January 2025 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

4S Open Panel: The Problem with Privacy
by Samuel DiBella 13 Jan '25

13 Jan '25

Dear colleagues, We invite any submissions to our open panel at 4S 2025, September 3-7, 2025, Seattle WA: /Open panel /The Problem with Privacy /Abstract/ Within the United States, privacy remains a contested and polysemous term. To some, privacy is an amorphous social good; to others, it is a threatened right that must be preserved against intrusion by information technology; to still others, privacy is out-dated or incoherent, an inadequate heuristic for present and future socio-technical realities. Whether privacy should be revitalized or discarded, the concept still holds together a set of affective attachments — we can analyze how instances of ‘privacy’ signify admixtures of belief around the adequacy of U.S. judicial law, the promise of certain tech-led futures, one’s trust in more proximate public and private data actors, and so on. Within the academy, the concept generally iterates heuristics that test novel socio-technical conduct against (more or less conservative) articulations of liberal democratic theory (Nissenbaum 2004, Cohen 2013). In contrast, other work describes the extensive privacy preservation behaviors that individuals or communities practice to protect themselves or how privacy has socially changed over time (Nippert-Eng 2010, Marwick 2023, Igo 2018). In short, ‘privacy’ indexes live tensions — how is the concept made useful, and for who? How do debates around privacy link with broader contestations of technologicalized futures? What relations do privacy practices enact between individuals, communities, tech firms, and the state? This panel invites submissions from scholars who approach privacy through this lens of contestation. We are especially interested in community-engaged research that reflects on the uses (and limitations) of privacy, at a time when the tenets of liberal democracy are increasingly difficult to locate within technology governance. We welcome panelists across a range of fields, such as: urban surveillance and policing, social media and online platforms, healthcare and patient populations, labor. Conveners: Samuel DiBella, Lian Song Abstract submission deadline: January 31, 2025 To submit, please go to the 4S submission page <https://www.4sonline.org/call_for_submissions_seattle.php> and select panel #56. Best wishes, —Sam

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Consistencies/Coexistences: Weaving Critical Perspectives on Technology and Society - University of Naples "Federico II"
by Sara C. Santoriello 13 Jan '25

13 Jan '25

Dear collegues, Game of Tech (www.gameoftech.eu) is a PhD students and post-docs collective at the Department of Social Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II" (Italy). Our seminar series “Consistencies/Coexistences: Weaving Critical Perspectives on Technology and Society” will take place from February to June 2025. Over the course of five sessions, we will explore the sociotechnical dimensions of digitalization by challenging some deeply rooted yet arbitrary dichotomies, such as the divide between hard and soft sciences, the separation of nature and culture, and the equation of the digital with the immaterial. These meetings will serve as generative opportunities for dialogue among researchers, professionals, artists, technical figures, and sector experts, with a strong emphasis on transdisciplinarity and the blending of experiences and viewpoints. Registrations (due Feb 5, 2025): https://bit.ly/GoT2025 For information and inquiries: gameoftech(a)proton.me Most of the sessions will be held in Italian. Program February 12: Digital Commons. (Re)thinking technological distributions and cooperation. March 19: Unboxing AI. Artificial intelligence beyond the black box. April 9: Digital Labour. Work, technologies, conflicts. May 14: AI Ethics. (In)organic practices and policies of care. May 21: AI Warfare. Wars, technologies, algorithms. All sessions will take place from 3 PM to 6 PM in Room G3, San Marcellino. Any update here: https://www.gameoftech.eu/eventi/consistenze-coesistenze-2025 In June, the seminar series will conclude with a two-day event featuring discussion sessions among participants, workshops, and keynote speaker presentations. Scientific Committee: Francesco Amato, Giuseppe Borriello, Marica Castaldi, Dario Chianese, Alberto De Mascellis, Roberto Graziano, Vincenzo Laezza, Jessica Parola, Sara Pastore, Arianna Petrosino, Luca Recano, Sara C. Santoriello, Camilla Volpe

