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

ISOC Pulse 2026 Research Fellows & Mentors - Application deadline Dec 23
by Joly MacFie 13 Dec '25

13 Dec '25

https://pulse.internetsociety.org/fellowship The Internet Society Pulse Research Fellowship and Mentorship is a six-month program that supports researchers in conducting data-driven analysis or developing tools that contribute to an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet <https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2021/enablers-of-open-globall…>. The fellowship has been running for three years, and we introduced a mentor scheme in 2025. Check out our Fellowship Alumni <https://pulse.internetsociety.org/fellowship/alumni>. Mentors and Fellows will work on one Internet Society Pulse focus area: Enabling Technologies <https://pulse.internetsociety.org/technologies>, Internet Shutdowns <https://pulse.internetsociety.org/shutdowns>, Internet Resilience <https://pulse.internetsociety.org/resilience>, Market Concentration <https://pulse.internetsociety.org/concentration>, and Keeping Traffic Local <https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2022/08/african-peering-key-to-keeping…> . The fellowship and mentorship last approximately six months and will comprise two cohorts, one starting in February and the second in June. Selected candidates/mentors can work remotely from anywhere in the world and are provided an appropriate stipend. - Fellow: USD 17,000 (including USD 2,000 equipment/travel support) - Mentor: USD 10,000 (including USD 2,000 equipment/travel support) -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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[CfP] INDL-North America Symposium on Labor and AI @ Yale
by Posada, Julian 12 Dec '25

12 Dec '25

Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the call for papers for the INDL-North America Symposium on Labor and Artificial Intelligence. Event Details: * Date: April 29, 2026 * Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT (In-person) Theme: "Workers Building, Using, and Resisting AI" This inaugural symposium highlights the essential role of labor not only in creating AI models but also in shaping how those technologies transform work, maintaining AI infrastructure, and developing strategies to navigate or resist AI-driven change. We invite contributions from established and early-career academic researchers (including graduate students), labor organizers and practitioners, and professionals engaged with the theme. Funding: We are pleased to offer a limited number of scholarships for graduate students, non-academics, and independent scholars, funded by Yale’s MacMillan Center. Important Dates: * Abstract Deadline (<500 words): January 18, 2026 (AoE) * Notification of Acceptance: February 28, 2026 For the full call for papers and submission instructions, please visit the symposium website: https://indl-na.sciencesconf.org/ *Apologies for cross-posting. Please share widely.* —————————— Julián Posada, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of American Studies Yale University https://posada.website/

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New Book Published: LiveJournal and Russian Disinformation
by J.J. Sylvia IV 12 Dec '25

12 Dec '25

Colleagues, I’m pleased to share that my new book is now available: LiveJournal and Russian Disinformation: The Rise of Epistemic Sabotage (Bloomsbury). This book traces LiveJournal’s shift from a major space for Russian opposition blogging into a testing ground for pro-Kremlin influence operations. It also introduces a taxonomy of “epistemic sabotage," strategies aimed at destabilizing knowledge systems so people struggle to discern what is true. Overview: • Carefully traces the evolution of LiveJournal as an early Russian platform “laboratory” for tactics later seen in wider international disinformation campaigns. • Develops a framework (epistemic sabotage) that connects narrative control, audience manipulation, intimidation/silencing, and disinformation. • Offers case-based material that can work well in courses on media studies, political communication, digital culture, and platform governance. Academic book pricing is steep, so if the book might be useful for your research or teaching, please consider requesting it through your university library (and/or public library).  Publisher page: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/livejournal-and-russian-disinformation-978166… ISBN: 9781666954555. I’m also happy to give a talk, join a speaker series, or visit a class/workshop (in-person when feasible or remotely) on disinformation, platform politics/affordances, and the “epistemic sabotage” framework developed in the book. Apologies for crossposting! Thank you, J.J. -- J.J. Sylvia IV, Ph.D. (he/him/his) Associate Professor, Communications Media Coordinator, Digital Media Innovation major ( https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/academics/programs/digital-media-innovation-… ) Fitchburg State University Office: Conlon Hall 335 http://www.jjsylvia.com (978) 665-3418 Book Launch 12/11: LiveJournal and Russian Disinformation ( https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/livejournal-and-russian-disinformation-978166… ) Member of The Network of Alternative Social Media Researchers ( https://www.socialmediaalternatives.org )

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New Book Published: Learning Designers in Context
by Enilda Romero-Hall 12 Dec '25

