ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

Tampere University

Deadline: October 30, 2019

The higher education community of Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Finland’s second largest multidisciplinary higher education institution, places its faith in the human potential and scientific knowledge. In this community of 35,000 people, leading specialists are addressing pressing global issues, inspired by the challenge of making changes in the world. The spearheads of our research and learning are technology, health and society.

We are now seeking three assistant professors, associate professors or full professors in the fields of Communication Studies and Journalism Studies.

The positions will be placed in the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences at Tampere University. The Communication Sciences Unit of the faculty conducts research that delves into our increasingly digital media landscape and the role of communication technologies in reshaping not only our thoughts and sensibilities but also our relations with others. Our three research centres (COMET, TRIM and T7) create new knowledge of the impact of publicity, gamification and theatre on our society and culture. Students admitted to our multidisciplinary degree programme in communication acquire a broad base of knowledge and go on to pursue careers in journalism, media research, information research and (communication. Our degree programme in theatre arts brings together artistic, professional and societal perspectives.

Job description

• Position 1: tenure track position in Communication Studies

The importance of communication is increasing at all levels of society. Especially our need and opportunities for human interaction and the impact of such interaction is growing. Technological advances and the evolution of social media not only create new opportunities but also new challenges for human communication and interaction. Our online and offline worlds are becoming increasingly intertwined. Technology is opening up new forms and spaces for public debate, and organisations everywhere are placing an increasing emphasis on communications. More and more jobs require strong communication competence. We are also more aware of the importance of human interaction for our personal and professional relationships. Our changing world requires communication professionals to acquire new competencies and is also creating new jobs in the field. The core mission of education and research in the field of communication studies is to respond to these needs and challenges.

We are looking for a motivated and accomplished academic with a track record of research in human communication and interaction. Candidates will be expected to be familiar with research methods in the field as well as theories relating to group communication, public speaking, interpersonal communications or the development of communication competence either from the perspective to face-to-face communication or computer mediated communication. Being familiar with the Finnish communication culture will be considered an advantage.

• Position 2 and 3: tenure track position in Journalism Studies, 2 positions

The role of journalism in disseminating information is changing and becoming increasingly important in our society. New media platforms are reshaping the nature of interaction between journalists and their audiences. Global societal challenges, such as climate change, migration trends and political polarisation are also imposing new demands on journalism, public discussion and the dissemination of information.

Addressing these challenges will be a long-term mission for research and education in journalism. Two questions illustrate this mission: What challenges will the changes in our society and communication environment create for the journalistic profession, especially for journalistic expertise and ethics? How will these changes affect the role and status of journalism in society?

We are looking for two accomplished academics with experience of research and education in journalism from a social scientific standpoint. The two positions will focus on the following themes, respectively:

Position 2: The journalistic profession and changes therein

The challenges relating to the future of journalism and the development of journalism must be studied from the perspective of the entire profession. How will be ongoing changes open up new possibilities for the development of journalism? For example, real-time reporting and the transition to digital journalism are imposing new demands on journalists and forcing them to find new ways to interact with their audiences. Considering journalists’ professional role, status and credibility, it is important to foster increasingly open interaction with different stakeholders. This requires the active development of professional practices, critical research and the ability to respond to new ethical challenges. When considering candidates, being familiar with the journalistic field in Finland and fluency in the Finnish language will be appreciated.

Position 3: The roles of journalism in society and changes therein

To understand the opportunities that are opening up for journalism, we must explore the role of journalism in the context of broader changes in our societal structures, institutions and the concept of agency. Journalism plays a key role in public decision-making and in upholding democratic values. Journalism reflects society but is also an essential part of policy-making, economy, civic society and the interactions between them. The study of these processes will shed light not only on journalism itself but also on the societal institutions that embrace journalism as an integral part of their activities and operational environment.

All the successful candidates will be expected to:

• carry out and lead scientific research
• engage in research-based teaching, supervise students, participate in curriculum development and manage and develop these activities
• acquire research funding
• actively participate in societal engagement activities and collaborate with external stakeholders

Requirements

Assistant Professor

We require:

• an applicable doctoral degree
• the ability to undertake independent scholarly activity and potential to pursue scholarly activity at a high international level of excellence
• teaching skills required to successfully perform the duties and functions of the position.

Associate Professor

We require:

• an applicable doctoral degree
• a track record of independent scholarly activity
• teaching skills required to successfully perform the duties and functions of the position
• the ability to lead a research group and acquire external funding
• a track record of international scholarly or artistic activity.

