Post Doc in Digital Infrastructures
Roskilde University Department of Communication and Arts
Denmark

The Department of Communication and Arts, Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as postdoc in datafication and journalism studies from November 1, 2020 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position as postdoc is limited to a period of 2 years.

The postdoc is part of the research project DataPublics funded by the Velux Foundation Denmark. The project is located at Roskilde University, and the successful applicant will be associated with the research groups Journalism and Democracy and Audiences and Mediated Life at the Department of Communication and Arts. The successful applicant will work in close collaboration with the project leader Associate Professor Jannie Møller Hartley and the Velux-research group around the project DataPublics, assistant professor Mette Bengtsson and PhD student Morten Fisher Sivertsen.

The project

The research project Data Publics examines what the ever-increasing amount of data available in our society means to Journalism, and thus sheds light on the changes in the relations between the news media and the news users. In recent few years, big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon have taken on an increasing role in news distribution, and their increased importance is changing not only the journalism as we know it today, but also the news media ecosystem itself. At the same time, news organizations have big data sets about the behavior of the news user, just as the news user can partly personalize his news consumption through filters and partly subject to filtering through various algorithms. In other words, the data affirmation has fundamentally changed the news journalism, and this project examines what it means and what consequences it has for the democratic conversation and public connection.

The post-doc will contribute to the overall goal of the research project by empirically exploring the reconfigured relationship between news media institutions and their audiences. It will study how digital platforms such as Facebook and Google are changing the infrastructural and economic conditions for news distribution and consumption by mapping out the data and algorithmic infrastructures involved in the rations between platforms and news organsaitions. As such, it will examine how the inherent logics and business models of dominating platform players are restructuring the entire news ecology raising a number of challenges and dilemmas for both legacy news institutions and consumers. The post-doc will, in collaboration with the PI, do interviews and fieldwork in news organizations and use digital methods to collect empirical material that can shed light on the data practices of both news publishers and digital platforms. 

To obtain a full academic description of the project, please contact Jannie Møller Hartley, jath@ruc.dk

Academic profile

The ideal candidate is an excellent media studies scholar, who has experience in digital infrastructure studies – particularly the new empirical and methodological developments in social and digital media. The candidate should be familiar with or have a strong interest in a transdisciplinary methodological approach, and experience with the field of media production studies. The ideal candidate will also have a strong interest and experience in audience studies and journalism studies.

The candidate is expected to demonstrate:

• A strong grounding in critical datafication and digital infrastructure studies
• A grounding in media studies (particularly social and digital media) will be considered a strong asset.
• Knowledge of (or a strong demonstrated interest in) digital methods within media studies and of digital ethnography is of vital importance for the project.
• Likewise, experience (or a strong demonstrated interest) in mapping data and infrastructures will be considered an asset.
• Good command of English is necessary, and experience in publishing in English is considered an asset.
• Applicants with experience in research collaboration will be preferred, as vital parts of the research project will be conducted in collaboration with the project group.

Responsibilities and tasks

The ideal candidate shall be enterprising and possess good communication skills, be visible and involved in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the department.

The candidate is expected to:

• Be an active collaborative partner in the research project.
• Conduct and complete an independent research project in collaboration with the group.
• Publish independently and in collaboration with the research PI and group in relevant peer reviewed journals.
• Plan and contribute to panels at relevant international conferences.
• Plan and participate in research seminars and network meetings.
• Contribute to popular dissemination of research findings and via a project podcast
• Participate actively in the research groups Journalism and Democracy:

 https://forskning.ruc.dk/da/organisations/journalism-and-democracy-2 and

Audiences and Mediated Life:

(https://forskning.ruc.dk/en/organisations/audiences-mediated-life).  

• Be an active and present colleague in the Department of Communication and Arts

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD or the equivalent within media studies and/or journalism studies. Qualifications within the following areas are required:

• Digital Infrastructures
• Media Studies and Journalism Studies

Additionally, qualifications within the following areas are preferred:

• Self-tracking and data-surveillance
• Media regulation
• Social Theory
• Datafication and data-based business models in media

Assessment

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

• scientific production and research prospective (an individual research plan based in the existing project description)
• the ability to promote and utilize research results
• ability to collaborate closely with research partners
• ability to contribute to development of the department’s internal and external cooperation

Questions

For further information about the postdoc, please contact PI Jannie Møller Hartley on tel. (+45) 46 74 37 53 or E-mail: jath@ruc.dk

Terms of employment

The employment is on full time and you will refer to institute head Julie Sommerlund

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 Head of Department 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: 

1. Cover letter 

2. CV 

3. Documentation of education 

4. Teaching portfolio (read more about teaching portfolio at Roskilde University here) 

5. A complete list of publications 

6. 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 2020 September, 15.

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.