12 Dec '25

Hello all, I wanted to pass along that my latest book is now published and available! *Learning Designers in Context: Examining Practice Across the Global South* examines learning design across professional sectors, local cultures, and geographic regions in the Global South, addressing the ways in which practitioners effectively draw on the knowledge, skills, and resources available to them. The book explores design and implementation in higher education, corporate, non-profit, and government sectors while attending to urgent cultural and geographic distinctions, these chapters vividly illustrate the roles, challenges, and opportunities of learning designers' use in real-world settings home to specific demographics, traditions, socioeconomic parameters, and policy orientations. For more information about the book, and to order a copy (exam copies available), please visit: Learning Designers in Context <https://www.routledge.com/Learning-Designers-in-Context-Examining-Practices…> (currently at a 20% discount). Please feel free to share with anyone who may find it useful. Kind regards, Enilda --- Dr. Enilda Romero-Hall She/Her/Ella Associate Professor Learning Design and Technology Theory and Practice in Teacher Education Department The University of Tennessee, Knoxville https://www.enildaromero.net <https://www.enildaromero.net/> *Book Publications* *Learning Designers in Context <https://www.routledge.com/Learning-Designers-in-Context-Examining-Practices…>* *Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online <https://www.aupress.ca/books/120334-feminist-pedagogy-for-teaching-online/>* *Research Methods in Learning Design and Technology <https://www.routledge.com/Research-Methods-in-Learning-Design-and-Technolog…>* We at the University of Tennessee Knoxville live and work on land that is part of the traditional territory of the Tsalagi peoples (now Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians), Tsoyahá peoples (Yuchi, Muscogee Creek), and Shawnee peoples.

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creating infographics of gov, media, wikipedia, cspan, etc using nano banana pro
by kalev leetaru 11 Dec '25

11 Dec '25

Given how powerful infographics can be for distilling and communicating complex topics, I thought our experiments over the past week coupling Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro to visualize a wide range of things from CSPAN hearings to government legislation and reports (including the 3,100-page NDAA), Wikipedia pages and global television news broadcasts in a wide range of languages might be of great interest. You can pretty much visualize anything now by just handing it a PDF and asking for an infographic! While these examples demonstrate using it as-is, you can also interactively edit the infographics to correct errors, etc: https://blog.gdeltproject.org/?s=banana+infographic Turning conference talks into instant infographics (tremendous potential for conferences to do this for each talk): https://blog.gdeltproject.org/turning-kalevs-web-summit-2025-stage-talk-int… This one is especially powerful, coupling Chirp, Gemini and Nano Banana to analyze an entire day of six Russian television news channels, perform a comparative analysis and visualize as an infographic: https://blog.gdeltproject.org/visualizing-an-entire-day-of-russian-televisi… Also, for researchers interested in integrating television news coverage into their analyses, the Internet Archive's TV News Archive has considerably expanded to a growing range of channels, with machine ASR, OCR and translation: https://api.gdeltproject.org/api/v2/tvv/tvv Thought these experiments would be of interest to a lot of folks re what's possible now! Kalev

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RECORDING – The Future of AI: Securing Energy for Innovation
by Joly MacFie 11 Dec '25

11 Dec '25

[image: ISOC LIVE] <https://isoc.live/19937>*VIDEO <https://youtu.be/4v6jH4_ndn0> | AUDIO <https://archive.org/download/netcaucus-aienergy/netcaucus-aienergy.mp3> | RECAP <https://www.patreon.com/posts/145579814/> | ARCHIVE <https://archive.org/details/netcaucus-aienergy> | PERMALINK <https://isoc.live/19937>* On* December 9, 2025* the *Congressional Internet Caucus Academy <https://www.netcaucus.org/>* hosted a lunch event ‘*The Future of AI: Securing Energy for Innovation <https://www.netcaucus.org/event/ai-securing-energy/>*‘ at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC. As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, its energy consumption is becoming a critical policy concern, requiring a balance between fostering AI-driven innovation and managing rising demands for computing power. An expert panel explored the issues: How can policymakers ensure AI development aligns with sustainability goals while maintaining America’s competitive edge? Are breakthroughs in energy efficiency and network design on the horizon? *INTRODUCTION* *Ted Dubuque* – Legislative Assistant, Congressman Michael McCaul *PANEL* *Levi Patterson* – Director of Energy, Science, and AI Infrastructure Policy, NVIDIA *David Terry* – President, National Association of, State Energy Officials (NASEO) *Leslie Abrahams* – Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic & International Studies Moderator: *Rebecca Kern* – Senior Correspondent, The Capitol Forum -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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[selfie] New Publication in Social Media + Society: "Digitally Constructing Marginalized Neurodivergence: Understanding South Asian Diasporic Autism and ADHD Communities on TikTok"
by Alper, Meryl 11 Dec '25

