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MONDAY Sarah T Roberts in Our Online Talk Series
by Christian Katzenbach 01 Dec '23

01 Dec '23

Dear colleagues, this Monday 6pm CET we will continue our online talk series „Behind the Scenes“ with the pioneer of the field: Sarah T. Roberts. Sarah pioneered empirical work with extensive ethnographic work and interviews with workers from Silicon Valley to the Philippines, at boutique firms and at major social media companies, leading to the field-building monograph “Behind the Screen <https://www.behindthescreen-book.com/>“. In her talk on Monday, Sarah will talk about her empirical work and the massive challenges of doing research that companies don’t want to be done. More Info and Registration: https://platform-governance.org/online-talk-series/session-6-sarah-t-robert… Sarah T. Roberts <https://drsarahtroberts.com/>, Ph.D. is an associate professor at UCLA (Gender Studies, Information Studies, Labor Studies), specializing in Internet and social media policy, infrastructure, politics and culture, and the intersection of media, technology and society. She is the faculty director and co-founder of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2), co-director of the Minderoo Initiative on Technology & Power, and a research associate of the Oxford Internet Institute. Informed by feminist Science and Technology Studies perspectives, Roberts is keenly interested in the way power, geopolitics and economics play out on and via the internet, reproducing, reifying and exacerbating global inequities and social injustice. About the Series This talk is part of the series Behind the Scenes – Conversations on Empirical Platform Governance Research <https://platform-governance.org/online-talk-series/> that invites scholars in this field to share their experiences and views, fostering community exchange about how we can study platform governance in this challenging context. It is hosted by the Lab “Platform Governance, Media, and Technology” (PGMT) at the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI), <https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/zemki> University of Bremen, and the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies <https://www.rug.nl/research/icog/research/research-centres/centre-for-journ…>, University of Groningen. Registration Please register via this form <https://forms.gle/xq2irQb4mnHkLUcD6> shortly with an email-address for the full series or this event only, so that we can share the meeting link with you.

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No Such Thing as a Free Book: The Fifth Estate with Apologies
by William Dutton 01 Dec '23

01 Dec '23

Dear Colleagues, I meant to ask if I may post a bit about my book, The Fifth Estate. As you must realise, I cannot send everyone a free copy. What I wanted to say is: please ask your library to consider obtaining a copy so that you can read it freely. I think it is very relevant to those on this network of internet researchers. William H. Dutton, The Fifth Estate: The Power Shift of the Digital Age. New York: Oxford University Press, 2023. My book on the Fifth Estate pulls together research and examples to make a case for the internet and related media and communication technologies enabling the most important power shift of the digital age. Put simply, a network power shift has been driven by enabling ordinary people to search, originate, network, collaborate, and leak information in ways than enhance their informational and communicative power. In such ways, the internet is empowering many ordinary individuals to form a more independent collectivity of networked individuals—a Fifth Estate. This network power shift is not only enabling greater democratic accountability in politics and governance but is also empowering networked individuals in their everyday life and work. It has been endorsed as my “most important book” (by Manuel Castells), a “compelling work” (Victoria Nash), and one that “restores lost optimism about the democratic potential of digital media” (Eli Noam). A most wonderful review cites it as “one of the most important monographs by anyone in the last 20 years” (Alistair Duff)! I hope these views tweak your curiosity sufficiently to read this book, recommend it to your librarian, and consider it for any courses on the political and other societal implications of digital media, information, and communication technologies. My book is one volume in Professor Andrew Chadwick’s series, entitled Oxford Studies in Digital Politics. You can read his blog about the book here: https://www.andrewchadwick.com/blog/2023/6/19/guest-post-william-h-dutton-o… The book’s table of contents might be helpful as well: Introduction: Reconfiguring Informational and Communicative Power Part I. The Foundations of the Fifth Estate 1. The Idea and Evidence of a Fifth Estate 2. Fifth Estate Theories of Distributed and Network Power Part II. Fifth Estate Strategies 3. Searching 4. Originating 5. Networking 6. Collaborating 7. Leaking Part III. Shaping the Future of the Fifth Estate 8. A Power Shift for Democracy and Society 9. Threats to the Fifth Estate 10. The Future of the Fifth Estate In conclusion, my apologies you are not receiving a free copy. You would if I could, and please respond to me personally with any comments or questions, as I am getting complaints about all the emails going to the whole network. Sincerely, Bill William H. Dutton 55 Victoria Road Oxford OX2 7QF United Kingdom william.dutton(a)gmail.com Twitter @BiIIDutton (II=two capital ii’s) Phone: +44 (0)1865 423836 Mobile: +44 (0)7757 741670 Blog: https://billdutton.me

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Jobs - Two TT position in Strategic Communication/Data, Digital and AI in HKU
by kwfu 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

