[Commlist] Job Opening PhD Candidate KU Leuven - Conspiracy Theories on YouTube

4-year fully funded PhD position
Institute for Media Studies of KU Leuven, Belgium

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    Imagining Opaque Power: The Production and Consumption of Conspiracy
    Theories on YouTube

<https://soc.kuleuven.be/ims>


          Project

Conspiracy theories about the ‘deep state’, medical industries, 
politicians, celebrities and mass media are highly popular in western 
societies - particularly amongst youngsters - and function as 'cognitive 
maps' or 'meta-narratives' to make sense of opaque power in globalized 
institutions. Critiquing the academic blind spot for the way people 
construct conspiracy theories in everyday life and, particularly, the 
role of social media therein, this research project studies how and why 
conspiracy theories are produced and consumed in audio-visual video’s on 
YouTube. To answer this question, different complementary methods are 
applied in three phases: 1) a multi-modal content analysis of 
conspirational video’s about the ‘power elite’ (i.e., politicians and 
popstars) to construct a typology of these oppositional readings, 2) 20 
in-depth (Skype)interviews with the producers of such amateur video’s to 
asses their motives to critically ‘decode’ mainstream media content and 
their audio-visual construction of conspiracy theories 3) 20 in-depth 
interviews with strategically selected high school students in Flanders 
to empirically assess if, how and why they decode, modify, post and 
share these video’s on social media platforms.


          Institute for Media Studies - KU Leuven Belgium


The Institute for Media Studies is a diverse and dynamic research group 
studying the production, effects, uses and perceptions of media and the 
broader policy in which media are embedded. IMS conducts both 
fundamental and applied research. Moreover, the research group employs 
qualitative, quantitative, and multi-methodological approaches, as well 
as secondary data. IMS strives for excellence in both research and 
teaching and publishes widely in international, peer-reviewed, 
highly-rated journals. More particularly, the research topics of IMS 
are: strategic communication; journalism and news; human-computer 
interaction and (digital) media culture. The latter topic - focusing on 
the way media and culture influence each other and develop in tandem - 
aligns with this research project that will be supervised by Prof. Dr. 
Stef Aupers.
Website unit <https://soc.kuleuven.be/ims>


          Profile

The candidate:

Has a master degree in the social sciences (sociology and / or 
communication science / media studies)
Has a high grade point average for the bachelor and master programs
Has an affinity with / academic knowledge of digital / social media, 
internet culture (relevant courses, subject master thesis)
Has ample experience with qualitative research (particularly content 
analysis, in-depth interviews) and (preferably also) digital methods
Is both interested in empirical research and (the development of) theory 
in mediastudies / social sciences
Has excellent skills in English (mastering the Dutch language is an 
extra asset)

<https://soc.kuleuven.be/ims>


          Offer

A fulltime position, initially for 1 year, with an extension to 4 years 
after good evaluation
A monthly stipend of about 1900,- euro net, depending on family 
situation and work experience
Possibilities for further professional development (e.g. through 
additional courses, participation in workshops and seminars)
A stimulating and demanding research environment


          Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Stef Aupers, tel.: +32 16 
37 23 07, mail: (stef.aupers /at/ kuleuven.be) <mailto:(stef.aupers /at/ kuleuven.be)>.
You can apply for this job no later than November 12, 2019 via the 
online application tool 
<http://www.kuleuven.be/eapplyingforjobs/light/55451134>
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, 
regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or 
impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or 
support, please contact us at (diversiteit.HR /at/ kuleuven.be) 
<mailto:(diversiteit.HR /at/ kuleuven.be)>.


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