-studies

Location: Ningbo - China

Salary: £36,914 to £49,553 per annum depending on skills and experience (salary progression beyond these scales is subject to performance)

Closing Date: Sunday, 10 May 2020

Reference: 181028

Opportunities at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo China

Join a unique British University in China. The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was the first Sino-foreign University to open its doors in China. This award-winning campus offering a UK style education has grown to establish a student body of over 8,000 in just 15 years.

A pioneer in Sino-foreign tertiary education, UNNC is rapidly expanding as part of the University of Nottingham’s Global University. The institution seeks ambitious, talented academics with a flair for research and a passion for teaching to join its team of experts, offering unique teaching and research opportunities in a highly dynamic economy.

The School of International Communications is the largest school in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and is affiliated to the Department of Culture, Media and Visual Studies at the Nottingham UK campus. Our BA (Hons) in International Communications is a provincial level accredited degree which includes a dedicated programme of study for a European or East Asian language. Its sister programme, BA (Hons) in International Communications with Chinese, has proved successful in attracting high quality international students to the school. We currently run an MA programme in International Communications and also have one of the most successful PhD programmes in the university.

The post-holder will be expected to teach across the full range of our programmes, undertake supervision of BA and MA dissertation students and PGR students, and conduct research and external engagement in the school’s main research areas. More details of the school and its teaching and research activities can be found here:

https://www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/internationalcommunications/about-the-school.aspx

Candidates will need to have a PhD in a discipline relevant to the post and a demonstrable ability to teach in the area of mobile studies and media and communication studies. Some experience of teaching/tutorial work in relevant subjects at undergraduate or postgraduate level in an international English-speaking institution, as well as evidence of peer-reviewed research outputs in media and communication studies and/or cultural studies are also essential requirements of this post.

Salary will be within the range of £36,914 - £ 49,553 per annum depending on skills and experience (salary progression beyond these scales is subject to performance). In addition, an attractive package including accommodation allowance, travel allowance and insurance will be provided for international appointments.

The post is expected to be in the post from 1 September 2020 and will initially be offered on a fixed-term contract with the University of Nottingham Ningbo China for a period of up to five years. This contract may be extended on an indefinite basis by mutual agreement, subject to revised terms and conditions.

All applicants are required to formally apply online for the position.

Informal enquires may be addressed to Dr Filippo Gilardi, Head of School of International Communications, email: filippo.gilardi@nottingham.edu.cn. Please note that applications sent directly to this address will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted on-line.

Interviews will take place in Ningbo, China and will be held likely in June, but they are subject to change.

Please be advised that your referees will be contacted prior to interview.

For more details and/or to apply on-line please access: https://hrms.nottingham.edu.cn/psc/PRDHCM/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=181028&PostingSeq=1

If you are unable to apply on-line please contact the Human Resources Department, Tel: +86 (0)574 8818 0000 (Ext. 8854). Email: Job@nottingham.edu.cn.

Please quote ref: 181028 Closing date: 10 May 2020

To learn more about working and living in China, please visit: www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/country-profiles/china

University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Apply here: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BZS998/assistant-associate-professor-in-digital-humanities

Location: Ningbo - China

Salary: £36,914 to £62,727 per annum depending on skills and experience (salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance)

Closing Date: Sunday, 10 May 2020

Reference: 181025

Contract Status: This post is available from 1 September 2020 or thereafter, and will be initially offered on a fixed-term contract with the University of Nottingham Ningbo China for a period of up to five years. This contract may be extended on an indefinite basis by mutual agreement.

Hours of Work: Full-time

Salary: Salary will be within the range of £36,914 - £62,727 per annum depending on skills and experience (salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance). In addition, an attractive package including accommodation allowance, travel allowance and insurance will be provided for international appointments.

Responsible to: The Head of the School of International Communications

Job Outline:

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the dynamic and growing School of International Communications (IC) at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, the largest and fastest growing school in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. With a high research-output and close partnerships with local industry, IC represents a significant career development opportunity for an ambitious academic seeking to develop their career globally. After recruiting a number of high-level academics over the past 2 years and with the significant growth of both UG and PG programmes, IC seeks to add to this pool and so develop the international reputation of the school.

