ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

May 19, 2020

Brisbane (Australia)

We are issuing a call for expressions of interests in attending a small workshop on 19th May 2020 in Brisbane Australia.

This small, invitation only workshop will bring together leading scholars, PhD students and early career researchers conducting research on digital campaigning and elections. We invite expressions of interest in presenting a research papers exploring questions such as: what forms of digital campaigning are occurring? How are elections being changed by digital technology? How should societies react to the rise of digital technology in democratic politics?

This workshop is being organised ahead of the ICA conference on the Gold Coast, hence scholars attending that conference may be particularly interested in attending.

If you want to be considered as a potential participant, then please email a paper abstract and title to k.dommett@sheffield.ac.uk along with a short explanation of your interests in this area.

Simone Knox, Kai Schwind

This book offers a long overdue, extensive study of one of the most beloved television shows: Friends. Why has this sitcom become the seminal success that it is? And how does it continue to engage viewers around the world a quarter century after its first broadcast? Featuring original interviews with key creative personnel (including co-creator Marta Kauffman and executive producer Kevin S. Bright), the book provides answers by identifying a strategy of intimacy that informs Friends’ use of humour, performance, style and set design.

The authors provide fascinating analyses of some of the most well-remembered scenes—the one where Ross can’t get his leather pants back on, and Ross and Rachel’s break-up, to name just a couple—and reflect on how and why A-list guest performances sometimes fell short of the standards set by the ensemble cast. Also considered are the iconic look of Monica’s apartment as well as the programme’s much discussed politics of representation and the critical backlash it has received in recent years. An exploration of Joey, the infamous spin-off, and several attempts to adapt Friends’ successful formula across the globe, round out the discussion, with insights into mistranslated jokes and much more.

For students, scholars, creative industry practitioners and fans alike, this is a compelling read that lets us glimpse behind the scenes of what has become a cultural phenomenon and semi-permanent fixture in many of our homes.

University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Deadline: November 15, 2019

The School of International Communications at theUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) invites applications for our inaugural Visiting Scholars programme. This position includes visa, transportation, accommodation, and a research stipend, and will be held for 2-3 months during the Spring/Summer term (between February 17th and July 15th, 2020, at the applicant’s discretion). The aim of this award is to foster research collaboration with members of staff in the School. During the residency, the scholar will undertake their research and collaborate with one or more members of IC staff on a research project (proposed by the Visiting Scholar) that will result in a publication or a grant application. They will also deliver one lecture for our School’s UG and PG students and will give one presentation to the wider University on their research as part of our Invited Speakers programme. There are no further teaching or administrative responsibilities.

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 8,000 in just 15 years. 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 campus. More information about the School of International Communications and its members can be found here: https://www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/internationalcommunications/index.aspx

Scholars should be well-established in their field, with expertise relevant to IC, which includes media and communication studies, cultural studies, film and television studies, game studies, etc. (see: https://www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/internationalcommunications/know-our-people/know-our-people.aspx). The award is competitive, and will be based on the proposed research proposal and the applicant’s CV.

To apply, please include the following in an email addressed to Corey Schultz at corey.schultz@nottingham.edu.cn:

• Covering letter (please include the proposed length of residency (maximum 3 months) and suggested dates).
• Research proposal detailing your proposed research project(s), output, and the member(s) of staff that you would be interested in collaborating with. [maximum of 500 words]
• CV
• Email addresses of two referees

The call closes on Friday, November 15th at noon (Beijing Standard Time). The Visiting Scholar committee will meet the following week, and decisions will be made by Friday, November 29th.

For further questions about the programme, please contact Corey. For questions about the research undertaken by members of staff, please consult the staff webpages or contact members directly.