For those job seekers, Applications are invited for appointment of as Tenure-Track Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor in Strategic Communication/Data, Digital and AI in the Journalism and Media Studies Centre (2 posts), to commence on August 1, 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter, on a three-year fixed-term basis, with the possibility of renewal and consideration for tenure before the expiry of a second three-year fixed-term contract. The appointment rank will be determined based on qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Exceptionally outstanding candidates at Professor/Associate Professor level may be considered for appointment on direct tenure terms subject to University's approval. Details: https://jobs.hku.hk/cw/en/job/523356/tenuretrack-professorassociate-profess… King-wa Fu Professor, Journalism and Media Studies Centre The University of Hong Kong

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[Call for Book Chapters]- Edited Collection on Subversive Gaming
by Aparajita Bhandari 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

Hello all, We are seeking chapter contributions for an edited volume on the topic of subversion in games and gaming culture as part of the *Games in Context <https://link.springer.com/series/16027>* Series. Tanenbaum (2013) notes that video game players are often positioned by designers as “agents of chaos” that are resistant towards pre-authored narratives and architectures. While this description is overly simplistic and does not account for the diverse, context-dependent, and sometimes contradictory goals that motivate play, it does speak to the importance of the element of subversion in both video games and video game cultures. Both with regards to underlying code and representational norms, players have long been invested to some degree in making “a mockery of the author’s intentions” (Aarseth, 2004): modding kits and associated modding communities have been integral to gaming subcultures since the early 1980s (Voorhees, 2014); speedrunners and “glitch hunters” “revel” in disregarding designers’ operational assumptions about how players could or should interact with intelligently designed digital spaces (Hemmingsen, 2021, 447); queer, feminist, and critical race reimaginations of games and have long deployed strategies of transgressive play to illuminate and disrupt normative assumptions about the “ideal player” (e.g. Gray, 2012; Schleiner, 2001; Sunden, 2009; Ruberg, 2019). Games, as computational systems that create simulated systems through narratives and mechanics (Bogost, 2007), are deeply concerned with dynamics of boundedness and freedom. The nature of play can be understood as something that pushes up against (and in some cases, threatens) the power of the game as a world and as a structure of meaning(s) and knowledge(s). Viewed this way, subversion is a central consideration when it comes to understanding video games as an artistic medium and social experience. Subversion in gaming leads inexorably to questions of power; the power to define meanings, values and truths in both digital and non digital gaming worlds. As diverse forms of media and communication technologies become increasingly “gamified,” understanding dynamics of subversion and alterity becomes imperative in order to account for emerging dynamics of domination and resistance across media landscapes. Thus this book aims to bring together diverse projects that engage with subversion in relation to games and gaming cultures. The peer reviewed book will be published as part of the Games in Context Series at Palgrave <https://link.springer.com/series/16027/books>. This series asks us what it means to study, critique, and create games in context. Titles in this series include *Feminism in Play <https://www.springer.com/book/9783319905389> *(Edited by Kishonna L. Gray, Gerald Voorhees, Emma Vossen) and *Queerness in Play <https://www.springer.com/book/9783319905419> *(Edited by Todd Harper, Meghan Blythe Adams and Nicholas Taylor). Book Editors: - Dr. Aparajita Bhandari, Assistant Professor of Critical Digital Studies, University of Waterloo, Canada - Sara Bimo, PhD student in Communication and Culture, York University, Canada What we’re looking for: We invite academics, researchers, students and industry experts to submit book chapter proposals that address, but are not limited to, the following topics: 1. The potential (or lack thereof) of games in subverting patterns of globalization and colonial power, hegemonic political systems, ideologies, or structures of power 2. Analysis of how games and/or players can subvert traditional expectations of gender and sexuality 3. Subversive labor practices within the video game, esports and livestreaming industries 4. Gamification of everyday life 5. Investigating how games can act as a medium for societal critique, addressing issues such as inequality, race, class, and discrimination or alternatively the limitations of the games industry in enacting such critiques 6. The subversive potential of in-game art, sound design, and narrative structure and gaming environments 7. The role of player agency in subversive gaming, including choices that challenge ethical, moral, or societal norms. 8. The impact of controversial games, censorship, and the boundaries of free expression in gaming and gamer communities 9. Contributions of independent and alternative game developers to subversive gaming culture Tentative Timeline: Submit an abstract to us by: January 15th, 2024 Decisions on abstracts: January 25th, 2024 First chapter drafts due by: July 30th, 2024 (Chapters should be between 4000 to 7000 words) How to Apply: Interested contributors are asked to submit a 300-500 word (not including references) abstract summarizing the chapter background, methods, and aims. The submission should also contain the names, institution of affiliation, and a short biography of all contributing authors and contact details for the corresponding author. For inquiries and submissions, please email Dr. Aparajita Bhandari at aparajita.bhandari(a)uwaterloo.ca. When submitting abstracts please put in the subject line “Abstract submission- Subversive Gaming”. References Aarseth, E. (2004). Genre trouble. *Electronic book review*, *3*, 1-7. Bogost, I. (2010). *Persuasive games: The expressive power of videogames*. (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2007). Gray, K. L. (2012). Deviant bodies, stigmatized identities, and racist acts: Examining the experiences of African-American gamers in Xbox Live. *New Review of Hypermedia and Multimedia*, *18*(4), 261-276. Hemmingsen, M. (2021). Code is law: subversion and collective knowledge in the ethos of video game speedrunning. *Sport, Ethics and Philosophy*, *15*(3), 435-460. Ruberg, B. (2019). *Video games have always been queer*. NYU Press. NYC, New York. Schleiner, A. M. (2001). Does Lara Croft wear fake polygons? Gender and gender-role subversion in computer adventure games. *Leonardo Music Journal* , *34*(3), 221-226. Sundén, J. (2009, September). Play as transgression: An ethnographic approach to queer game cultures. In *DiGRA Conference* (Vol. 7). Tanenbaum, T. J. (2013). How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gamer: Reframing Subversive Play in Story-Based Games. In *DiGRA Conference* (Vol. 7). Voorhees, Gerald (2014). "Chapter 31: Shooting". In Perron, Bernard (ed.). The Routledge Companion to Video Game Studies. Taylor & Francis. pp. 251– Best, Aparajita Bhandari