The successful candidate will conduct research and teaching broadly in the area of Digital Humanities on our BA and MA International Communications programmes. Developing this area as a core part of the IC degree is part of an overarching strategy over the 2019-2022 period. This may also involve developing and conducting research as part of the newly established Digital Heritage Centre or the AHRC Centre for Digital Copyright and IP Research in China. In addition, the candidate will be required to teach on the module ‘Web and Social Media’ which consists of a series of workshops in which students will learn basic coding skills. Candidates should therefore have a specialism in Digital Humanities, knowledge and experience in digital technologies and must be able to conduct technical research as well as teach basic programming. They will be involved in teaching, research, grantsmanship, School administration, and will work in a cooperative and collegial manner with fellow staff at all levels of seniority.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Research

• To undertake research in Digital Humanities
• To publish research in peer-reviewed publications
• To seek internal and external research funding
• To produce research suitable for dissemination to conferences, workshops and seminars (both national and international)
• To forge collaborative research links within and outside the University
• To work collaboratively within research teams and centres
• To contribute fully to the University’s research activities

Teaching

• To prepare and deliver lectures, seminars, tutorials and dissertation supervision at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in modules in the discipline of Digital Humanities.
• To support and comply with the University’s teaching quality assurance standards and procedures.
• To participate in the assessments for initial and higher degrees and diplomas of the University and to act as invigilator in such examinations as required.
• To supervise PhD students.

Administration

• To participate in the administration of the School of International Communications. This may include membership of relevant committees and working groups
• To liaise, as appropriate, with academic and administrative colleagues in Nottingham, UK
• To act as a personal tutor for both undergraduate and postgraduate students
• To take part in and contribute to staff development activities consistent with continuing professional development
• To ensure compliance with health and safety requirements in all aspects of work
• Any other duties appropriate to the post and the seniority of the person appointed

This job description may be subject to revision following discussion with the person appointed and forms part of the contract of employment.

Person Specification:

Qualifications/ Education

Essential: A PhD in an area relevant to the post;

Desirable

• Membership of relevant professional bodies;
• Working towards a Postgraduate qualification in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education or equivalent;
• Facility with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods in media and communication studies;

Skills/Training

Essential

• Ability to teach and conduct technical research in Digital Humanities;
• Research skills;
• Experience of coding skills necessary in Digital Humanities research and development;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.
• Demonstrated ability to attract internal and external funding;
• The ability to develop and run new academic programmes;

Desirable

• Ability to teach one of the following other specific disciplines: game studies; digital media; creative industries; subjects core to web and social media
• Basic knowledge in data analytics and audience research
• Evidence of completion of Digital Humanities/Digital Heritage projects
• Team-working skills;

Experience

Essential

• Some experience of teaching/tutorial work in relevant subjects at undergraduate or postgraduate level in an international English speaking institution;
• Research interests and activities in line with, and complementing, the department’s research activities;
• Evidence of peer-reviewed research outputs in Digital Humanities;

Desirable

• Leadership of academic programmes and research;
• Evidence of successfully working with internal and/or external partners, and the GLAM sector;
• Experience of PhD supervision/completion;
• Knowledge of or practical experience in media production
• Contacts in Chinese media industries or with academics who specialize in research on Chinese media and communications;
• Evidence of success in a key leadership role within a university

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Personal enthusiasm to develop links between academic and professional/industry bodies;
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment;
• Ability to work to deadlines and to prioritise tasks.

Desirable

• Evidence of working collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams;
• An understanding of the higher education context in the UK and China.

An attractive package, including accommodation allowance, flights and insurance, will be provided to all successfully appointed candidates.

All posts will be based in Ningbo and contracts will be with the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr. Filippo GILARDI, head of School of International Comunications email: Filippo.Gilardi@nottingham.edu.cn.Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.

To learn more about working and living in China, please visit: www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/country-profiles/china

Special Issue in Studies in Communication and Media (Issue 4/2020)

Ddeadline: May 31, 2020

Peter Gentzel, Sigrid Kannengießer, Cornelia Wallner & Jeffrey Wimmer

The social function, legitimacy and consequently the meaning of social science research is undoubtedly closely tied to the ability to criticize. In the present early 21st century, this critical dimension of social science research is confronted not only with the familiar but also with new challenges that need to be addressed.