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Online talk: Artificial witness: Generative AI and the visual politics of war
by Adi Kuntsman 13 Jan '25

13 Jan '25

Dear allWe are delighted to extend our invitation to this exciting talk, which will take place in a hybrid format and is now available to join online: Artificial witness: Generative AI and the visual politics of war A talk by Dr Nataliia Laba, University of Groningen Futher details and registration is here https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/artificial-witness-generative-ai-and-the-vi….. Adi

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WEBCAST JAN 13 – ISOC Egypt – The Politics of Digital Infrastructure
by Joly MacFie 13 Jan '25

13 Jan '25

As noted, this is the second in this series. The first is here; '*Digital Infrastructure, An Industry Overview <https://bit.ly/4fUiyfc>*' Real time text for this one is https://bit.ly/4fUiyfc [image: isoc live] <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=4ff81442b919c15cf112406…> On *Monday 13 January 2024* at *18:00 EET* (16:00 UTC) the *Internet Society Egypt Chapter <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=2d63d03e4dac68f78c2ccaf…>* (Internet Masr) presents the second in its infrastructure webinar series with a briefing session ‘*The Politics of Digital Infrastructure*‘. *Ahmed Abdel-Latif <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=7e77ce223e2e58d4f7631bd…>* will delve into the politics of digital infrastructure development, exploring how these critical assets shape 21st-century global politics and competitive dynamics. While the discussion will center on Egypt and its region, the insights will naturally extend to the global context of this ever-evolving industry. *SPEAKER* *Ahmed Abdel-Latif*, MEA Digital Infrastructure Expert *HOST* *Mariam Fayez*, Internet Masr *LIVESTREAM https://youtu.be/_yszeQiKTGg <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=2d95843cb16bb441678a4fe…>* *PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM https://bit.ly/42cmRzk <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=ac880311957ebd8b0caf7f5…>* *REAL TIME TEXT* (see *ISOC.LIVE <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=4ff81442b919c15cf112406…>* ) *TWITTER #DigitalInfrastructure <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=b3c63ef829300a777b23adf…> @Internet_Masr* *#DigitalInfrastructure MASTODON <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=d19c14dd4bceee903afe49f…> | BLUESKY <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=dee509066e9188b1ed9cf87…> | INSTA <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=f09322f6377fc2dd2315dda…> * *SIMULCASTS* *https://twitter.com/ISOC_Live <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=e2a0d453ec458b9e021521b…>* *https://www.twitch.tv/isoclive <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=c1bd28839e4f2d4792e42f3…>* *https://www.facebook.com/liveisoc/ <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=015cd783b1fa8ad7ff63d64…>* *ARCHIVE* *https://archive.org/details/isoc-egypt-digital-infrastructure2 <http://isoc.live/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=c42bf6836311b9e48235d4e…>* (when available) *** ISOC.LIVE is a free webcasting support service for the Internet Society community. Currently unfunded - if you would like to become a monthly sponsor - contact support(a)isoc.live *** - -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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CfA and registrations open - Global Southing Internet, Data and AI studies Workshop
by Jonas Valente 13 Jan '25

