[Commlist] PhD stipend UCPH - PhD Scholarship in Rhetorical Argumentation Theory and Journalism

  PhD Scholarship in Rhetorical Argumentation Theory and Journalism

The Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of 
Copenhagen invites applications for a PhD scholarship associated with 
the Carlsberg funded project “Tell Me the Truth: Fact-Checkers in an Age 
of Epistemic Instability” (The TMT-project). The scholarship is fully 
funded for three years and will be filled on September 1, 2022, or as 
soon as possible thereafter.

The TMT-project investigates questions of truth and facts in political 
debate and focuses primarily on the practice and role of journalistic 
fact-checkers. The project understands the establishment of facts as a 
fundamentally rhetorical practice where people argue for and try to gain 
support for their way of understanding and conveying the truth. 
Moreover, the project highlights that this happens in a world where 
traditional authorities and institutions are severely challenged, while, 
at the same time, the rise of the internet, social media, algorithms, 
AI, and machine learning are fundamentally reshaping media and politics, 
making it possible for new types of actors to gain power in a hybrid 
media system.

The TMT-project contains four subprojects asking different but related 
questions about journalistic fact-checking and the development of this 
practice. The project description sets a clear framework within which 
all subprojects must be further developed. The subproject for which the 
PhD fellow is responsible will explore journalistic fact-checking 
practices in journalistic fact-checking newsroom. In the project 
description, suggested methods are fieldwork in selected fact-checking 
news organizations combined with text analysis of the journalistic 
product. Thus, this study can be regarded as action research that 
investigates and constructively develops a current practice 
collaborating with fact-checkers.

A short version of the project description can be found 
here:<https://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/da/Bevillingshaver/Formidling/Bevillingsoversigt/CF21_0456_Mette-Bengtsson>https://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/da/Bevillingshaver/Formidling/Bevillingsoversigt/CF21_0456_Mette-Bengtsson 
<https://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/da/Bevillingshaver/Formidling/Bevillingsoversigt/CF21_0456_Mette-Bengtsson>). 
The full project description, including a description of all four 
subprojects, can be forwarded upon request ((bengtsson /at/ hum.ku.dk) 
<mailto:(bengtsson /at/ hum.ku.dk)>).

The ideal candidate is:

  * An excellent scholar of rhetoric, media studies or journalism studies
  * Experienced in theories relevant for the project, e.g., rhetorical
    argumentation theory, theories of public controversies and mediated
    political debate, journalistic news values and roles, and the use of
    algorithms, AI, and machine learning in a hybrid media system.
  * Experienced in methods for collecting and analyzing material
    relevant for the project, e.g., fieldwork in news organizations
    (newsroom studies), action research, protocol analysis, qualitative
    interviews, and qualitative text analysis.
  * Interested in fact-checking as journalistic practice
  * Expected to independently develop the subproject within the
    framework of the overall project, including a timeline illustrating
    the feasibility of the subproject
  * Reflecting on possible international exchange and collaboration
    during the project period.

The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the 
project leader, Associate professor Mette Bengtsson, and the other 
members of the TMT-project group at the University of Copenhagen. In 
addition, the successful candidate will be employed at The Section of 
Rhetoric with the opportunity of being part of The Rhetoric research 
group or other relevant research groups at the department.

For further information about the position, please contact PI Associate 
professor Mette Bengtsson ((bengtsson /at/ hum.ku.dk) 
<mailto:(bengtsson /at/ hum.ku.dk)>).

*Admission requirements*
Applicants need to hold a two-year Master's degree (120 ECTS) or the 
equivalent.

Applicants must send pre-approval of their thesis if it’s not completed 
at the time of the application deadline.

Applicants with a non-Danish Master's degree will have their degree 
assessed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science in order to 
establish that their Master's degree is equivalent to a Danish Master's 
degree. Please read more at the Ministry of Higher Education and 
Sciences website: https://ufm.dk/en <https://ufm.dk/en>

*Qualification Requirements*
The applicant’s qualifications for the scholarship are evaluated by the 
applicant’s general educational and academic background. Grade average, 
thesis grade, language competencies, publications, and other academic 
activities will be taken into account.

In addition, the proposed PhD project and study plan will be evaluated 
with regard to originality, choice of theory and method, disciplinary 
relevance, and prospects for completion within the required timeframe of 
36 months.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to reflect on how their project 
relates to present research activities at the department.

*Communication skills*
Excellent communication skills in English are essential and applicants 
must speak and write academic English. The administration may ask 
applicants to document their proficiency in English at any time in the 
recruitment process, if considered necessary.

*Application requirements*
The application must be sent electronically via the link "Apply now" at 
the bottom of the page in Adobe PDF or Word format. ZIP files may not be 
used.

Please note that each field in the applicant form can only contain one 
file of max 20 Mb.

*The application must include:*

*Project abstract*
(1,200 characters)

*Cover letter*

*CV*
Please include a complete CV including a list of publications, where 
relevant.