Professor

We require:

• an applicable doctoral degree
• high-level scholarly expertise
• experience of leading scientific research
• the ability to provide high-quality research-based education and instruction
• a track record of winning external research funding
• a track record of international scholarly or artistic activity

We are looking for candidates whose profile aligns with the strategy of Tampere University and the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences and who have experience of multidisciplinary research. Ideally, for more senior level appointments, you will have experience of leading or making a major contribution to a research group. You will need to be fluent in English to be able to perform the duties and functions of the position. Fluent Finnish will be considered an advantage.

We offer

Initial appointment as an assistant professor and associate professor will be for five years. Subject to successful performance, you will become a tenured faculty member at the end of the first five-year period. You will be well-supported throughout the five-year period to ease your transition to a tenured position. Full professors will hold a permanent appointment from the outset. A trial period of six months applies to all our new employees.

Salaries are based on the job demands and on employees’ personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. The starting salary range will be from €4,000 to €4,200/month for an assistant professor, from €4,600 to €4,900/month for an associate professor and from €5,600 to €5,800/month for a professor. A higher salary may be agreed upon based on the successful candidate’s experience and/or performance.

Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find out more about our University and working and living Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community - our academic playground.

Finland provides one of the most advanced and comprehensive social security in the world. It includes for example sickness benefits, various family benefits and a comprehensive healthcare system. For more information on Finland, please check InfoFinland and This is Finland.

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 30 October 2019 (at 23.59 EEST, GMT+3 / 20.59 UTC).

Please write your application and all accompanying documents in English and attach them in PDF format. Applications should include the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae according to TENK guidelines
• List of publications according to Academy of Finland guidelines. Please indicate your ten most important publications and include links to them.
• Teaching portfolio (including your teaching and supervisory experience, development of teaching skills, produced teaching materials, your views on teaching and learning in the field)
• A letter of application in which you set out the reasons why you are applying for the post and why you are particularly suited to it (max. 1-2 pages)
• A research plan (max. 5 pages)
• The names, positions and contact details of two referees who can support your application.

Candidates may be invited for a video interview during the first stage of the recruitment process. The most qualified candidates will be invited to Tampere University for an interview and may undergo an aptitude assessment. They will also undergo a review by external experts and may be required to give a demonstration of their teaching skills.

For more information, please contact:

Communication Studies, Professor Pekka Isotalus (tel. +358 503 951 173, pekka.isotalus@tuni.fi)

Journalism Studies, Professor Janne Seppänen (tel. +358 504 201 493, janne.seppanen@tuni.fi)

With questions about the application process, please contact:

HR Partner Eveliina Nurmi (tel. +358401981825, eveliina.nurmi@tuni.fi)

https://tuni.rekrytointi.com/paikat/?o=A_A&jid=315

*Application period starts: 2019-09-20 11:00

*Application period ends: 2019-10-30 23:59

February 27-28, 2020

Houston, Texas (USA)

Deadline for extended abstracts: November 22, 2019

While the economic, political, cultural and social transformations brought about by the rise of digital technologies, particularly in the media and telecommunications sectors, are visible all over the world, it is in African countries that they are projected to have the biggest impact in coming years. Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, has one of the fastest growing number of internet and mobile users in the world.

In many parts of the continent, access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) has been seen as an opportunity to “leapfrog”, a concept that the World Bank defines as making “a quick jump in economic development” by adopting technological innovation. This is exemplified by the success of African startups like Ushahidi, a crowdsourcing mapping tool created in Kenya, or Jumia, Nigeria’s number 1 online retailer; the recent opening of Google’s Africa AI center in Ghana; and the ever-growing presence of mobile payment and banking across the continent. Digital communication technologies have also been used strategically by citizens in the continent to engage in grassroots political movements that have toppled long-time rulers, led to (sometimes short-lived) regime changes, and brought about changes in legislation.

The fast growth of digitally enabled communications and services has also brought challenges for the continent. For example, well-before the notion of “fake news” became a buzzword in U.S. politics, many African nations, from South Africa to Gabon or Nigeria, were targets of large-scale misinformation campaigns over social media such as WhatsApp and Facebook. Additionally, young, highly-educated, and digitally-savvy graduates in many African countries have been employed by transnational tech companies such as Facebook for data processing in what some authors describe as digital sweatshops. The positive and negative impacts of this technological revolution are therefore important to consider.

Because African countries, their people, and their mediated interactions remain understudied in the fields of media and communication, especially in Western countries, the “@frica: digital media conference” invites extended abstracts (800-1,000 words) that examine the transformations and disruptions of digital media in African countries.

Specifically, but not exclusively, we invite contributions that explore any of the following questions:

• What methodological challenges exist in studying digital media use (such as social media and/or mobile communications) in Africa?
• What theoretical frameworks, constructs and paradigms are best suited to study transformations and disruptions of digital media in Africa?
• How has social media been used by African political actors, social movements and grassroots activists and to what effect?
• What are the roots, consequences and differences between countries of existing disparities in access to digital media in Africa?
• How are digital technologies influencing, complementing, and/or superseding journalistic practices in Africa?
• How does the sharing economy (e.g. Uber, Upwork…) transform and/or reinforce social norms, values, practices, structure and culture in Africa?
• What are the prevailing regulatory frameworks that affect digital media use in Africa?
• What socio-economic, cultural and economic factors shape the adoption, diffusion and appropriation of digital technologies in Africa?