13 Jan '25

Hi, AoIR community, We are pleased to announce the registrations open and Call for Abstracts for the upcoming Workshop “Global Southing Internet, Data and AI studies”, which will be held on 25-26 March 2025 at the Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford (United Kingdom). This two-day workshop aims to highlight approaches from the Global South in the field of Internet, Data and AI Studies. It will gather Global South authors to present their countries and regions’ theoretical and methodological contributions. It will also be an opportunity to enrich the dialogue among Global South scholars and between those and Global North researchers. The second day will be dedicated to presentations and discussions. There will be in-person and remote sessions, both limited to space and time availability. More information (including the registration forms) can be found here: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news-events/events/global-southing-internet-and-da… *Call for Abstracts* We are calling for short papers (10–15-minute presentations) in any area related to Internet, Data and AI studies, with a special focus on authors, theories, approaches, and methods developed in Global South countries. We particularly welcome papers about topics such as: > Critical theories of Internet, Data and AI from the Global South; > How social thinking from Global South authors can enrich Internet, Data and AI studies. > Problems in adopting Global North concepts to Global South digital practices. > South-to-South dialogue in digital realities and practices research. > Dissemination of Global South critical Internet, Data and AI theories and approaches in the Global North. > Theories, methods and approaches from Latin America to Internet, Data and AI studies. > Theories, methods and approaches from Africa to Internet, Data and AI studies. > Theories, methods and approaches from Asia to Internet, Data and AI studies. > How theories, methods and approaches from the Global South can enrich the understanding of the production, practices and governance of Internet, data and AI technologies and services. Abstracts must be submitted with the following information: Name Institutional Link 300-400 words outlining the focus of your contribution Up to 5 keywords Proposals must be submitted by 11th February 2025 to the email jonas.valente(a)oii.ox.ac.uk <jonas.valente(a)oii.ox.ac.uk>. For any questions on the call for papers, don’t hesitate to reach out via email: jonas.valente(a)oii.ox.ac.uk. Organising Committee Jonas C. L. Valente (Oxford Internet Institute, UK, chair) Ekaterina Hertog (Oxford Internet Institute, UK) Janaki Srinivasan (Oxford Internet Institute, UK) Cheryll Soriano (De La Salle University, Philippines) Ana Valdivia (Oxford Internet Institute, UK) Rafael Grohmann (University of Toronto) Helena Martins (Federal University of Ceara, Brazil) I look forward to seeing you there. Kind regards, Jonas Valente Oxford Internet Institute -- Jonas Valente http://twitter.com/jonasvalente

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Call for Abstracts "Technoscience and the self: emotions, identities, and self-knowledge"
by Serena Ciranna 11 Jan '25

11 Jan '25

Hello everyone, We welcome submissions to present on our panel about *"Technoscience and the self: emotions, identities, and self-knowledge"* (Convenors: Jacopo Domenicucci, Serena Ciranna), in the context of the 10th STS Italia Conference “Technoscience for Good: Designing, Caring and Reconfiguring”, at the Politecnico di Milano, 11-13 June 2025 in Milan (Italy) https://stsitalia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/62.Technoscience-and-the-s… By capturing and analyzing actions, behaviors, facial expressions, and vocal inflections, computing technologies and computational sciences are increasingly used to explore and invest the domain of the personal. Machines, in their practical applications and scientific uses, infer moods, emotions, intentions, and identity traits about us. In this way, they enter the sphere of self-knowledge and self-expression, which is par excellence an epistemic and moral competence of the individual. How do we know ourselves and how do we construct and express our identities in this context? How might the entry of machines into the exploration of our inner life challenge the preservation of our epistemic authority over who we are and what we can know about ourselves? Can we think of us as agents capable of self- reflection, self-construction, and self-regulation? Spanning philosophy and STS, this panel will explore the epistemic and ethical issues of self-knowledge, self-expression, and identity construction from the perspective of increasingly close cooperation between machines and human individuals. We are particularly interested in papers that: • explore how our self-knowledge increasingly integrates machine perception; • explore how information from digital technologies can be internalized by our self-understanding, or, in contrast, how it can be refused and opposed; • investigate how our personal narratives and our computational identities might compete or work together; • interrogate the risks of a distinctive form of epistemic injustice emerging from these technological possibilities; • bring to the fore the specificity of diverse identities in this context (namely, along the lines of sex, gender, race, age, abilities, and intersectionality); • study the contribution of computational sciences and computing technologies to how we think about the self; • interrogate how “Artificial Intelligence” can support or hinder emotional intelligence; • focus on specific “AI companions” (“AI friends”, “AI partners”, and other bots) from the perspective of their contribution to our sense of self and emotional life. Abstracts (500 words max) are due by February 3, 2025. Further information about the submission process and key deadlines can be found here: https://stsitalia.org/call-for-abstracts/ We look forward to receiving your contributions and seeing you in Milan! Serena Ciranna (Università Federico II, Napoli) Jacopo Domenicucci (Dartmouth College) -- Serena Ciranna Postdoctoral Researcher Southern Center for Digital Transformation University of Naples, Federico II

