[Commlist] PhD scholarship in digital media and scandal at University of Copenhagen

*Three-year PhD scholarship in digital media and scandal at the 
Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen*

Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship**studying citizen 
perspectives on and participation in scandals in a digital media context 
at the Department of Communication. The chosen candidate will be 
employed by the PhD School at the Faculty of Humanities, University of 
Copenhagen, and enrolled at the Department of Communication, Section of 
Media Studies.

The scholarship is for 3 years starting on 1 February 2025.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD-candidate who will conduct 
research as part of the research project “EXPOSING: The Public Value of 
Socio-Mediated Scandals in the Digital Age” funded by the Independent 
Research Fund Denmark (September 2024-February 2028, grant ID: 
10.46540/3097-00035B).

The EXPOSING project examines how scandals emerge and progress over time 
and across media, as citizens no longer passively witness scandals 
through mass media but take an active role by posting their opinions 
online and becoming a driving force in exposing and judging moral 
transgressions. The project aims to show how citizens’ participation in 
digital publics affects the ways in which scandals develop, and how 
scandals, as a result of being increasingly citizen-driven, become sites 
for public communication of concern. The hypothesis is that scandals 
have the potential to create public value by occasioning citizens’ 
engagement in the negotiation of what a society considers contestable.

Within the larger framework of the EXPOSING project, the candidate will 
carry out a three-year PhD-project with the overall purpose of 
investigating how and why citizens engage in scandals and scandal 
communication on social media.

We invite project proposals with innovative ideas for how to empirically 
study citizens’ participation in, opinions about, and motivations for 
debating contemporary scandals on social media, preferably using a 
mixed-methods approach. The project proposal could address questions 
such as: How can the PhD-project contribute to a theoretical rethinking 
of the concept of scandal in a digital media context? How can citizens’ 
participation in scandals online be empirically studied in new ways? Why 
is it important and what motivates you to study contemporary scandals 
from a citizen perspective?

We are looking for a candidate with:

  * a background in media and/or communication studies, preferably with
    knowledge about digital media and communication, digital platforms,
    and digital culture,
  * interest and experience in empirical media audience research in
    digital contexts, e.g. in collecting and analysing audience data
    using digital ethnography, surveys, qualitative interviews, doing
    quantitative and qualitative analyses of digital media content,
    social media posts, etc.,
  * strong skills in organising and managing professional work and
    juggling multiple tasks,
  * a keen interest in communication to stakeholders and the broader 
public.

The successful candidate will work closely with the EXPOSING research 
team, which includes scholars with expertise in digital media and 
communication studies, celebrity studies, journalism studies, and 
political communication. The team includes Professor Nete Nørgaard 
Kristensen (PI, who will supervise the PhD project), Professor Anne 
Jerslev (co-PI), Associate Professor Manuel Menke, and Postdoc Mikkel 
Bækby Johansen.

*Introduction*
The PhD program is a study program which aims at training PhD students, 
at an international level, to undertake research, development, and 
teaching assignments. These qualifications open a window of opportunity 
to a variety of careers within the private and public sectors. The 
program includes the drafting of a PhD thesis, active participation in 
research networks and the Department’s scholarly life, PhD courses, 
teaching, and other forms of knowledge dissemination. The standard 
duration of the PhD programme is three years of full-time studies, which 
equals 180 ECTS credits.

*Qualification requirements*
Applicants must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent 
and, as minimum, have submitted a master’s thesis for which they have 
received pre-approval at the time of application.

The qualifications of applicants with non-Danish master’s degrees will 
be assessed to decide whether they correspond to the Danish level. For 
further information, please refer to the websiteof the Ministry of 
Education and Research: 
https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/general-assessments-for-specific-countries/?set_language=en 
<https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/general-assessments-for-specific-countries/?set_language=en>

Applicants must possess skills in written and spoken academic English at 
a high level. Knowledge of and some proficiency in Nordic/Danish 
language will be an advantage. If deemed necessary, the Department may 
request that applicants document their English skills.