The deadline to submit extended abstracts is November 22, 2019. To submit an extended abstract, please go to https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=admc20

You will need to create an account to make a submission.

The organizers will notify by email the authors of accepted extended abstracts by December 6, 2019. Authors will be expected to submit full papers by February 2, 2020.

The “@frica: digital media conference” will accept a limited number of virtual presentations, in which authors who are unable to travel to Houston, will be able to present their work and get feedback from the audience virtually. Authors who wish to be considered for one of the virtual presentation slots should indicate their preference when submitting their extended abstracts.

A selection of accepted papers will be included in a Special Issue of the Journal of African Media Studies to be published in 2020. Only accepted papers that are presented at the conference will be considered for the Special Issue.

Questions about the conference and the Call for Papers can be sent to valentiglobalsummit@uh.edu.

Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies

Deadline: October 18, 2019

Apply here

Two posts to conduct research and provide administrative support to an AHRC funded project entitled Countering disinformation: enhancing journalistic legitimacy in public service media

The posts are full time and fixed term for 24 months.

Salary: £33,797 - £40,322 per annum (Grade 6), the salary for each post will not exceed £36,261.

Date Advert Posted: Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Closing date: Friday, 18 October 2019

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Research

• To conduct quantitative and qualitative research on countering political disinformation in public service media, including content analysis and/or focus groups and interviews.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including project planning, progress updates and dissemination.
• To review and synthesise existing literature within the field, including academic research and policy documents.
• To present research at national and international conferences/industry seminars as appropriate.
• To create and nurture relevant research networks to include academics, alternative media and mainstream media editors and journalists, as well as media policy makers in order to pursue opportunities for collaboration and dissemination.
• To assist with organising workshops and events associated with the research project together with the PI and Co-I.
• To co-publish in high quality peer-reviewed international journals.
• To assist with management of the project website and social media accounts.
• To participate in School research activities.

Other

• To contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional, national and international profile.
• To undergo professional development that is appropriate to the post and which will enhance the post holders’ research and project management skills.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role of research assistant.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area (or a submitted PhD not yet examined) or relevant industrial experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

2. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience, which relates to debates about political disinformation in at least one of the following research fields:

• Journalism Studies
• Political Communication

3. Proven ability to generate academic peer reviewed outputs and/or industry reports and/or policy briefings in one of the areas identified above.

4. Evidence of knowledge and understanding of debates about how political disinformation is –or could be – countered by UK public service media.

5. Proven ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative research in content analysis, focus groups and interviews, or in either content analysis or focus groups and interviews

6. Evidence of project administration.

Communication and Team Working

7. Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication, particularly with industry and policy-makers.

8. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity and innovation, particularly in the dissemination of research.

9. Proven ability to work independently and supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals as part of a small research team.

Desirable Criteria

10. Evidence of innovative collaboration with journalism industry and/or media policy-makers.

11. Experience of using NVivo software to analyse interview data.

12. Experience of using SPSS to analyse media content analysis data.

13. Experience of managing a research project website (e.g. WordPress) and a social media account (e.g. Twitter).

Additional Information

Countering disinformation: enhancing journalistic legitimacy in public service media is an AHRC funded project that will examine the production and output of disinformation reporting in UK news media, as well as how audiences understand and engage with it. We aim to work with leading news organisations to enhance their disinformation reporting and, ultimately, raise public knowledge and understanding of public affairs.

The post holder will report directly to the PI and will support the PI and Co-I by reviewing the academic and policy literature about countering disinformation, carrying out content analysis of news and/or focus groups with news users, as well as interviews with journalists and editors. He/She will also help co-publish work in high-quality journals, and assist with dissemination and impact activities including conferences and other public outputs.

Salary Range: 33,797-40,322

Job Category: Academic - Research

Grade: Grade 6

The Journal of Screenwriting

Deadline: October 4, 2019

The Journal of Screenwriting is calling for articles for a special issue with a focus on female screenwriters, to be published in November 2020.