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20th International Conference on Persuasive Technology (PERSUASIVE 2025) : Last Mile for Paper Submission
by Announce 11 Jan '25

11 Jan '25

*** Last Mile for Paper Submission *** 20th International Conference on Persuasive Technology (PERSUASIVE 2025) May 5-7, 2025, 5* St. Raphael Resort and Marina, Limassol, Cyprus https://2025.persuasivetech.org (*** Proceedings to be published by Springer in LNCS ***) In a world in which technology is increasingly present in people’s lives, and changing human behavior and attitudes is often the key to solving many societal and personal problems, studying how technology might be used to influence humans (in their behavior, attitudes and information processing), is paramount. Persuasive Technology is a vibrant interdisciplinary research field, focusing on the design, development and evaluation of interactive technologies aimed at influencing people’s attitudes and/or behaviors through persuasion, but not through coercion or deception. The research community aims at enriching people’s lives in various domains such as health and sustainability by supporting people in setting and achieving their own goals, thus helping them change their behavior. The 2025 conference will be hosted in Limassol, Cyprus at the 5* St. Raphael Resort and Marina. The previous successful conferences have been organized in Wollongong, Limassol, Eindhoven, Stanford, Oulu, Claremont, Copenhagen, Columbus, Linköping, Sydney, Padua, Chicago, Salzburg, Amsterdam, and Waterloo. The conference series seeks to bring together researchers and practitioners from industry and academia working with various topics of persuasive technology. We welcome the following categories of papers and extended abstracts: • Technical papers that introduce novel persuasive technology approaches and solutions alongside evidence of their potential. • Empirical studies which seek to provide evidence and explanation of methods, principles and theories in persuasive systems. • Conceptual-theoretical papers which primarily seek to contribute to the general understanding of the field’s core themes and specificities. • Other papers, e.g. literature reviews or experience reports. SCOPE The scope of the conference includes (but is not limited to) the following topics: • Persuasive systems’ design • Behavior change support systems • Interaction with persuasive systems, interfaces, visualization • Interactive agents in persuasive systems • (Generative) AI for persuasive technology • Tailored and personalized persuasion • Gamification for persuasion • Evaluation and validation of persuasive applications • Fitting methods for development, evaluation and implementation of persuasive systems • Optimizing engagement with persuasive systems • Software architectures and technical infrastructures for persuasive systems • Smart environments, e.g. IoT, and persuasion • Digital Marketing, eCommerce, eTourism and SMART ecosystems • Motivational, cognitive and perceptual factors in persuasive technology • Application domains for persuasive technologies such as safety, healthy living, sustainable behaviors, learning and training, marketing and commerce, work environments, organizations • Positive technology • Humanizing and/or dehumanizing effects of persuasive technology • Values and ethics in persuasive technology • Privacy, perceived security and trust in persuasive technology • Resilience and counter-persuasion • Detecting persuasive strategies in social media posts • Encouraging adherence to safety measures in pandemic situations Questions that we hope to be addressed include, but are not limited to: • How to recognize and demonstrate the real life effects of persuasive technology on people’s attitudes and behaviours? • How to conduct studies that not just show their effectiveness but are also able to explain in more detail why a design or intervention works? • How to design an evaluation study so that it yields insights that are applicable to other designs or interventions? • How theoretical insight can help improve application and/or intervention planning and design? • How can design and intervention studies improve theory? SUBMISSION TYPES Regular Papers This format is suitable for original research, which is completed work at the time of submission and, regardless of the length of the paper, is a self-sufficient scientific contribution. Papers should be up to 12 pages in length (excluding references), in Springer LNCS format (https://www.springer.com/gp/computer-science/lncs/conference-proceedings-gu…) and describe work not presented, published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere. Accepted papers will be included in the Springer LNCS conference proceedings and be devoted a time slot for oral presentation. Selected papers will be invited for submission to Behaviour & Information Technology journal (Taylor & Francis). Extended Abstracts We also welcome extended abstract submissions to showcase the results of already conducted and unpublished studies where authors do not wish to publish them as regular papers in the conference proceedings but rather present them at the conference for discussions that can shape the final version (that may be submitted elsewhere later). The studies will also be devoted a time slot for oral presentation in a special session. Extended abstracts must be 4 to 6 pages in Springer LNCS format (including references). Accepted abstracts will be published in the adjunct Springer proceedings (pending approval). Selected papers in this category, based on their quality, level of timeliness and relevance, and completion, will also be invited for submission to Behaviour & Information Technology journal. Poster Presentations This format is suitable for descriptions of smaller studies, project outlines, literature reviews or work-in-progress. Authors should submit a 4-page paper in Springer LNCS format. Accepted posters will be included in the adjunct Springer proceedings (pending approval). Posters will be displayed and presented during a dedicated session of the conference. Demonstrations and Artefacts The Persuasive 2025 track on Demonstrations and Artefact is intended to foster discussion and exchange of ideas among researchers and practitioners from academia and industry by demonstrating or presenting hardware and software products or artefacts, including those in virtual settings (e.g., simulation systems, VR, and games), that range from early research prototypes to mature production-ready systems. The contribution should be the result of original, innovative work, including solving novel technical or research problems, and/or creating novel individual or industrial UI/UX. Accepted demonstrations or presentations shall be presented live during the conference and will be included as a 4-pages paper in the adjunct Springer proceedings (pending approval). Doctoral Consortium Papers The Doctoral Consortium is a special session of the conference where PhD students can receive advice in a constructive atmosphere. Students present and discuss their research with other PhD students and a panel of established researchers in the area of persuasive technology. Students interested in participating in the Doctoral Consortium should submit a 6- to 8-page proposal in Springer LNCS format describing their research question, its position with respect to the state of the art, their research plans and methodology, ideas, and results achieved so far. Accepted abstracts will be included in the adjunct Springer proceedings (pending approval) unless opted out by the student. IMPORTANT DATES Paper submission: • Submission deadline: January 14, 2025 (AoE) • Decision notification: February 15, 2025 • Camera ready submission: February 28, 2025 Posters, demos, artefacts, and doctoral consortium submission: • Submission deadline: March 1, 2025 (AoE) • Decision notification: March 15, 2025 • Camera ready: March 28, 2025 Registration: • Author registration deadline for the main track: February 28, 2025 • Author registration deadline for the rest of the categories: March 28, 2025 • Early bird registration: April 5, 2025 PUBLICATION Accepted papers of the main track (both Full and Short) will be published by Springer in a volume of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science series (https://www.springer.com/gp/ computer-science/lncs). Workshop and demo descriptions, extended abstracts , abstracts from posters, and doctoral consortium abstracts will be published as an adjunct CEUR proceedings. Extended versions of the best papers and selected papers from the conference will be invited to submit to a special issue on Persuasive Technology 2025 in Behaviour and Information Technology, a Taylor & Francis publication. ORGANISATION General Chairs • Evangelos Karapanos, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus • George A. Papadopoulos, University of Cyprus, Cyprus Program Chairs • Raian Ali, HBKU, Qatar • Khin Than Win, University of Wollongong, Australia Demo, Poster and Artefacts • Ruben Hgouveia, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal • Hanne Spelt, Philips, Netherlands Workshops and Tutorial Chairs • Rhodora Abadia, University of South Australia, Australia • Kaoru Sumi, Future University of Hakodate, Japan • Wenzhen Xu, Hitotsubashi University, Japan Doctoral Consortium Chairs • Sriram Iyengar, University of of Arizona, USA • Roberto Legaspi, KDDI, Japan • Shahla Meedya, Australian Catholic University, Australia Proceedings Chairs • Elena Vlahu-Gjorgievska, University of Wollongong, Australia • Kiemute Oyibo, University of York, Canada Society for Persuasion and Technology Steering Committee • Raian Ali – Chair Professor, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar • Luca Chittaro – General Member Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Lab, Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics, University of Udine, Italy • Roberto Legaspi – General Member Research Scientist, Collaborative AI Lab, Human-centered AI Laboratories KDDI Research, Inc., Japan • Harri Oinas-Kukkonen – General Member Professor, Information Systems Science and Dean of Graduate School, University of Oulu, Finland • Kiemute Oyibo – General Member Assistant Professor, Interactive Systems Research Group, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, York University, Canada • Khin Than Win – Secretary Professor at the University of Wollongong, Australia