University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Deadline: November 31, 2019

The Department of Language and Communication Studies at University of Jyväskylä, Finland, invites applications for a tenure-track Associate Professor in Communication starting August 1st 2020 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Associate Professor is expected to have strong research merits and methodological competence in the research area of organizational communication and social interaction, as well as insight of developing research and teaching, especially from the perspective of changing work life and new technologies. Solid experience in organizational communication, communication and well-being as well as communication in teams and networks is regarded as a merit. Strong international research profile is emphasized and success in acquiring external research funding will also be considered an asset.

The position is filled as a fixed-term associate professorship of five years (tenure track), see the tenure track model for professorship. When an employee has been selected for a fixed-term associate professorship, an evaluation procedure is used regarding the employee’s merits for a professorship filled through an invitation procedure. The evaluation procedure shall begin before the end of the fixed-term contract. The evaluation procedure follows the same practices used in the expert evaluation procedure for filling a professorship.

The annual salary range will be approximately 52.200 – 64.200 EUR (gross income, including holiday bonus), depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

A trial period of six months will be used when the position is first filled.

For more information, please contact Professor Anu Sivunen, e-mail: anu.e.sivunen@jyu.fi, tel. +358 40 735 4279 or Head of the Department, Professor Mika Lähteenmäki, e-mail: mika.k.lahteenmaki@jyu.fi, tel. +358 40 805 3206.

The full job advertisement and the application form can be found here: https://rekry.saima.fi/certiahome/open_job_view.html?did=5600&jc=12&id=00007572&lang=fi

The appointment procedure provides more detailed information on the duties and qualification requirements. The qualification requirements should be met by the closing of the application time.

To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide.

The closing date for the applications is Saturday, November 31st 2019.

Department of Communication, North Carolina State University

The Department of Communication at North Carolina State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of Critical Making and Media Production.

We seek a scholar who is both able to engage critically with media technologies and practices and also build, make, and produce new forms of media. This scholar will bridge multiple approaches to media, including media theory, production, and critical making. The successful candidate will have expertise in areas such as mobile and social media, locative media, games, physical computing, audiovisual production, or media arts. Key to this position is the interaction between the production of media technologies and the theoretical understanding of their social, cultural, political, and economic implications. We are particularly interested in candidates who will produce scholarship and contribute pedagogical expertise that integrates creative skills with theoretical understandings of the changing mechanisms of production, circulation, and uses of media. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to equity and diversity in their teaching and research.

Candidates should be prepared to teach in the Media curriculum of the Department’s B.A. in Communication and to teach and mentor graduate students in the M.S. in Communication and the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media (CRDM). Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Communication or a related field in the humanities or social sciences.

Inclusiveness and diversity are academic imperatives and university goals at NC State. We welcome applications from all persons without regard to sexual orientation. In its commitment to diversity and equity, NC State seeks applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

With more than 34,000 students and nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, NC State is a comprehensive university known for its leadership in education and research and globally recognized for its strength in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Department of Communication is one of the largest departments at NC State, with 600-700 undergraduate majors and nearly 100 M.S. and Ph.D. students. The CRDM program enjoys a growing national and international reputation as a destination for interdisciplinary digital media studies. Faculty and graduate students are actively engaged in research collaborations with colleagues in multiple departments across the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the University as a whole. Key interdisciplinary programs and groups include the Circuit Research Studio, the Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities, the Mobile Gaming Research Lab, and the NC State Libraries Makerspaces. Faculty and students have access to cutting-edge simulation studios, maker spaces, and gaming research facilities at the University’s award-winning James B. Hunt Library.

The position will begin on July 1st, 2020. Interested candidates should submit a letter of application, CV, names of three references, two samples of relevant scholarly publications, and a portfolio. To apply, go to https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/123339

Review of applications will begin*November 15, 2019,*and will continue until the position is filled.

For additional information regarding this position please contact the

Search Committee Chair:

Adriana de Souza e Silva, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Communication

NC State University

aasilva@ncsu.edu

Deadline: October 15, 2019

Among the many changes introduced by new media technologies to news practices, the growing utilization of User Generated Content (UGC) is one of the most challenging. Members of the public are capturing dramatic events around the world and then sharing them, not only on social media platforms, but with professional news media organizations which are eagerly incorporating posts, tweets and images into professionally produced news stories. The presence of amateur content in news discourses is a growing phenomenon that is reshaping the profession of journalism, news coverage and public expectations.