JOSC wants to emphasize the importance of female screenwriters across eras, genres, mediums. This importance may arise from an analysis of bodies of work, from individual scripts written by women or from case studies where female screenwriters have worked collaboratively to express screen stories. Articles may also include women’s work behind the scenes in advocating for/promoting greater gender equality within screenwriting milieux. Articles on female screenwriters from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

Articles may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

• Female screenwriters in silent cinema
• The influence of female writer(-directors) in contemporary culture
• Case studies on an individual screenwriter’s work, collaborations between women or on how women-centred stories have been brought to the screen
• Historiography of manuals and screenwriting pedagogy where this reflects the work of female screenwriters
• National and global tendencies with regard to women within screenwriting – relations, influences, cultural transfers
• Censorship and women’s stories and women’s writings
• Biographies of female screenwriters of any era
• Female screenwriters within writing partnerships
• The work of female screenwriters within script production (e.g. as showrunners, script editors or consultants)
• The question of a female voice within screenwriting

In the first instance, please email abstracts of up to 400 words and a short biography, no later than Friday, 4 October 2019 to both of the editors of this special issue: Rosanne Welch: rosanne@welchwrite.com Rose Ferrell: rosieglow@westnet.com.au Completed articles of between 4000 and 8000 words should be sent by the end of January 2020.

Link to the Journal of Screenwriting and Submission Information here

November 25-27, 2019

University of Iceland, Reykjavik

Deadline: September 23, 2019

Race, racialization and whiteness remain contested topics in contemporary Europe (Böröcz & Sarkar, 2017; Dzenovska, 2018; Fassin, 2011; Imre, 2005; Loftsdottir & Jensen, 2012), central to the very notion of what Europe is, and for whom. The importance of race and racialization in the European context has been highlighted on multiple instances over the past years: for instance, by the public reception and media portrayals of the “refugee crisis” in 2015; the rise of right-wing parties and racist rhetoric in different European countries; as well as conflicts and anxieties related to labour mobility within the EU, which played a significant role in the Brexit referendum (Dzenovska, 2017; Loftsdóttir, Smith, & Hipfl, 2018). The so-called “refugee crisis” of 2015 and related fears of increasing number of non-white migrants in Europe (re)activated various threat scenarios and calls to “protect the homeland against dangerous outsiders” (Wodak, 2015: 66-67). These political sentiments go hand in hand with increasing islamophobia (Balcer, 2019) and antisemitism (Druez & Mayer, 2018).

These struggles and anxieties over Europe, its subjects and boundaries, seemingly triggered by current events, are rooted in history. They signify how Europe’s colonial past continues to mark its present (Danbolt & Myong, 2018; Hvenegård-Lassen & Maurer, 2012; Jensen, Suárez-Krabbe, Groes, & Pecic, 2017). Dominant representations of the Other, current processes of racial, ethnic and religious othering echo former Orientalism, which reinforces the trope of a normalized white European identity. Moreover, despite almost 30 years having passed since the fall of the Iron curtain, divisions between East and West continue to constitute an inter-European axis of difference- along with other divisions, like one between North and South (Dzenovska & De Genova, 2018; Fortier, 2006; Kuus, 2004; Kalnačs, 2016). These political processes underline the need to creolise established understandings of Europe’s colonial history as a thing of the past and a homogenized, white European identity as the norm (Boatca, 2019).

This symposium aims to unpack in which ways and to what effects racialization continues to shape European spaces, bodies and politics. Topics addressed in the symposium will include, but are not limited to:

• Hierarchies of race and “shades of whiteness” (Moore, 2013)
• Intersections between race, class and gender and (re)inscriptions otherness (Light & Young, 2009; Binnie & Klesse, 2013)
• Complexity of racial and ethnic (un)privilege (Salamuk, 2014)
• Securitization and tightening of borders/national frontiers
• Racialisation and affectivity
• Othering processes and racialization of Eastern European migrants, including migrants from the Baltic States
• (Anti-)immigration and integration discourses

Organized in collaboration with: Mobilities and Transnational Iceland project of excellence ; University of Iceland.

Format

Two-and-a-half-day seminar based on the paper presentations of the participants.

We invite scholars, journalists, filmmakers, educators, legal practitioners, social workers, activists, urbanists, writers, translators and interpreters, artists, and others to apply with presentations and/or advanced stage works-in-progress to share and discuss in an open, cross-disciplinary space. We are interested in contributions that address a range of concerns — scholarly, creative, material, ethical, pragmatic. We aim to bring together a diverse and motivated group of people to share projects and work collaboratively.

Application procedure: please send an abstract of max. 250 words and a short bio (max 150 words) to the organisers by September 23rd.

The symposium is free to attend. We can help organise and cover the cost of hotel accommodation for two nights, so please indicate whether you will need a hotel room. Kindly note that this means basic accommodation for participants who are not already funded by their institutions, and who are willing to share a double room. Those who wish to stay in a single room are welcome to pay the difference in cost.

We also hope to be able to offer a limited number of travel grants to reimburse the transportation costs of traveling to Reykjavik. Please enclose a brief application for travel funding with your abstract and bio if relevant. However, we suggest that individuals apply directly to their home institutions, art councils, local foundations or other sponsors for help covering these costs.