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CDCS Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2025-2026
by Yang, Guobin 10 Jan '25

10 Jan '25

Please see below for our call for postdoctoral fellowship applications. -Guobin Center on Digital Culture and Society (CDCS) University of Pennsylvania Call for Applications - Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2025-2026 The Center on Digital Culture and Society (<https://www.asc.upenn.edu/research/centers/center-on-digital-culture-and-so…>) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication invites applications to fill one postdoctoral fellowship position for the 2025-2026 academic year. Applications are welcomed from scholars who have received their Ph.D. or equivalent degrees in or after May 2022. The term of appointment is: August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026. CDCS supports critical, interdisciplinary scholarship on digital culture, technology, and society. CDCS aims to develop critical approaches to digital cultural studies and create an intellectual community for dialogue and collaboration among academics, citizens, and activists. CDCS postdoctoral fellowships support research on all aspects of digital culture and society which fall within CDCS’s broad mission. Fellows at the CDCS pursue their own research but are expected to be in residence and to be fully engaged in the life of the Center. Fellows are provided a minimum stipend of $66,300, commensurate with previous postdoctoral experience, a research fund of $3,000, individual health insurance and dependent coverage, a workspace and a computer, and library access. In addition, CDCS will cover $1000 in domestic relocation expenses and $2000 if moving internationally. All postdoctoral fellows must submit documentation to demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States and provide either a notarized copy of a diploma, or notarized statement from a registrar or University official confirming completion of doctoral degree requirements. Non-US citizens selected for this position will be required to apply for an appropriate US visa. To receive full consideration, applications should be received by February 14, 2025. To apply, please send a C.V., a research statement, a writing sample, a list of three references with contact information as one pdf document to: cdcs(a)asc.upenn.edu <mailto:cdcs@asc.upenn.edu>. Reference letters will be requested of shortlisted applicants only. The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to: The Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs (<https://oaaeop.upenn.edu/about>), Franklin Building, Suite 421, 3451 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205, (215) 898-6993. --- Guobin Yang Grace Lee Boggs Professor of Communication & Sociology Annenberg School for Communication<https://www.asc.upenn.edu/people/faculty/guobin-yang-phd> & Department of Sociology<https://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/>, School of Arts and Sciences Director, Center on Digital Culture and Society<https://www.asc.upenn.edu/research/research-centers/center-digital-culture-…> Deputy Director, Center for the Study of Contemporary China<https://cscc.sas.upenn.edu/> University of Pennsylvania New books: The Wuhan Lockdown<https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-wuhan-lockdown/9780231200479> & Pandemic Crossings<https://msupress.org/9781611864922/pandemic-crossings/>

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Book Announcement - Ethos, Technology, and AI in Contemporary Society: The Character in the Machine
by Aaron Hess 10 Jan '25