Social science critique, in the sense of evaluating phenomena and processes, always requires the reflection and classification of ideas and values contained in the social phenomena and processes to be analysed. In order to achieve this, critique itself needs concepts, theories, socially accepted norms and ideals, which underlie analysis and guide interpretation. Necessary conditions for social science criticism have long ceased to be self-evident, due to a multitude of competing offers of knowledge and interpretation. In particular, databased strategies of optimisation oriented towards the ideal of economic efficiency – for the individual self, the entrepreneurial organisation or the efficient society – seem to be widely accepted socio-culturally and shape, e.g., public discourses as well as the objectives of organisational or institutionalisation processes. Additionally, the pluralisation of interpretation frames, and the knowledge of evaluation and orientation also goes hand in hand with their devaluation, e.g., in the form of the shortening of their half-life as part of social acceleration processes (e.g., Rosa, 2005).

For critical research not only are plurality and devaluation problematic, but these processes also disavow the (supposedly) historically stable norms and transcultural standards that form its foundation. Consequently, in the face of digitalisation, datafication and metrification, big data, algorithmic data processing and AI, scientists or journalists are seduced to proclaim the “end of theory” (e.g., M. Graham, C. Anderson) and critique (Latour, 2004) or less fatalistically, to propose a fundamental revision of understanding and the meaning of critique (e.g., Boltanski, 2011).

The social loss of significance of social science criticism can also be interpreted in another respect: as a consequence of processes of digitalisation and datafication. These contribute significantly to the transformation of the basic structures and rules of discourses and public communication. Critical scientists must therefore find new ways in postfactual times to make themselves heard in a fragmented and segmented public sphere; in a digital media world consisting of indignation, echo chambers and filter bubbles. Critique does not necessarily fall silent, but the “speechlessness of critique” in the sense of a lack of a critical social narrative leads to the fact that it is hardly heard (Voswinkel & Wagner, 2011).

Above all, communication science, which sees itself as an integrative (Kunczik & Zipfel, 2005, p. 20) and a cross-sectional science (Krotz, Hepp, & Winter, 2009, p. 5), is called upon to engage in the communicative negotiation process, both in the social sciences and in society, about the potentials and capabilities of social scientific criticism. As a discipline that deals with the “social conditions, consequences and meanings of media, public and interpersonal communication” (DGPuK, 2008), it is therefore necessary to reflect on, and further develop, one's own theoretical and analytical tools in the mutual relationship to the transformation of the disciplinary material objects communication, the public sphere and media outlined at the beginning.

Against this background, submissions are invited for the SCM 2020 Special Issue, which deal, in particular but not only, with the following topics and questions.

Topics & questions

1. Communication and media theories

Theories provide the frame of reference for scientific criticism because they deliver a normative framework; a certain perspective from which the phenomena studied are viewed. Critical reflection begins where it is questioned why which theories are used and not others, what normative perspectives a theory contains, and what this means for the results and their interpretation. The critical reflection of the explanatory power of existing theories is also necessary, especially in order to test their suitability for contemporary phenomena. In this context, the following questions, for example, are relevant:

• What (implicit) normative reference points does contemporary research in communication science contain?
• How can the approach of Cultural Studies be applied to datafication processes?
• What does historical materialism say about the data economy of the present?
• How can the alienation thesis of the Critical School be extended to communicative practices of a mediatized culture and society?
• What critical potential can be tapped with actor network theories?

2. Empirical methods and analysis data

Evidence-based research statements as a central justification argument for social relevance also means that the applied methods and underlying data sources must be subjected to critical reflection – from a methodological, a research economical or a research ethical perspective, and on a meta-level. In this context, the following questions, for example, are relevant:

• What potential does quantitative communications research have in fundamentally data-based, economic media environments? How can this compare to the potential of large Internet corporations and market research (?) companies (direct access to large amounts of data, enormous research and development departments)?
• How is the development of buying large amounts of digital data from Internet companies for social science research to be assessed?
• Are automated Big Data analyses (and their visualization forms) self-evident or is their significance negotiated in discourses? How transparent are these discourses and who conducts them?
• Which phenomena are researched with which methods and what is not empirically researched for which reasons? What does this say about current communication science?