Successful applicants will be notified as soon as possible after the application deadline.

Organisers

Linda Lapina, cand. psych., PhD, Assistant Professor of Cultural Encounters, Roskilde University, Denmark, llapina@ruc.dk

Anna Wojtyńska, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Iceland, annawo@hi.is

Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė, PhD candidate, Vilnius University, Lithuania, irma.budginaite@fsf.vu.lt

Organizers applied to Nordic Summer University to have the seminar recognized as ad hoc NSU Winter Symposium.

The Magic Lantern Society is delighted to announce two new awards to support original work on the magic lantern, lantern slides, and optical projection, in memory of two of the leading lights of the subject.

• The Mervyn Heard Award will be made for the best written work, archival research programme or smaller-scale digitisation project.
• The Dick Balzer Award will be made for the best project using the magic lantern or lantern slides in a performance or work of art.

Each award comprises a direct payment of £300 to the winner, plus a book of the winner’s choice from the Society’s catalogue of available publications.

Closing date for submissions is 17 November 2019. Full details are on the Society website at http://www.magiclantern.org.uk/awards/

For more information contact awards@magiclantern.org.uk.

A book edited by Emmanuel K. Ngwainmbi, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Proposal Submission Deadline: October 31, 2019

Identity is tied to modus operandi and space, meaning that our thought process, the things we do, those we associate with, and where all these take place to define us. Identity has value; it fosters a sense of belonging. Each individual is associated with an ethnic group, nation, race, religion, or a particular belief. The locus for such association is that society treats us based on how we manage our understanding of, and relationship with others within our ethnic group, race, or country, or how well or poorly we deal with our beliefs. 

Our social, economic, cultural, political, and educational experiences also define our ethnic identity. From a socio-cultural perspective, ethnicity and nationality are mutually exclusive in that ethnicity describes the heritage and ancestry while citizenship is the legal identity, conferred to an individual born in a country. Both terms share a collective ‘identity’—defined space. Whether individuals accept or reject their nationality or take up a different legal identity, they still belong to an ethnic group; they have a heritage and ancestry. Similarly, people identify themselves using (1) ethnolinguistic connotations such as French, Irish, American, German, Italian, Arab, Bantu, Turkish, etc.; (2) geopolitical features such as Middle Easterners, Westerners; (3) geo-politico-diplomatic semantics such as the Global North which represents economically developed societies of Europe, North America, Australia, Israel, South Africa, amongst others or the Global South represents, often wrongly, the economically backward countries of Africa, India, Brazil, Mexico amongst others#. In that sense, the Global North is considered too strong and the Global South too weak; people located in the global north operate in an environment that is more economically viable than those in the global South. The inhabitant in the Global North-- the industrialized, technologically equipped region--considered more productive and more useful to the human society than the Global southerner. Hence, the modern concept of ethnicity and nationality culls from the recognition, however obscure or limited, of the capability to control economies and financial markets.  Social media and its networked communities have literarily compromised individual and ethnic group identities; that they play a significant role in creating a new identity for the individual through the process of acculturation and data sharing. In some societies, social media have been instrumental, sometimes dangerously, in binding together different tribespeople into an almost impervious ethnic grouping. However, the free flow of information on social media networks and the ease with which fabricated news and information spread has not helped most users distinguish credible data from junk data. Those conditions raise questions about how we define one’s true identity. It is a dangerous deviation from the social order, a growing crisis with seemingly no lasting solution for future occupants of this world. 

The objective of the Book

This book will provide relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in the area. It will include analyses of social media experiences in indigenous and urban communities around the world. It will be written for scholars and researchers who want to improve their understanding of how ethnic and national identities have been compromised through social media networking and by network groups. The book will focus on social media participation in agrarian and urban communities across the seven continents. 

Target Audience

The target audience of this book will be composed of professionals and researchers working in the field of public communication for development, ICT and knowledge management in various disciplines, e.g. Libraries, BBA and MBA students, undergraduate studies in media and communication, social media company managers, international diplomacy,  education, adult education, sociology, and information technology. The book will also provide insights for media, company executives involved in the training and management of social media product marketing and service delivery teams, social network directors, strategic knowledge management and marketing teams, and target message design departments in different types of business communities and environments. 