The issues raised by these practices often involve tensions between labour precarity and professionalism, entertainment and evidence, centralized and decentralized management of news rooms, traditional and emerging forms of social media news narratives, truth and immediacy. We are calling for papers from academic researchers and journalists that address this important and timely subject. Questions the collection will address include:

1. How is the use of UGC reorganizing professional practices?

• User generated content and professionalism in news rooms
• Role and significance of verification in news production
• The problems of fake news when working with UGC
• The growing shift of UGC onto private networks: threats and opportunities
• The challenge and opportunities of new technologies for professional news rooms

2. How is UGC transforming labour practices among journalists and the structural organization of news media?

• Changing labour practices in the newsroom
• Changing structures, staffing and organization of news desks
• Organizational changes and emerging business models
• Emerging forms of produsers and precarious labour
• Professional labour vis-à-vis labour of love

3. How is UGC influencing the construction of meaning in news coverage?

• The impact of user produced content on the form and aesthetic of visual news

• Role of contextualization in UGC verification services
• The influence of non-professional producers on news narratives, framing and agendas

4. What are emerging themes and tensions in non-professional practices of production?

• Emerging motivations for creating UGC news content
• Emerging practices and conventions for UGC production
• Precarity and risk in UGC production

5. What are the theoretical, methodological and historical considerations helping to understand and explain the growing use of UGC in professional news coverage?

Deadline: Abstracts (300-500 words) should be emailed to the editors by

Oct 15, 2019 clearly identified by “UGC Chapter Abstract” in the subject line. Email: michael.lithgow@athabascau.ca

Please contact the editors (at the same email address) if you have any questions.

About the Editors:

Dr. Michael Lithgow is an Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Studies, in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Athabasca University. His research focuses broadly on citizen engagement in public cultures. His most current research explores expanded approaches to community digital & network literacies encompassing design, creation and operation of telecommunications infrastructure. He is part of a research group investigating changing practices in professional news rooms in response to the growing use of user-generated content (UGC) in news production.

Prof. Michele Martin

Dr Michèle Martin is Professor Emerita at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Her research focuses on the history of illustrated news, feminist studies, and sociology of labour in the media. She has published several books - among them Hello Central? (nominated for the Harold Innis Prize), which has been translated into several languages, Communication and Mass Media and Images at War (attributed the Canadian Communication Association prize) - and numerous articles and book chapters. She is currently part of a research group investigating changing practices in professional news rooms in response to the growing use of user-generated content in news production. She has also been invited as a visiting professor at Oxford University, The London School of Economics and Political Sciences, Université Panthéon-Assas Paris, American University in Istanbul among others. 

May 25-27, 2020

Maynooth University, Dublin

Deadline for proposals: November 15, 2019

Letters of acceptance/rejection, 8 January 2020

The HoMER Network invites submissions for 20-minute papers, as well as designated roundtables, panels, and workshops to be presented at the 2020 conference, which will take place at Maynooth University on 25-27 May 2020.

At HoMER 2019 in Nassau, the conference explored ways of developing a more theoretical and methodological grounding for New Cinema History research. Since emerging as a vibrant field of research in the early 2000s, New Cinema History has sought to distinguish itself from Film History by ‘shift[ing] its focus away from the content of films’, in order to examine cinema as a ‘site of social and cultural exchange’ (Maltby 2011: 3). However, in recent years there have been calls to reconsider the significance of the film itself within New Cinema History research. For the Homer 2020 conference INTEGRATING TRADITIONS, we would like to continue answering that call: as cinema historians, we have traditionally drawn on frameworks and methodologies found in fields such as Social Geography, Economics, and Psychology, but how do we integrate these approaches with those of Film History and Film Studies more broadly? Furthermore, in order to become ‘methodologically more mature’ as a discipline, we must also reflect on how we approach comparative research as an essential part of our studies (Biltereyst and Meers 2016: 25). Several empirical research projects have already used these methods within New Cinema History, comparing the cinema-going experience across cultural and geographical contexts; however, still lacking is the integration of productive methodologies from Film Studies.