11 Dec '25

Dear colleagues, On behalf of myself and my co-authors (Sadia Ehsan Cheema, Seton Hall University; Zubin DeVitre, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Snehaa Ram, Northeastern University), I’m delighted to share news of our new publication in Social Media + Society, "Digitally Constructing Marginalized Neurodivergence: Understanding South Asian Diasporic Autism and ADHD Communities on TikTok.” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20563051251406149 In the piece, we examine the digital construction of marginalized neurodivergence through the case of South Asian diasporic communities on TikTok. We hope that the article contributes to much-needed work in the areas of marginality, mental health, and digital platforms. Abstract: At the growing intersections of social media and critical disability studies, limited empirical research exists on the role of digital platforms in expressing and constructing neurodivergent identity among subpopulations that additionally belong to other minoritized groups. This study critically intervenes by mapping how what we term “marginalized neurodivergence” is digitally constructed, using the case of young neurodivergent members of the global South Asian (SA) diaspora on TikTok (SANT). We conducted a thematic analysis of 100 TikTok videos posted by SANT from 2020 to 2024 about their lived experiences of autism and/or ADHD, employing dual theoretical and conceptual lenses: the psychosocialcultural framework from counseling psychology and platform affordances from digital studies. Findings indicate that TikTok serves as a forum for SANT to explore overlapping psychological, social, and cultural concerns that may otherwise not be discussed within SA or neurodivergent communities. Although these issues exist outside of TikTok for SANT, the platform’s affordances allow for social, communicative, and expressive possibilities that in turn shape the creation, consumption, and circulation of such content. This study has direct implications for informing clinical support around mental health and disability among marginalized communities, as well as understandings of how digital platforms potentially serve as a mediating factor. Best, Meryl Meryl Alper Associate Professor Department of Communication Studies Northeastern University Holmes 217 m.alper(a)northeastern.edu<mailto:m.alper@northeastern.edu> merylalper.com<http://merylalper.com/>

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Knight Postdoctoral Opening at UPenn
by Engler, Alex C. 11 Dec '25

11 Dec '25

Hello all! The Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy and the Wharton School of UPenn are hiring a Knight Postdoctoral Fellow to work with Professors Duncan Watts<https://css.seas.upenn.edu/people/duncan-watts/>, Pinar Yildirim<https://marketing.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/pyild/>, and Dean Knox<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.dcknox.com/__;!!IBzWLUs!VosFYb7IsswL…>. More details below - please share the job posting<https://infodem.upenn.edu/wharton-postdoc/> and the LinkedIn post<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:act…>! * The position is intended for a quantitative researcher or computational social scientist. * Ideal candidates would be interested in news content and consumption, media bias and censorship, the relationship between entertainment and news, and the impact of emerging technologies on journalism. * The postdoctoral scholar will have access to large and highly granular datasets of media consumption and content; * will be co-supervised by Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor Duncan Watts, Associate Professor of Marketing Pinar Yildirim, and Assistant Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions Dean Knox; * will join a cohort of Knight PhD and Postdoctoral Fellows affiliated with the Penn Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy Applications are rolling until the position is filled, but do apply by January 11th for full consideration. https://infodem.upenn.edu/wharton-postdoc/ Best, Alex Alex C. Engler Executive Director Penn Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy<https://infodem.upenn.edu/> The University of Pennsylvania Amy Gutmann Hall #506 acengler(a)upenn.edu<mailto:acengler@upenn.edu>

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Call for Book Chapters / Edited Volume “Cyber Events. Journalism, Narratives and Technocriticism”
by Paolo Bory 11 Dec '25