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Ethnicity model
• Rural sociology and social media
• Media, sexuality and sexual identities
• Exploring media and gender identity
• Advocacy for gender non-conforming identities
• Human rights and the portrayal of gender identities
• Issue attention dynamics and the promotion of non-conforming sexual orientation
• Digital activism and LGBTI self advocacy
• Ethnic identity vs. global networking
• Leveraging trust in the new economy
• Digital media as community/public/issue agenda setters
• Social media in governance, bottom-up oversight, and social accountability
• Ethnicity and value creation in a networked economy
• Ethnic identity as the capital
• Improving market performance through trust
• Ethnic group experiences with social media (e.g., Latino, African-American, Asian, Caucasian)
• National and ethnic identity as an economic asset
• Ethnic identity in public administration
• Ethnicity in human capital development
• Culture-centric vs. knowledge sharing
• Inter-group communication
• Knowledge-centric best practices on social media
• Nationality/national identity and  the security of indigenous culture
• Social media networking and knowledge creation
• Organizing cultural learning
• Social media impact on immigrants’ worldviews 
• Social media impact on indigenous groups’ worldviews 
• Customs, values, and emergence of social media
• Local customs and social media: Debate
• Trust in organizational leadership
• Social media and local, national, global economic development

Submission Procedures

Researchers, scholars, and practitioners are invited to submit a chapter proposal of 500-1000 words clearly explaining the background of the proposed chapter and a short bio on or before October 31, 2019. The abstract should include a proposed title, rationale, and investigative method. The bios should consist of affiliation, professional title, and any significant publications. Authors will be notified by January 31, 2020, about the status of their proposals, and selected authors will receive guidelines to prepare their chapters. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by June 30, 2020. 

All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be asked to serve as reviewers for this project. 

Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book, Compromised Identities: The Role of Social Media in dismantling ethnic and national borders. All papers are accepted based on a double-blind peer review editorial process.

All submissions should be sent to engwainmbi@gmail.com with a copy to engwainm@uncc.edu Subject: ‘Social Media Book.’

Publisher

The complete prospectus for the book will be submitted to the Editor, Communication, Routledge world's leading academic publisher in the Humanities and Social Sciences. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://www.routledge.com /. This publication is anticipated to be released in spring, 2021. 

Important Dates

• October 31, 2019: Proposal Submission Deadline
• January 31, 2020: Notification of Acceptance
• June 30, 2020: Full Chapter Submission
• August 31, 2020: Review Results Returned
• October 31, 2020: Final Acceptance Notification
• December 30, 2020, Final Chapter Submission
• Inquiries can be forwarded to

Prof. Dr. Emmanuel K. Ngwainmbi

Department of Communication Studies

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Email: engwainm@uncc.edu or engwainmbi@gmail.com 

Wageningen University and Research

Would you like to work at a top class university, ranking among the world’s leading institutions in the food, agri- and environmental domains? Are you an ambitious and enthusiastic communication scholar?

Then come and join our Strategic Communication group as Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in a tenure track position!

Within this position, you are responsible for the organisation, implementation and coordination of new research activities as well as building up a leading international position. We expect from you to generate external financial support for an innovative research agenda. We also challenge you to motivate and teach students and develop new courses. A significant part of the teaching duties includes acquainting students from various programmes with different forms of communication research, and assisting them in developing executing coherent research projects. We provide training and coaching is for you in order to accomplish all this.

You prefer inter- or transdisciplinary approaches and an international orientation. To address current problems and solutions, societal engagement (e.g. between governments, societal actors and researchers) are both a topic for analysis, as well as an approach to work with society in teaching and research projects. As our new colleague you will critically explore and contribute to debates on topics such as:

- the role of digital communication and new media in processes of change, for instance in relation to sustainable production and consumption;

• persuasive communication strategies in the public sphere and everyday interaction, for instance around environmental issues, (public) health, and consumption;
• questions around dialogue, citizen engagement and ‘new democratic spaces’, for instance regarding urbanization, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• interaction around knowledges and knowledge production in these and other contexts, as introduced above.

We ask

You are an ambitious and hardworking scientist and a standout colleague, dedicated to research and education within our broad field of expertise.

You:

• hold a PhD in a relevant social science field- or discipline (e.g. communication science, innovation studies, psychology, science and technology studies, sociology, public administration, anthropology, environmental policy, development studies etc.);
• are an inspiring teacher and student supervisor with enthusiasm for teaching and working with students in an international setting;
• have the ability to teach diverse communication theories and research methods (both qualitative and quantitative);
• have a strong affinity with life sciences;
• have a proven international and interdisciplinary orientation;
• have an excellent publication record relative to your stage of career;
• possess the capacity or potential of acquiring, leading and managing externally-funded research projects;
• are committed to achieve societal impact in relation to global challenges;
• enjoy a collaborative orientation and possess good management skills.

This position requires an excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page

We offer

We offer you a challenging and meaningful career trajectory called Tenure Track within the COM group. This challenging career path starts at the level of assistant professor, from which you can grow into an associate professor and obtain ius promovendi and furthermore grow to personal professor position. Depending on your experience and track record, you can enter at various levels.