*Diploma and transcript of records *
Applicants must upload the following documentation:

  * A copy of master's degree diploma (if not available before the
    application deadline, a pre-approval must be submitted)
  * A copy of master’s degree transcript of records (an official
    description of the grading scale must be included)
  * A copy of bachelor’s degree diploma
  * A copy of bachelor’s degree transcript of records (an official
    description of the grading scale must be included)
If the master diploma and/or examination records are in another language 
than English, German, French, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, 
please include a translation into either of these languages in your 
application.

The translation of diplomas/certificates and transcripts must be made or 
approved by a state-authorized translator and interpreter or at the 
embassy/a Danish consulate/ or consulate of the country where the 
original document was issued or where the translation was made.

The administration encourages applicants from within the EU to enclose a 
Diploma Supplement. The Diploma Supplement is part of a common European 
framework for transparency of competencies and qualifications – the 
EuroPass framework./Find more information at this page: /

https://europa.eu/europass/en/diploma-supplement 
<https://europa.eu/europass/en/diploma-supplement>

Chinese applicants are required to enclose a CADGEEC (The China Academic 
degrees and Graduate Education Evaluation Committee) certificate. Read 
more at this page: 
http://www.cdgdc.edu.cn/xwyyjsjyxx/aboutus/structure/evaluation/265843.shtml 
<http://www.cdgdc.edu.cn/xwyyjsjyxx/aboutus/structure/evaluation/265843.shtml>

Please read about admission requirements and application requirements at 
this page: 
https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/become-phd-student/how-to/application-requirements/ 
<https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/become-phd-student/how-to/application-requirements/>

Applicants can amend their application after submission up until the 
application deadline.

*Project description (a further elaboration of the already proposed 
subproject)*

The project description should outline the overall objectives, method 
and design of the project, as well as a schedule for its implementation.

The project proposal must not exceed 6 standard pages, corresponding to 
approx. 12,000 characters (including curriculum, title, punctuation, 
figures, footnotes and references, but excluding bibliography / 
bibliography). A substantial breach of this will result in the 
application being excluded from consideration.

*Please adhere to the guidelines at this page:*

https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/become-phd-student/how-to/application-requirements/project-guidelines/ 
<https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/become-phd-student/how-to/application-requirements/project-guidelines/>

*Other relevant material*
Statements of consent can be submitted with the application. For 
example, agreement of access to special archives, agreement of exchange 
at an international university, or a statement of consent from a 
potential supervisor/ co-supervisor etc. Do not upload or submit 
recommendations, publications or your Master thesis.

*The recruitment process*
After the deadline for applications, applicants are selected for 
assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants 
will be notified whether they are shortlisted for assessment or not. An 
Assessment Committee are appointed, and the selected applicants are 
notified of the composition of this committee. Each applicant has the 
opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment which relates to 
their own application. The assessments are expected to be complete mid 
May 2022.

Afterwards, a selection of qualified candidates will be invited for an 
interview. The interviews will be held in May/June. Please be advised 
that a positive assessment does not necessarily mean that you will be 
invited for an interview.

For further information on the recruitment process, please see 
University of Copenhagen’s website: 
https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ 
<https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/>.

*Enrolment*
As a PhD scholar at The Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, 
you will be supervised for approximately 180 hours distributed over 6 
semesters. In addition to this, you must complete PhD courses of a total 
approximating 30 ECTS. On completion of the PhD program, you must submit 
a PhD thesis.

Read more about the structure of the PhD program and what it means to be 
enrolled as a PhD scholar at the Faculty of Humanities via this link: 
https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/become-phd-student/what-is-it/ 
<https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/become-phd-student/what-is-it/>

For more information about the PhD School read more at this page: 
https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/ <https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/>

*Terms of employment*
PhD scholars at the Faculty of Humanities are appointed under the terms 
and conditions of the collective agreement between the Danish Ministry 
of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

According to the agreement, PhD scholars are obliged – without any 
additional remuneration – to perform tasks assigned to them 
corresponding to 840 working hours over the three years. These tasks 
will primarily be in the form of teaching, dissemination, research or 
other related academic areas.

Please note that it is normally a precondition for employment that the 
applicant in question does not already have a PhD degree. Applicants who 
have already obtained a PhD degree will, as a main rule, be dismissed.

As an equal opportunity employer, the university invites applications 
from all interested candidates regardless of gender, age, ethnic origin 
or religion.

*Contact information*
For any further questions regarding the recruitment process please 
contact HR South City, e-mail: (hrsc /at/ hrsc.ku.dk) <mailto:(hrsc /at/ hrsc.ku.dk)>, 
please refer to ID number 211-1031/22-2H #1

*Application deadline*
Applicants must submit the application electronically no later than*19 
April 2022 at 23.59 (11.59 pm) (CEST). *

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and 
among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen 
promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. 
Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students 
and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and 
informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working 
conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal 
framework for a successful academic career.


      Info

*Application deadline:*19-04-2022

*Employment start:*01-09-2022

*Department/Location:* Department of Communication

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