The aim of HoMER 2020 is to investigate how the traditional approaches of Film Studies – as well as those disciplines that have shaped NCH to date – can be productively integrated.

Possible topics and questions to explore might include (but are certainly not limited to):

• Film as text. What is the film’s appeal to audiences? When we investigate cinema’s popularity, how do we relate the film’s content to its performance at the box-office? The relationship between cinema memories, film text and social and geographical spaces.
• Genre and stardom and their relationship with programming and audiences. How can genre theory enhance our understanding of film reception and programming practices in specific cinemas?
• The changing role of gender, however defined, in distribution, exhibition and reception.
• Underexplored interdisciplinary possibilities or new historiographical paths. Are there potential connections with leisure or urban studies, for example? Can we use film as a source for investigating a historical period? Can we further engage approaches to the history of everyday life in our research?
• The novelty in New Cinema History. In what does its (continuing) novelty Iie? What are its methodologies and conceptual frameworks?
• Presentations are welcome to critically explore the conference theme of INTEGRATING TRADITIONS through the interdisciplinary lens of academic Film and Cinema Studies.

Since it was first established in 2004, the HoMER network has been instrumental in bringing together researchers working in the New Cinema History tradition and providing opportunities to share knowledge and exchange ideas. In keeping with this, the 2019 HoMER conference featured a series of discussion sessions on specific topics. In light of the positive feedback on these sessions, HoMER 2020 will also feature discussion sessions on each day of the conference. During these sessions, participants will be able to debate research questions and methodologies, with the aim of sharing practices of their research, as well as advancing and developing new ideas in NCH approaches. Last year the three themes were: The geography of cinema; Cinema memories and the archives; Defining contemporary cinema.

Suggestions for new themes to discuss in HoMER 2020 are welcome.

The format will follow the successful one used last year: presentations of key areas (10 min) to the HoMER participants, followed by small group discussion (1 hour) on the key areas, and a final plenary discussion (20 min). Possible key areas to explore might include (but are certainly not limited to): Cinema and Memory; the Economics and Business of Film; Programming and Film Popularity; Paratextual Analysis; the Digital Challenge; Distribution of Films; Impact of Research to Non-academic Audiences; Publishing New Cinema History Research: Traditional Approaches and the Alternatives.

Abstracts of 250 to 300 words, plus 3 or 4 bibliographic entries, and a 50-word academic biography can be submitted via the HoMER 2020 Abstract Submission Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDmHvICIqmjlAB6gCoBfJ_yWJpgfOApAqFq-IW2RXUTAriKw/viewform?usp=sf_link

For any queries regarding submission, please contact conference co-ordinators, Clara Pafort-Overduin (c.pafort-overduin@uu.nl) and Daniela Treveri Gennari (dtreveri-gennari@brookes.ac.uk).

Programming Committee:

• Clara Pafort Overduin
• Daniela Treveri Gennari
• Sarah Culhane
• Denis Condon
• Maya Nedyalkova
• Åsa Jernudd
• Karina Aveyard
• Sam Manning
• Kata Szita
• Silvia Dibeltulo

Open access peer-review edited volume

Deadline: October 10, 2019

Publisher: University of Westminster Press

Series: Critical, Digital and Social Media Studies

Editor: Pieter Verdegem (University of Westminster)

This collection of contributions brings together critical debates about Artificial Intelligence (AI) to interrogate how we should understand what constitutes AI, its impact and challenges. If we want to make sure that AI-powered applications and solutions will benefit society at large and mitigate AI’s potential negative consequences, we need to overcome the widespread dichotomic (utopian/dystopian) thinking about AI. By offering different perspectives and engaging in critical conversations on the potential and impact of AI, this collection aims to invite all stakeholders involved to contribute to a more nuanced vision of how to make sure AI will deliver benefits for everyone, if at all possible (and what is needed to facilitate change).