For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, 
please refer to: PhD Programs - Guide to studies and admission – 
University of Copenhagen (ku.dk) <https://phd.ku.dk/english/>

For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please 
refer to: https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/ <https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/>

Applicants are also invited to familiarize themselves with the ongoing 
research at the faculty: Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk) 
<https://humanities.ku.dk/research/>, especially at the Department of 
Communication <https://comm.ku.dk/> and in the Section of Media Studies. 
<https://comm.ku.dk/research/media-studies/>

*Equal Opportunity Workplace*
University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society, and 
welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their 
personal backgrounds. For more information on the diverse working place 
environment at the University and the University’s participation in the 
HRS4R, please see: HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen 
(ku.dk) 
<https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/>

*Application*
To be awarded a PhD scholarship the applicant has to enroll as a PhD 
student at the Faculty of Humanities, cf. the rules of the Danish 
Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013.

*How to apply*
Applications must be submitted online. Click on the “Apply now” icon at 
the bottom of this advertisement to apply. The application must be 
written in English, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or 
Word format:

  * *Project abstract* (please fill in the “Project abstract” box in the
    application form. Must not exceed 1,200 characters).
  * *Cover letter* detailing your motivation and background for applying
    for the specific PhD project as part of the larger EXPOSING project.
  * *Project description* outlining the project’s theoretical, empirical
    and analytical components and responding to the three posed
    questions above (should not exceed 12,000 keystrokes, including time
    schedule for the three years but excluding bibliography. You can
    find more information here

<https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/how-to-obtain-a-phd-scholarship/admission-requirements/> about
    how to write your proposal.
  * *CV *
  * *Diploma and transcripts of records* (BSc and master’s degree).
  * Other information for consideration, e.g. pre-approval of master's
    thesis, list of publications, documentation of English language
    qualifications (if relevant).

/Please note that it is only possible to upload one document per 
attachment category. If more than one document must be uploaded in the 
same category, please make sure that they are scanned and collected into 
one file./

On the website of the PhD School, you will find information about the 
enclosures to include with your electronic application: 
https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/how-to-obtain-a-phd-scholarship/admission-requirements/ 
<https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/how-to-obtain-a-phd-scholarship/admission-requirements/>

*The recruitment process*
The following criteria are applied when assessing PhD applications:

  * Research qualifications as reflected in the project proposal.
  * Quality and feasibility of the project.
  * Qualifications and knowledge in media and/or communication studies.
  * Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies.
After the deadline for applications, the Head of Department considers 
advice from the Appointment Committee and then selects applicants for 
assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been 
shortlisted. After this, the Head of Department sets up an expert 
Assessment Committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The 
selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. 
Individual applicants will be offered the opportunity to comment on the 
committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is 
announced. The assessments are expected to be completed by mid to end 
October 2024.

For further information about the application procedure, please refer to 
the University of Copenhagen website: Recruitment process – University 
of Copenhagen (ku.dk) 
<https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/>

*Terms of employment*
PhD students are paid a salary in accordance with the agreement between 
the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional 
Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the 
monthly salary starts at approximately 30,700 DKK/roughly 4,120 EUR 
(April 2024 level) plus a 17.1% pension contribution. The PhD student 
has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3-year period without 
additional pay. The work obligation can include for instance teaching.

*International applicant?*
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for 
international researchers and accompanying families, including support 
before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat 
partners. Please find more information about these services as well as 
information on entering and working in Denmark, please see: For 
international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University 
of Copenhagen (ku.dk) <https://ism.ku.dk/>

*Contact information*
For further information about the structure and rules of the PhD 
programme, please email the PhD Administration at Søndre and City 
Campus, email: (phd /at/ hrsc.ku.dk) <mailto:(phd /at/ hrsc.ku.dk)>.

Information about the recruitment process is available from HR South and 
City Campuses*,* email: (hrsc /at/ hrsc.ku.dk) <mailto:(hrsc /at/ hrsc.ku.dk)>. 
*Please refer to case number: 211-1862/24-2H #1.*

If you have any questions about the academic content of the PhD 
programme or the project, please e-mail PhD coordinator and PI Nete 
Nørgaard Kristensen, email: (netenk /at/ hum.ku.dk) <mailto:(netenk /at/ hum.ku.dk)>.

*The deadline for applications is 1 September 2024 at 23:59 
CEST* (/Central European summer time/Central European time)/.

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline 
will not be considered. However, changes may be made to the submitted 
application right up until the deadline.

*SØG STILLINGEN* 
<https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1307&ProjectId=162117&DepartmentId=18980&MediaId=5&SkipAdvertisement=true>

**

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