3. Critical media practices and media criticism

Media criticism in the sense of evaluating media content, appropriation and production is a traditional research interest of communication and media studies: content analyses criticise media content and look at criticism as media content itself. Media appropriation studies criticise people's media dealings or look at critical, “alternative” media dealings; the production of media technologies is critically questioned, or the alternative production of media technologies investigated. At present, critical research focuses, in particular, on digitalisation phenomena such as self-measurement, Smart City, Big Data and datafication. In addition, diachronic and synchronous analyses of media-critical practices are addressed which explore current instances of critical counter-publicity and question the self-understanding of partial public spheres. In this context, the following questions, for example, are relevant:

• Which public discourses shape media criticism and criticism of the social role of media?
• Which critical media practices can we currently perceive? Who are the actors and against whom or what is the criticism directed?
• What are the media-critical findings on the symbolic, discursive and social role of ubiquitous global media infrastructures owned by global media corporations?
• What role does media criticism play in modern media society and what is the relationship between media criticism and social criticism?
• What are the consequences of the findings of critical research, in particular for media policy, journalism or media education?

4. Understanding of science

At present, several and different efforts can be observed to assign communication science research an active role in society. Be it in the form of collaborative co-creation of media content or technologies, or in the form of a readjustment of self-understanding.

The metrification of scientific expertise on digital platforms such as ResearchGate, Academia or Mendeley is also important for the understanding, form and significance of disciplinary research. On the one hand, this can be interpreted as a gain in transparency and an increase in the quality and comparability of scientific research. On the other hand, it also involves standardisation and classification processes, which may have negative effects on pluralism, diversity and the overall success of scientific research. In this context following questions, for example, are relevant:

• What does society criticize about communication science, and what does communication science criticize – with what yield – about itself?
• Should communication science, in the sense of an open and/or transformative science, play an active role in shaping processes of change? Or should it analyse its objects at a distance?
• Is the increasing metrification of scientific expertise (citation index, research scores etc.) an effect of data-based, economic optimisation processes in science or does it contribute to quality assurance, transparency, equality and comparability? What influence does this have on scientific creativity and quality?

Manuscript submissions

We welcome submissions that fit any of the SCM formats “Extended Paper” (50–60 pages), “Full Paper” (15–20 pages), and “Research-in-brief” (5–10 pages). Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the SCM guidelines:

• https://www.scm.nomos.de/fileadmin/scm/doc/Autorenhinweise_und_Checkliste.pdf (German)
• https://www.scm.nomos.de/fileadmin/scm/doc/Autorenhinweise_Checkliste_english_pdf (English)

Manuscripts should be submitted to jeffrey.wimmer@phil.uni-augsburg.de. Deadline for submissions will be May 31st, 2020 (Corona extension). The special issue will be published in December 2020 (SCM issue 4/2020).

References

Boltanski, L. (2011). On critique: A sociology of emancipation. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.

DGPuK (2008). Kommunikation und Medien in der Gesellschaft: Leistungen und Perspektiven der Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft [Communication and media in society: Services and perspectives in communication and media studies]. Lugano, CH: DGPuK. Retrieved from https://www.dgpuk.de/de/selbstverst%C3%A4ndnis-der-dgpuk.html

Krotz, F., Hepp, A., & Winter, C. (2008). Einleitung: Theorien der Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft [Introduction: Theories in communication and media studies]. In Winter, C., Hepp, A., & Krotz, F. (Eds.), Theorien der Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft. Grundlegende Diskussionen, Forschungsfelder und Theorienentwicklung (pp. 9–25). Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer VS.

Kunczik, M., & Zipfel, A. (2005): Publizistik. Ein Studienhandbuch [Publizistik. A study manual]. Köln, Germany: Böhlau.

Latour, B. (2004). Why has critique run out of steam? From matters of fact to matters of concern. Critical Inquiry, 30, 225–248.

Rosa, H. (2005). Acceleration. The change of time structures in modernism. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Suhrkamp.

Voswinkel, S., & Wagner, G. (2011). The symbolic power of individualization and the struggle for critique. Austrian Journal of Sociology, 36, 71–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11614-011-0004-4