What makes this collection timely and necessary:

• Urgency – technologies are changing so quickly and becoming embedded with little public scrutiny
• Public debate is polarised – critical perspectives must offer a necessary nuance to address then answer fundamental questions about power
• Critical – we are facing a new era of technological determinism and governments and business actors are seeking technological solutions without interrogating the consequences. The assumption is that AI is inevitable, everywhere. We have not even started asking the right questions
• Interdisciplinary – approach
• Debate – interaction between different stakeholders (scholars, government, industry, civil society and activists)

QUESTIONS, TOPICS AND FORMAT

This collection asks fundamental and critical questions, such as:

• What is AI, and what is it not?
• What is good AI and for whom?
• How is AI developed, by whom and on what data has it been trained?
• Who owns the AI infrastructure, algorithms and datasets?
• Who has the power to classify and who is involved?
• Who benefits from AI? Who does not?
• Who is excluded and what are the consequences?
• How should we decide where AI can be beneficial, and where harmful?

Contributions include but are not limited to topics, such as:

• Conceptualising AI: AI and bullshit
• Power, Inequality and the Political Economy of AI
• AI, Work and Automation
• Resistance and Activism
• Ethical frameworks for AI
• What AI should not do
• …

Format: This edited volume will be a combination of invited contributions and chapters from this open call for contributions.

TIMETABLE

• October 10, 2019: Deadline for abstracts (max. 500 words)
• October 30, 2019: Editor’s response to abstracts
• March 31, 2020: Deadline for full chapters (6,000-8,000 words)
• July 10, 2020: Deadline for revised chapters
• March 2021: Publication of the edited volume (open access)

All material and the book itself will be published open access in print and digital versions subject to peer review with no author fees.

MORE INFORMATION & CONTACT

Please send abstracts of no longer than 500 words to Pieter Verdegem (p.verdegem@westminster.ac.uk) by 10 October 2019.

ABOUT THE CRITICAL, DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA STUDIES SERIES

Series Editor: Christian Fuchs

The open-access peer-reviewed book series edited by Christian Fuchs publishes books that critically study the role of the internet and digital and social media in society. Titles analyse how power structures, digital capitalism, ideology and social struggles shape and are shaped by digital and social media. They use and develop critical theory discussing the political relevance and implications of studied topics. The series is a theoretical forum for internet and social media research for books using methods and theories that challenge digital positivism; it also seeks to explore digital media ethics grounded in critical social theories and philosophy.

Editorial Board: Thomas Allmer, Mark Andrejevic, Miriyam Aouragh, Charles Brown, Eran Fisher, Peter Goodwin, Jonathan Hardy, Kylie Jarrett, Anastasia Kavada, Maria Michalis, Stefania Milan, Vincent Mosco, Jack Qiu, Jernej Amon Prodnik, Marisol Sandoval, Sebastian Sevignani, Pieter Verdegem

https://www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/books/series/critical-digital-and-social-media-studies/

October 28-30, 2020

Geneva (Switzerland)

Deadline: February 29, 2020

2020 Conference of the International Association of Public Media Researchers / RIPE@2020

2020 is an exciting year for public media research: The RIPE initiative is transforming into the International Association of Public Media Researchers and the tenth biennial conference jointly organized by the University of Fribourg’s Department of Communication and Media Research (DCM) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will take place on the premises of EBU’s Geneva headquarters. The conference will offer an opportunity for celebrating RIPE’s legacy and the 70th anniversary of the EBU.

