Postdoc in Journalism Studies

18 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY

Research Field

Communication sciences

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

Denmark

Application Deadline

15 Feb 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Other

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The Department of Communication and Arts (DCA), Roskilde University, invites applications for one postdoc position. The position begin on May 1, 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter and runs for 24 months. The purpose of the position is to study how audience data is used in the development and operation of AI, automation, and/or recommender systems inside news organizations.

The Department of Communication and Arts

Your daily workplace will be Department of Communication and Arts at Roskilde University. DCA covers RUC’s Communication programs (Communication, Journalism, and Performance Design) and Art programs (Danish, Philosophy, History, and Cultural Encounters).

We conduct excellent, interdisciplinary research in the intersection between Communication, Cultural Studies, Social Science, and Humanities, and offer an innovative and interdisciplinary university environment, characterized by diversity with respect to theory, method, and area of study in research and education. Our research is characterized by double impact, i.e. by the highest academic quality, and by a direct interaction with public, private and civil actors in the society.

We have strong research networks and partnerships with local, regional, national, and international partners with the goal of ensuring the highest quality in all our research-based activities.

Description of the postdoc project

The postdoc position is linked to the research project “The Datafied News Industry” (DANI), which is funded by the Velux Foundation and runs 2024-2027 (https://www.DatafiedNewsIndustry.org/ ). The project is located at the Department of Communication and Arts at Roskilde University, where it is associated with the Journalism and Democracy research group, the Center for News Research, and the Digital Media Lab. The project is a core group of five researchers (both junior and senior), each of whom work on integrated subprojects, so the successful applicant will work closely together with project leader Associate Professor Aske Kammer, an international visiting professor, another post-doctoral researcher, and a PhD student.

The DANI project explores how the news industry collects, understands, and uses data as a strategic resource across different organizational and institutional spaces or contexts (newsrooms, development departments, sales and marketing, management, and in relation to external actors). The main empirical focus is on the Danish news industry, but other countries may be included for comparative reasons (dependent on the successful applicant’s own research interests).

The postdoc will contribute to the DANI project by researching how data is used in the development and operation of AI, automation, and/or recommender systems inside news organizations. To peek inside the algorithmic “black boxes” that select and publicly distribute information, the postdoc should explore which types of data are used in these connections, how they are collected, structured, and prioritized, and how the involved human actors understand and negotiate their importance.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD or the equivalent within media and communication studies, journalism studies, media management, or an adjacent field in the humanities, social sciences or data sciences.

The ideal candidate is an excellent scholar with experience in empirical research and an expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies. Furthermore, the ideal candidate understands how digital technology works and is familiar (or ready to immediately familiarize herself/himself) with current developments at the intersection of journalism studies, media management research, and data science.

The ideal candidate is furthermore expected to demonstrate:

• Good collaborative skills.
• A track-record of publishing in leading internationally journals within the field.
• Good command of Danish or English is necessary. Good command of Danish is considered an asset but not a necessity. Experience in publishing in English is also considered an asset.

Responsibilities and tasks

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Be enterprising and possess good communication skills.
• Be an active collaborative partner in the DANI project – but also to be able to work independently within the framework of the overall project.
• Publish independently and in collaboration with the PI and/or other members of the group.
• Plan and contribute to paper presentations and panels at relevant international conferences.
• Plan and participate in research seminars and network meetings.
• Contribute to popular dissemination of research findings.
• Be an active and present colleague in the Department of Communication and Arts.
• Participate actively in the Journalism and Democracy research group.

Assessment

In the assessment of candidates, consideration will be given to:

• Research prospective including an individual research plan of max 2 pages to be submitted with the application. The candidates are expected to independently outline how they plan to undertake the research (within the framework of the broader DANI project).
• The ability to collaborate closely with research partners.
• The academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.
• The ability to contribute to the development of the department’s internal and external cooperation.

Questions

For further information about the position or to obtain a full academic description of the project, please contact PI, Associate Professor Aske Kammer on [email protected] .

Terms of employment

The employment is full time, 37 hours per week, and refers to Dean Ida Willig.

The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application procedure

After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application

To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/

Only applications in English are accepted. 

Applications must include:

Cover letter 

CV 

Documentation of education 

If duties include teaching - Teaching portfolio (read more about teaching portfolio at Roskilde University here ) 

A complete list of publications 

A maximum of 5 relevant scientific works that you want included in the assessment  

If any of the publications that you want included in the assessment are the result of a joint effort, the extent and the nature of your contribution to each individual work must then be clarified in a co-author statement (find template here ) 

Please submit your application no later than February 15, 2024.

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration. 

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. 

Requirements
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY

Country

Denmark

City

Roskilde (By), Region Sjælland (DK)

Where to apply

Website

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/363374/postdoc-in-journali…

Contact

City

Roskilde (By), Region Sjælland (DK)

STATUS: EXPIRED