11 Dec '25

Call for Book Chapters Edited Volume “Cyber Events. Journalism, Narratives and Technocriticism” Editors: Dr. Philip Di Salvo (Universität St. Gallen) and Dr. Paolo Bory (Politecnico di Milano) Under contract in the “Frontiers in Journalism Studies”, published by Peter Lang Book rationale: Journalism has been central to shaping public understanding of the economic, political, and cultural impacts of digital technologies. It has also served as a key arena where competing visions of emerging technologies are negotiated. Media narratives often oscillate from early utopian or dystopian excitement to more grounded critique as technologies become embedded in society. The edited volume will examine journalism’s role in key moments and controversies in the recent history of digital technologies, exploring both how it has shaped and disseminated narratives and how it has been influenced by these events. The newsworthiness of certain events and technologies has at times pushed journalism toward speculative or sensational accounts, drawing on unreliable sources or projecting the future impact of emerging technologies. Such narratives, as shown by scholarship in media and journalism studies, have the capacity to influence technological trajectories by shaping perceptions among a broad audience, including readers, stakeholders, institutions, and tech companies. In other cases, particularly over the past two decades, journalism has actively contributed to shaping narratives through scoops and revelations. Events such as the Snowden disclosures or the Cambridge Analytica scandal, while centered on technological issues, carried broader social, political, and ethical implications. By reporting on these events, journalists have elevated critical topics, such as surveillance, data justice, and the datafication of citizens and media users, into the public sphere, reaching audiences that were previously limited to experts, academics, or activists. Overall, the volume aims to provide a comprehensive overview of journalism’s dual role in both reflecting and influencing the development, perception, and societal impact of digital technologies, highlighting its power to shape public understanding and the course of technological change. To join the dots of these narratives and debates and address the impact they have had on our contemporary societies, this volume aims at bringing together the critical view of scholars on some key events in the recent history of digitization and on how journalism has played a part in reporting them to the public. More importantly, it will broaden the focus on these events from addressing their coverage to also reflect on how journalism actively played a part in the shaping these events and how, wherever possible, journalism was also influenced by these events. Cyber events refer to media events of international significance that put the role and socio-historical changes that a given technology, or a specific interaction with it, can bring about at the centre of public discourse. The concept of the /cyber event/ serves here as a theoretical anchor to identify those moments when the status quo of the socio-technical landscape has been challenged. A number of contributions have already been allocated, and we are now seeking up to seven chapters that address, but are not limited to, the following themes: the launch of ChatGPT-3; the Snowden case a decade later; the rise and implications of “the Techlash”; the Pegasus spyware scandal; the development and impact of the AI Act; and Gamergate. Proposals that approach these themes from interdisciplinary perspectives are especially encouraged. The book is not intended to be limited to content, framing, or discourse analysis. While such approaches may certainly be incorporated within individual chapters, the overarching aim is to engage with broader meta-discourses, critically examining how journalism has interpreted and made sense of these cyber events, how it has been shaped by them, and how it has, in turn, been affected or transformed by their occurrence. We particularly welcome contributions that widen the geographical, methodological, and conceptual scope of the volume. As we are committed to assembling a diverse and inclusive authorship, we strongly encourage submissions from scholars of varied gender identities, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and especially from researchers based outside Europe and the United States. Interested authors are invited to submit an abstract of maximum 500 words by January 11th. The abstract should clearly outline the scope of the chapter, its methodological approach, and the main narrative or argument. Please include a brief author bio with your submission. Abstracts should be sent via email to: philip.disalvo(a)unisg.ch<mailto:philip.disalvo@unisg.ch> and paolo.bory(a)polimi.it<mailto:paolo.bory@polimi.it> Selected authors will be notified by January 31st, and the deadline for full chapters (maximum 6,500 words) is May 31st. For any questions about the edited volume, please reach out to the editors. Paolo & Philip

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Exciting Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Manchester
by Lukasz Szulc 11 Dec '25

11 Dec '25

Dear colleagues, The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester has announced a series of generous Postdoctoral Fellowships: - Bicentenary Research Fellowships in Humanities: https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetail?JobId=33948 - Simon Research Fellowships in Humanities: https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetail?JobId=33949 - Hallsworth Research Fellowships in Humanities: https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetail?JobId=33952 The fellowships are aimed at outstanding postdoctoral researchers within 3 years of their PhD. Fellows will need to work with a named mentor/mentoring team and address one or more of the University's research priorities. The deadline for the application is 16th January 2026. Potential applicants working on the topics of digital media, digital cultures and/or digital humanities are invited to contact core or affiliated members of our Centre for Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media to discuss their projects. Considering the tight deadline, we are encouraging you to contact us asap: https://www.digital-humanities.manchester.ac.uk/about/people/ All the best, Łukasz Dr Łukasz Szulc<https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/%C5%82ukasz-szulc> (he/him) Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and Culture School of Arts, Languages and Cultures University of Manchester UNITED KINGDOM RECENT PUBLICATIONS (2025) Sad dating apps: Emotional technological determinism and agency in late modernity. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20563051251380042 (2024) Special Issue: Transnational Queer Cultures and Digital Media. https://academic.oup.com/ccc/issue/17/3 (2023) Culture is transnational. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13678779221131349

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