Conference Theme

Public Service Media (PSM) organizations across Europe and beyond are increasingly under pressure. Due to digitization, media use is changing rapidly, with streaming services and online platforms gaining in importance and making it harder for legacy media to hold their ground. This affects both public and private media. With users and advertising shifting to search engines and social networks, the business model of newspaper publishers is also under pressure, which, in turn, leads to disagreement about PSM’s online activities. In addition, many policy-makers are highly critical of PSM due to a belief in the efficiency of market solutions or – especially in the case of right-wing populist parties – for political reasons. As a result, both PSM’s role in a digital environment and its funding are under scrutiny. PSM seem to be constantly in the position of having to defend themselves. Following attempts at demonstrating the “public value” of PSM, the discussion is now turning towards the concept of PSM’s “contribution to society”. Communication and media scholars need to critically discuss the analytical value and the usefulness of new concepts that are circulated in industry and policy-making. The 2020 conference of the International Association of Public Media Researchers / RIPE@2020 thus focuses on the concept of contribution to society.

Presumably, it is uncontroversial to claim that PSM need to make a particular contribution to society in order to have a continuous reason to exist in media landscapes characterized by competition and abundance. And it should also be self-evident that PSM’s contribution should be distinct and distinctive from what private media and online platforms (e.g. social media) offer. However, beyond these general statements the concept of contribution to society raises the important question of which contributions to which society. After all, society is changing. Research has focused on a number of trends like transnationalization, neo-liberalization, digitization or individualization that deeply affect modern societies. Audiences in different media systems are not only confronted with more media products than ever before and can become involved in production themselves but are also less homogenous or monolithic than they were in the past. These trends thus radically alter the relationship between professional media organizations and citizens. Moreover, they challenge the notion of an all-encompassing public sphere, nurturing new ideas like, for instance, of a network of public spaces.

Consequently, it is necessary to rethink the role of media organizations in general and PSM in particular in a more fragmented society. On the one hand, this involves refining the societal contribution of public service. Starting from the notion that PSM should, as McQuail (2010, p. 178) put it, “serve the public interest by meeting the important communication needs of society and its citizens”, these needs (e.g., contribution to democratic governance and culture, production of information and knowledge, cohesion and integration, or progress) and the ways PSM can address these needs in unique ways other media cannot have to be identified. On the other hand, it is also necessary to modernize the ways in which PSM provide their contribution to society. Beyond producing content for all kinds of distribution channels, platforms and usage scenarios (ranging from the living room to mobile consumption), PSM have the chance to involve citizens in production and to evolve the ways in which their content reaches audiences (e.g., personalization based on algorithms). Moreover, it is necessary to discuss how the contribution of PSM to society can be measured.

In order to be meaningful for society and to have an effect on PSM organizations, “contribution to society” needs to be more than just an instrument of legitimacy management by organizations under pressure. While communicating the many valuable contributions of PSM is important, the task at hand is not solving a communication problem. The concept is useless if it is limited to the question of how to better sell the contribution of PSM to citizens instead of guaranteeing that PSM actually serves the public interest and makes a contribution worth paying for and talking about. Seen in this light, critically analyzing the concept of “contribution to society” is not only a worthwhile task for communication and media scholars but also a meaningful undertaking for the future of PSM.

Topics of Working Groups

Scholars from various research fields of media and communication as well as from neighboring disciplines are invited to submit abstracts for both conceptual and empirical contributions addressing one or more of the following topics. The topics will comprise the working group structure for this conference.

(1) Communication Needs of Changing Societies

Starting from the idea that PSM should meet the communication needs of society and its citizens, societal change raises the question of which contributions are necessary today in order to meet these needs. Societies are more diverse than in the past; many democracies witness the ascent of populist parties and illiberal leaders; the amount of media content available to citizens is bigger than ever; the commercialization and concentration of media is uninhibited; platforms and streaming services gain in importance with respect to media use. In light of these changes, it is necessary to rethink the contribution of PSM. What role can PSM play in restoring the trustworthiness of media and institutions? How can PSM mediate between societal groups and integrate societies that are drifting apart? How do PSM contribute to political participation, culture life, and the realization of individuals’ full potential? And how can we measure the impact of PSM and its contribution to society? We invite paper proposals that deal with the contribution of PSM in changing societies, how this contribution needs to adapt, and how it differs from the performance of commercial media.

