[Commlist] Vacancy: Postdoc in Journalism Studies at Roskilde University (Denmark)

VACANCY: Postdoc in Journalism Studies at Roskilde University (Denmark)

In the research project The Datafied News Industry (DANI), we are 
looking for one postdoctoral researcher to explore how data is used in 
the development and operation of AI, automation, and/or recommender 
systems inside news organizations. We offer 24 months of employment. 
Deadline for applications is February 15, 2024. Please find the full 
advertisement of the position below and (with a few more details) at 
https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1310&ProjectId=147113&DepartmentId=18969&MediaId=5&SkipAdvertisement=False 
<https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1310&ProjectId=147113&DepartmentId=18969&MediaId=5&SkipAdvertisement=False>

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The Department of Communication and Arts (DCA) at Roskilde University 
(Denmark) invites applications for one postdoc position. The position 
begins 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/ 
<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.

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.

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.

For further information about the position or to obtain a full academic 
description of the project, please contact PI, Associate Professor Aske 
Kammer on askek[at]ruc[dot]dk.

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/ 
<http://www.ruc.dk/en/job/>

Only applications in English are accepted.

Applications must include:

- Cover letter

- CV

- Documentation of education

- Teaching portfolio

- 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.

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.

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