Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Media Studies : Citizens, AI and news experiences

About the project / work tasks :

The IMAGINE project explores how people in Norway perceive artificial intelligence (AI), and analyses changes in trust and understandings, at a time when AI becomes integrated into everyday media experiences. The goal of the project is to develop new conceptualizations of what AI means to people, grounded in everyday life, and to assess democratic implications of emergent media technologies.

The postdoc will design and conduct a qualitative case study of citizen responses to AI in news media in Norway. Relevant research questions concern experiences with or attitudes towards different uses of AI in the media, implications for trust and authenticity, perceptions of AI and algorithms in digital information environments, news and technology in everyday life, differences in attitudes to AI between journalists and audiences, or experiences and understandings amongst different groups of citizens.

A variety of analytical perspectives and qualitative methods are relevant, including public connection research, folk theory analysis, critical algorithm studies, ethnography and qualitative interviews, media diaries, data donations and digital trace data, and newsroom studies in combination with audience analysis. The case study conducted by the postdoc will be part of a work package on AI in everyday media experiences in Norway, prioritizing qualitative methods. The Imagine project will also conduct representative surveys through the Norwegian citizen panel (KODEM) and the team will collaborate on developing insights across studies.

Applicants should propose a sketch for a postdoctoral project, to be further developed in collaboration with the project leader upon hiring. We expect the successful candidate to be able to conduct research in Norway and to join our team in Bergen. The postdoc will be part of a dynamic, inclusive and interdisciplinary environment, in the IMAGINE project and in Bergen Media Use Research Group, which constitutes a stimulating environment for young scholars.

Qualifications and personal qualities :

• The applicant must hold a PhD or an equivalent degree within media and communication, journalism, digital culture, sociology or other relevant disciplines, or must have submitted his / her doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.
• Proven interest in issues related to media users, news, citizens, society and technology.
• Experience from relevant qualitative or digital methods is an advantage, particularly proven experience with qualitative analysis of news users.
• Ability to work independently in a structured manner, to collaborate well with others, and to contribute to a dynamic, inclusive and ambitious research environment.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English.
• A sufficient command of the Norwegian language pertaining to the proposed research.

Potential candidates may be invited to the department for an interview.

Applicants are advised to familiarize themselves with :

Relevant publications include :

About the position of postdoctoral research fellow :

The position of postdoctoral research fellow is a fixed-term appointment with the primary objective of qualifying the appointee for work in top academic positions. The fixed-term period for this position is 3years. Individuals may not be hired for more than one fixed-term period as a postdoctoral research fellow at the same institution.

A research proposal of 4-5 pages must accompany the application. The proposal should contain a progress plan for the different parts of the research work, as well as a plan regarding publishing. It is a requirement that the project is completed in the course of the period of employment.

We can offer :

About The University of Bergen (UiB)

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.

There are seven departments at Faculty of Social Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.