(2) New Forms of Contribution and Distinctiveness

In order to be able to make a contribution to society and generate positive externalities, the content produced by PSM need to reach citizens in the first place. In today’s media landscapes characterized by a plethora of broadcasting channels and online services this is not necessarily the case anymore. Hence, producing content for linear channels and offering these broadcasts on demand is not sufficient. Many PSM invest in web-only content that they also make available via third-party platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or TikTok. And gradually, there is an understanding that “the” internet is not simply an additional distribution channel but allows for a personalization of content using algorithms. However, private media show little enthusiasm for these new forms of content provision by PSM and worry about market distortion. Which possibilities exist for PSM to reach audiences in a digital environment? What could a public service algorithm look like? And how should public and private media co-exist and/or collaborate in the online world? We invite paper proposals that deal with new forms of contribution, the distinctiveness of PSM, its relationship to and possibilities for collaboration with private media and platforms, and the shift from broadcasting to a personalized streaming service.

(3) Involving Citizens, Building Communities

Digitization fundamentally alters the relationship between media organizations and citizens. This change poses a huge challenge for all media organizations. Whereas in the past audiences only mattered when measuring media use, now there is a need to adjust media production: journalism needs to become more dialogic in nature as instant feedback and criticism is now possible; and users can contribute to reporting in various ways, e.g. as informants or via crowdsourcing. Yet beyond media production, the changed relationship to their audience also offers an opportunity for PSM to really become a media organization of the people, by the people and for the people. What possibilities are there to involve citizens in decision-making within PSM or to engage in dialogue that informs decision-making? How can PSM build a community among their users that also strengthens their legitimacy? And how does PSM matter in individuals’ lives in ways that metrics of audience research cannot capture? We invite paper proposals that deal with the importance of audiences for PSM, the involvement of citizens within PSM, and ways to reinvigorate the rooting of PSM in society.

(4) Governance, Communication and Legitimacy Management

Recent reforms of media policy have also led to stricter regulation of PSM. On the one hand, in many countries the remit of PSM – especially with respect to online activities – has been defined more firmly and new services require public value tests. On the other hand, while still having better conditions than private media struck by crisis, PSM are expected to be more efficient or confronted with considerable budget cuts. Like other media organizations PSM respond to regulatory pressure and try to influence policy-making in their own interest. Concepts like “contribution to society” thus also can be seen as a strategic instrument of legitimacy management to deal with expectations of stakeholders. Is the concept of contribution an empty PR tool or is it inducing real change within PSM organizations? How does the interplay between policy-makers and PSM work in practice? And what role can communication scholars play in critically accompanying the change of media policy, PSM organizations and their contribution to society? We invite paper proposals that scrutinize the concept of contribution, focus on the politics of media policy, and the role of communication in the governance of PSM.

Submission Requirements

Paper proposals may be submitted via “Easy Chair” at https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=ripe2020 (starting in September 2019). To do so, you need an *Easy Chair” login. If you do not have one yet, you can create one.

Please enter the following information into the online submission form:

• the name(s), e-mail-address(es), location(s) and organization(s) of the author(s);
• the paper’s working title;
• an extended abstract (max. 750 words) explaining the main messages of the paper and how it contributes to the conference theme;
• 3-5 keywords;
• the two working group topics the paper is most closely related to.

Additionally, the abstract needs to be uploaded as a Microsoft Word file. Please make sure that your Word file is anonymized and does not contain any indication of the author(s) either in the text or in meta data.

All submissions will be peer-reviewed (double-blind) by a scientific committee. The evaluation criteria are:

1. Relevance to the conference theme and fit with one of the working group topics.

2. Conceptual and analytic quality as well as theoretical foundation.

3. Clarification of methodology if the paper will report on empirical research.

4. Relevance to PSM management and practice.

5. Generalizability of insights and findings.

Empirical research is highly valued, but we also welcome insightful philosophical, critical and theory-driven papers.