10 Jan '25

Dear AoIR Colleagues, My co-editor, Jens Kjeldsen, and I are pleased to announce the publication of our edited volume, "Ethos, Technology, and AI in Contemporary Society: The Character in the Machine" with Routledge. The volume <https://www.routledge.com/Ethos-Technology-and-AI-in-Contemporary-Society-T…> brings together scholars from across Europe and the United States to explore the intersection of ethos and technology, with a particular emphasis on AI. The book would be ideal for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses. The volume is organized through the rhetorical concept of ethos as the perceived character of a speaker, or in this case, of technology and technological agents. Chapters explore the ways that ethos, credibility, and trust are affected by technology ranging from the basic use of cell phones to communicate to social media to generative AI chatbots. Please consider the volume for adoption for your courses or for research. I would also be happy to answer any questions you may have about it. Thank you for your time and interest! Aaron Table of Contents: 1. Introduction: Ethos and Technology in Contemporary Society Aaron Hess (Aaron Hess, Arizona State University, USA) and Jens E. Kjeldsen (University of Bergen, Norway) Section 1: Modality and Circulation 2. Ethos+Trust in a Digital Age, a Case Chronology Laura J. Gurak and Jackie M. James (University of Minnesota, USA) 3. Ethos in the Machine—The Rhetorical Character of Debate AI Jens E. Kjeldsen (University of Bergen, Norway) 4. Dwelling in Midjourney: Ethos, Learning, and the Open Region E. Johanna Hartelius (University of Texas at Austin, USA) 5. Platform-Mediated Ethos Formation: Immigrants’ Perceptions of Authorities during the COVID-19 Pandemic Maryam Alavi Nia (University of Bergen, Norway) 6. A Computational Method for Quantitative Analysis of Ethos Katarzyna Budzynska, Marcin Koszowy, Ewelina Gajewska, Maciej Kulik, and Maciej Uberna (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland) Section 2: Sociotechnical Logics, Durability, and Circulation 7. The Gift of Character: Ethos in the AI Imaginary Aaron Hess (Arizona State University, USA) 8. Eros and Ethos in Celebrity Deepfake Pornography Amber Davisson (Keene State College, USA) 9. ‘We Have to Save the Children’: Ethos, Digital Affordances, and the Call to Adventure in Reactionary Digital Politics Alan Finlayson (University of East Anglia, UK) and Robert Topinka (University of London, UK) Section 3: Automation and Modality 10. Large Language Models: Logos without Ethos David J. Gunkel (Northern Illinois University, USA) 11. Fact-Checkers, Tech Giants, and Algorithmic Systems: Between Autonomy and Automation in the Relational and Dispersed Construction of Ethos Mette Bengtsson, Sabina Schousboe, Johan Farkas, (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) and Anna Schjøtt (University of Amsterdam, Netherlands) 12. The Ethos of Automation: Strategy-as-Rhetoric and the Development of Trustworthy Clinical AI Prins Marcus Valiant Lantz (Danish Academy of Sciences and Arts) and Sine Nørholm Just (Roskilde University, Denmark) 13. Training Response-Able Machines: The Cultivation of Social Ethos in Meta AI Jamie Jelinek (University of Texas at Austin, USA) Afterword Celeste M. Condit (University of Georgia, USA) -- Aaron Hess, PhD Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Communication Fulbright Scholar, University of Bergen, Norway (2022-2023) College of Integrative Sciences and Arts | cisa.asu.edu Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix 455 N. 3rd St. AZCNTR Suite 386B Phoenix, AZ 85004 Mailcode 0520 Pronouns: he/him/his

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CFP: Podcasting and Political Campaigns
by Aram Sinnreich 10 Jan '25