You will receive training and mentorship and interdisciplinary (international) cooperation is stimulated. As we will only be selecting excellent talent to take part in Tenure Track, this will be a good stepping stone to a further career within our organization or elsewhere.

We offer a temporary contract for 7 years followed by a permanent position, after good evaluations. The salary will depend on expertise and experience and the maximum gross salary for Assistant Professors is €5,656 per month and for Associate Professors the salary can grow up to €6,738 per month. Both based on a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities. In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours and holidays can possibly be determined in consultation so that an optimal balance between work and private life is possible;
• excellent pension plan through ABP;
• 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
• a flexible working time: the possibility to work a maximum of 2 hours per week extra and thereby to build up extra leave;
• a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
• a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
• use the sports facilities on campus
• Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a learning environment.

We offer a versatile job in an international environment with varied activities in a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

More information

We would like to receive your online application with motivation letter and curriculum vitae before October 1st, 2019. The first round of interviews will be held on October 7 or 8, 2019. Additional information: Prof. Dr. ir. L. Klerkx, (laurens.klerkx@wur.nl or tel. 0317-484694) or Dr. M. Poortvliet (marijn.poortvliet@wur.nl or tel. 0317-484004).

Please find additional information about the research programme Communication and change in pluralist contexts’ look at https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Social-Sciences/Strategic-Communication-Group/Research.htm

You can read more about Tenure Track within Wageningen UR on https://www.wur.nl/en/Jobs/Why-choose-Wageningen-University-Research/Your-development-in-focus/Tenure-Track.htm.

We are

About the group Strategic Communication

Our group’s research and teaching is connected to life science issues of global importance, such as food production, sustainable consumption, climate change, nature conservation, land use planning, and health. Collaboration with social and natural scientists is a defining element of the group’s research and education portfolio. In education, the group contributes to various programmes, most prominently the bachelor programme “Communicatie en Life Sciences” and the master programme “Communication, Health and Life Sciences”. The central aim of our group is to understand the role of communication in planned and unplanned change in life sciences domains. Hereto, communication is studied at micro level (e.g., conversations and dialogue) and macro level (e.g., public debates), and includes mediated (e.g., social media and blogs) and non-mediated (e.g., expert-lay interactions) forms of communication. Communication themes such as:

• the mobilization of actors around issues e.g. through persuasive strategies,
• implications of digital communication for engagement with life science issues in the public sphere
• questions around construction and communication of knowledge in a ‘post-truth’ society could be of interest.

The organization

Wageningen University and Research Centre Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus – each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society – such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don’t do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on ‘the quality of life’, turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. For further information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look at www.jobsat.wur.nl. The organization Wageningen University and Research Centre Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus – each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society – such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don’t do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on ‘the quality of life’, turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. For further information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look at http://www.jobsat.wur.nl.

The A.Q. Miller School, USA

Department: 3670020150 Journalism & Mass Communicaton

Job no: 508106

Work type: Academic / Faculty - 9 month

Location: Manhattan, Kansas

Categories: Communications / Public Relations / Marketing, Education / Instructional, Arts / Humanities

Pay Grade: 001

Apply here: https://careers.k-state.edu/cw/en-us/job/508106/assistant-professor-strategic-communication

About This Role:

The A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Strategic Communication. The successful candidate will teach a variety of advertising and public relations courses, develop graduate and undergraduate electives, supervise master's theses and projects, and have research interests that complement current faculty foci (e.g. health communication, community communication, political communication, emerging technologies, etc.). Must have completed a Ph.D. by the start date - August 2020. The teaching load for this position is a two-two with research and service expectations. For more information the committee chair Dr. Nancy Muturi at nmuturi@ksu.edu

The Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication will be expected to:

• Teach a variety of undergraduate skills-based and theoretical courses in advertising and public relations, (e.g. advertising and/or public relations writing, digital media, social media, campaigns) and upper-level strategic communication electives in the candidate's interest area.
• Teach graduate-level courses within the candidate's area of research interest, upon admission to the graduate faculty.
• Advise graduate students and serve on thesis/project committees after attaining graduate faculty status.
• Develop and administer online graduate courses as part of our online graduate emphasis in strategic communication.
• Continue to develop a track record of original research in advertising, public relations or relevant area.
• Apply for internal and extramural research grants individually or through multidisciplinary collaborations to support research and teaching where applicable.
• Engage in school, university, and community service, as well as outreach with advertising and public relations professionals and media organizations.

Why Join Us:

The A.Q. Miller School: Founded in 1910, it is one of the oldest programs of its type in the nation. The Miller School is accredited by The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications and was named among the Top 10 Universities to receive an undergraduate degree in media. It has residential and online master’s programs in mass communication and is part of K-State’s interdisciplinary doctoral program in Leadership Communication. For more information, visit http://jmc.ksu.edu/.