RIPE conferences focus on substance, dialogue and results. We therefore limit acceptance to about 60 papers. Each paper is assigned to a working group. At best we assign 9-12 papers to each group so that every paper has sufficient time for presentation and, most importantly, discussion.

Submissions are due February 29, 2020.

Decisions on acceptance will be announced on April 15, 2020.

Full papers need to be submitted by September 1, 2020 via “Easy Chair” at https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=ripe2020.

The conference takes place over two and a half days, starting late on a Wednesday morning and ending on Friday around noon. The conference language is English.

The International Association of Public Media Researchers plans to publish a selection of the papers in a peer-reviewed book handled by NORDICOM publishers.

More information about the International Association of Public Media Researchers: http://www.publicmediaresearchers.org

Faculty of Humanities – Amsterdam Centre for Cultural Analysis

Deadline: October 4, 2019

Level of education: University

Hours: 19 hours per week

Salary indication: €2,049 to €2,390 gross per month, based on 38 hours per week

Vacancy number: 19-617

The Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA) of the Faculty of Humanities is looking for a student assistant to join the ERC-funded project ‘Data Activism: The Politics of Big Data According to Civil Society' (DATACTIVE), with Dr Stefania Milan as Principal Investigator. DATACTIVE investigates citizens’ engagement with massive data collection.

Located at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Amsterdam, ASCA is an interdisciplinary research community whose members share a commitment to maintaining a close connection with contemporary cultural and political debates in society at large. Within ASCA they collaborate to provide a stimulating environment for scholars, professionals, and graduate students from the Netherlands and abroad.

The Department of Media Studies offers a multidisciplinary, interactive and international research environment in a leading department (Media and Communication at the University of Amsterdam currently ranks number 1 in the QS World Rankings).

Job description

You are able to work independently and as part of a team, and you are willing to support ongoing empirical analysis. You will join a team of eight people working under the leadership of Dr Stefania Milan (the Principal investigator) who collaboratively examine the emerging dynamics of data activism at the intersection of its social and technological dimensions. You will report to Dr Milan and to the Project manager.

The successful applicant will provide administrative assistance and help with analysis of empirical data of the DATACTIVE project. The tasks include:

• assist in data analysis tasks, such as qualitative analysis of interview data (“coding’) and dataset maintenance;
• transcribe interview data;
• contribute to the organization of project-related meetings and events as needed;
• provide general administrative project assistance.

Funded by the European Research Council, the DATACTIVE project explores citizen engagement with emerging data practices and cultures. It is in its fifth and last year.

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate who is preferably a student at UvA, enrolled in a research-oriented Master program. In addition, the candidate should have:

• a social sciences background;
• demonstrable methodological skills and experience with coding interview data;
• familiarity with open-source digital environments and with analytical software;
• the ability and willingness to work in a team;
• an excellent command of English (written and spoken). Familiarity with other languages (e.g., Spanish) is an asset.

Start date: ASAP

Location: Department of Media Studies, UvA (no remote).

Further information

Further information about the project may be found on the project website: https://www.uva.nl/en/content/vacancies/2019/09/19-617-student-assistant-datactive-project.html?1570098210959

You may also contact: Jeroen de Vos, Project manager

Appointment

The appointment is initially for a period of 4 months, 0,3 to 0,5 fte depending of the year of studies you are in, starting as soon as possible. Contingent on satisfactory performance it is possible that the contract is extended. The gross monthly salary will range between €2,049 to €2,390, based on 38 hours per week. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Job application

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Your application must consist of one pdf or word document including the following:

• an up-to-date CV, inclusive of publications (if any);
• a 1-page cover letter outlining your motivations to join the project and illustrating how you meet the requirements for the position;
• contact details, including phone number, of two referees.

Please submit your application no later than 4 October 2019. #LI-DNP