10 Jan '25

Call for Papers: The Turn to Podcasts as a Mass Campaign Medium Special Issue of The Journal of Radio and Audio Media Dr. Arthur D. Soto-Vásquez, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Prof. Kim Fox, American University in Cairo Dr. Aram Sinnreich, American University The Journal of Radio and Audio Media (JRAM), the world’s premier radio research journal, is published semi-annually by the Broadcast Education Association. JRAM is dedicated to radio research and the new technology redefining radio’s traditional use. As of December 2024, U.S. President Donald Trump’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience had over 50 million views on YouTube. His appearance on the most popular podcast in the world capped off a campaign that was part of the “podcast election” where both candidates reached voters through podcasts (Edison Research, 2024). With this amount of reach, it's clear that some high-profile podcasts have reached the status of a mass medium (Bonini, 2015; Loviglio, 2024). Other political figures across the world have embraced podcasts, aural media, and YouTube. For example, former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his successor Claudia Sheinbaum regularly use mañaneras, where they speak for over two hours in a hybrid press conference and morning show that would often veer into personal musings and confrontations with journalists (Higuera, 2024). Broadcast on television, they are also simulcast on radio and YouTube. As political leaders embrace podcasts and other aural media several issues may emerge. By circumventing traditional media, politicians may appear on friendly podcasts to avoid the adversarial nature of journalistic interviews and real-time fact-checks. The informal style of podcast discussions is often discussed as a benefit of the medium for both politicians and audiences (McClung & Johnson, 2010; Schlütz & Hedder, 2022). Yet, this informality may further blur the lines between celebrity and public figure, policy and personality. These issues point to podcasts' incomplete promise as a public sphere (Sienkiewicz & Jaramillo, 2019). To fully consider this turn, we invite papers engaging with this issue in the topics of, but not limited to: Historicizing the Turn to Podcasts in Campaigning The 2024 U.S. Election on Podcasts The Role of Podcasts in Shaping Public Opinion and Electoral Outcomes The Impact and Influence of the Manosphere on Politics and Culture Humor and Parasociality Ethics and Journalistic Norms Cases in the Global South Populism and Podcasting Democracy and Podcasting Podcasting as a Counterpublic Narrative Podcasts as Platforms for Social Commentary and Critique Religious Podcasts as a Site for Spiritual and Ideological Discourse Investigative Journalism Podcasts and Their Influence on Public Opinion Submission Deadlines Scholars interested in submitting an article for the special issue should send an extended abstract of 1500 words to Dr. Arthur D. Soto-Vásquez at arthur.sotovasquez(a)unlv.edu for a review by April 5, 2025, 11:59 PM PT. Feedback and an invitation to submit will be provided by May 1, 2025. All final papers will undergo a peer-reviewed process for final publication and must be submitted to JRAM by August 1, 2025, 11:59 PM PT. Extended abstracts due: April 5, 2025, 11:59 PM PT Final paper due: August 1, 2025, 11:59 PM PT The special issue is scheduled for publication in Spring 2026 Contact If you have any questions about the CFP, please send an email to Dr. Arthur D. Soto-Vásquez at arthur.sotovasquez(a)unlv.edu<mailto:arthur.sotovasquez@unlv.edu> Subject line: JRAM Podcast Elections References Bonini, T. (2015). The ‘second age’ of podcasting: Reframing podcasting as a new digital mass medium. Quaderns del CAC, 41, 23-33. Edison Research. (2024, November 14). In the “Podcast Election,” Trump talked to vastly more people. Edison Research.https://www.edisonresearch.com/in-the-podcast-election-trump-talke… Higuera, S. (2024, March 20). Las mañaneras de López Obrador en México, una forma única de comunicación señalada por ataques a la prensa. LatAm Journalism Review. https://latamjournalismreview.org/es/articles/las-mananeras-de-lopez-obrado… Loviglio, J. (2024). From Radio to Podcasting: Intimacy and Massification. The Velvet Light Trap, 93(1), 52-54. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/921538 McClung, S., & Johnson, K. (2010). Examining the motives of podcast users. Journal of radio & audio media, 17(1), 82-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376521003719391 Sienkiewicz, M., & Jaramillo, D. L. (2019). Podcasting, the intimate self, and the public sphere. Popular Communication,17(4), 268-272. https://doi.org/10.1080/15405702.2019.1667997 Schlütz, D., & Hedder, I. (2022). Aural parasocial relations: Host–listener relationships in podcasts. Journal of Radio & Audio Media, 29(2), 457-474. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376529.2020.1870467

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