Kansas State University: Founded in 1863 as one of the first land-grant universities, K-State is located in Manhattan, Kansas, about 120 miles west of Kansas City. The student population totals nearly 25,000. K-State is the first in the nation among state-supported schools in Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, and Goldwater scholarships. The university’s athletic teams compete in the Big 12 Conference. The Princeton Review 2020 edition of 'Best 385 Colleges' placed Kansas State University No. 2 in the nation for the best quality of life, great relationship with the surrounding town and best health services. KSU ranked No. 3 for happiest students. KSU also ranked No. 7 for best-run college and best athletic facilities.

Manhattan: The city has a permanent population of about 56,000. The county seat for Riley County and the retail center for a three-county region, Manhattan is in the middle of the scenic Flint Hills. The city boasts a remarkably high quality of life, including a variety of arts programs, an abundance of parks, many sports and recreation facilities, shopping opportunities and the KSU-focused Aggieville business district. Visit www.manhattan.org for more information

We Support Diversity and Inclusion:

The A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications in the College of Arts and Sciences seeks to foster diversity in a commitment to recruit, retain and resource peoples historically under-represented in university education in the United States. Fostering diversity goes beyond increasing the numbers of underrepresented students, faculty, and staff. It also includes a commitment to substantial curricular offerings, resources, and programming that foregrounds the knowledge, perspectives, cultures, and histories of marginalized communities. A truly diverse college culture and structure will benefit all members of the university community to better serve and excel in an increasingly global and multicultural world.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

Minimum Requirements:

An earned doctorate in mass communications or a related field with teaching and research focus in any area of strategic communication. ABD applicants, with demonstrated potential for publication in peer-reviewed journals, teaching experience, and the expectation of completion of the doctoral degree by August 2020. (Evidence needed for expected graduation date)

Prior experience teaching or assisting in strategic communication (Ad and PR courses). Please see this link for information on the newly developed undergraduate curriculum https://jmc.k-state.edu/academics/undergrad

Evidence of or potential for a programmatic line of research.

Demonstrated commitment to equity and an ability to work effectively with diverse populations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Professional experience in advertising, public relations, marketing or areas related to mass communications

Evidence of engagement in community networks and outreach activities

Other Requirements:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment

How to Apply:

Please submit the ONE pdf containing the following documents:

• Current Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter, outlining research interests, experience, teaching interests, teaching philosophy, and professional experience
• Name and contact information for three professional references
• *Optional* Any additional information or links to information that may enhance your application

Anticipated Salary Range

$55,000 - $65,000 / 9 month contract

Review of Applications Begins:

October 15, 2019, and continues until the position is filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and actively seeks diversity among its employees.

Background Screening Statement:

In connection with your application for employment, Kansas State University will procure a Background Screen on you as part of the process of considering your candidacy as an employee.

Rare Book School, University of Virginia, USA

Deadline: November 2019

Rare Book School’s Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography (SoFCB) invites applications for its 2020–21 cohort of junior fellows. The deadline is 1 November 2019.

Continuing the work of the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Critical Bibliography (2012–17), this scholarly society works to advance the study of texts, images, and artifacts as material objects through capacious, interdisciplinary scholarship—and to enrich humanistic inquiry and education by identifying, mentoring, and training promising early-career scholars. Junior Fellows will be encouraged and supported in integrating the methods of critical bibliography into their teaching and research, fostering collegial conversations about historical and emerging media across disciplines and institutions, and sharing their knowledge with broader publics.

The fellowship includes tuition waivers for two Rare Book School courses, as well as funding for Junior Fellows to participate in the Society’s annual meeting and orientation. Additional funds are available for fellows to organize symposia at their home institutions, and fellows will have the option of attending a bibliographical field school to visit libraries, archives, and collections in a major metropolitan area. After completing two years in good standing as Junior Fellows, program participants will have the option to become Senior Fellows in the Society.

The Society is committed to supporting diversity and to advancing the scholarship of outstanding persons of every race, gender, sexual orientation, creed, and socioeconomic background, and to enhancing the diversity of the professions and academic disciplines it represents, including those of the professoriate, museums, libraries, archives, public humanities, and digital humanities. We warmly encourage prospective applicants from a wide range of disciplines, institutions, and areas of expertise.

For more information and to apply, please visit: http://rarebookschool.org/admissions-awards/fellowships/sofcb/

For more information about diversity and the SoFCB, please visit the Diversity & Outreach Committee’s Welcome Letter: https://rarebookschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/SoFCB_Welcome_Letter_2019.pdf

Inquiries about the Junior Fellows Program can be directed to Sonia Hazard, SoFCB Selection Committee Chair, at shazard@fsu.edu, or Donna Sy, SoFCB Administrative Director, at rbs-mellon@virginia.edu.​