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Common Crawl
by Joly MacFie 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

Somehow I had got by this far in my life blissfully unaware of the existence of Common Crawl <https://commoncrawl.org/>. I suspect I am not alone. Common Crawl maintains a free, open repository of web crawl data that can > be used by anyone. > Common Crawl is a 501(c)(3) non–profit founded in 2007. > ‍ > We make wholesale extraction, transformation and analysis of open web data > accessible to researchers. -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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CfP 4S/EASST Amsterdam, 16-19 July 2024 - Panel 276. Navigating the Long-Term Impact of Technological Interventions: The Role of Folgekostenabschätzung
by Aal, Konstantin 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

Dear colleagues, I am inviting submissions to the open panel 276. Navigating the Long-Term Impact of Technological Interventions: The Role of Folgekostenabschätzung to be submitted to the EASST-4S 2024, which will take place in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 16-19 July 2024. Deadline for submission is February 12, 2024. Panel Description: In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, the concept of Folgekostenabschätzung – the German term for "cost estimation of consequences" or "cost estimation of follow-up expenses" – has emerged as a critical tool for assessing the long-term impacts of technological implementations. This panel will focus on understanding and applying how this perspective is relevant in socio-technical systems, where the complex interplay between technology, society and the environment requires nuanced and forward-looking approaches. The focus of this panel is to stimulate a critical discourse on future sustainable technological solutions, emphasising the need to develop Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that have a positive impact not only on society, but also on the natural environment and its finite resources. In the context of socio-technical systems, which are inherently complex and dynamic, technological interventions can have unforeseen consequences that are difficult to anticipate. Hence, a robust Folgekostenabschätzung is indispensable. Accepted panelists will present their ideas, experiences and perspectives on assessing the long-term costs and consequences of technology deployment. The following questions may be of interest: * How can we accurately assess the potential impacts of technology on society and the environment over time? * What frameworks and methodologies are effective for conducting consequential cost assessments? * How can this assessment inform policy making and guide sustainable technology development? This panel invites scholars and researchers to engage in a thought-provoking discussion. The aim is to foster a deeper understanding of how to navigate the intersection of technology, society and the environment in a thoughtful and responsible way, ensuring that our technological advances contribute to a sustainable and equitable future for all. Session Chair: Konstantin Aal (konstantin.aal(a)uni-siegen.de<mailto:konstantin.aal@uni-siegen.de>) Keywords: Sustainability, Future of technology, Folgekostenabschätzung, Technological advances Link to the Panel: https://www.easst4s2024.net/open-panels/#14353 Submissions: If you would like to participate in this session, please submit your individual abstract of approx. 250 words and follow the instructions described here: Link to the submission form: https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/easst-4s2024/paper-form/14353 ### The 2024 quadrennial joint meeting of the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST) and the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) invites panels, presentations, making & doing contributions, and other events that explore the role of STS in making and doing contributions to transformations in an era of grand societal challenges. More information can be found here: https://www.easst4s2024.net/ -- Konstantin Aal Research assistant and PhD student pronouns: he/him/his Information Systems and New Media SFB 1187 "Medien der Kooperation" University of Siegen Kohlbettstr. 15, 57072 Siegen Raum. US-E-102 Tel. +49 (0)271 / 740 3383 Mob. +49 (0)176 / 30 780 007 http://www.uni-siegen.de/fb5/wirtschaftsinformatik/index.html.en?lang=en

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DEADLINE 12/31: CfP: The future of conspiracy
by Zelly Claire Eliane Martin 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

Hello AoIR community, I hope all are well and hopefully have some time to rest coming up! I am writing to remind that the *deadline* for our special issue in Journal of Information Technology & Politics <https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/journal-information-techn…> on *the future of conspiracy scholarship* is *12/31/2023*. As a reminder, please submit full papers to the JITP submission portal <https://accounts.taylorfrancis.com/identity/#/login?authorize=true&client_i…> and select our special issue when prompted. Please write to me at zelly[(a)]utexas.edu with any and all questions! Happy holidays! Zelly -- *Zelly Martin *| PhD Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant Center for Media Engagement | Moody College of Communication | The University of Texas at Austin mediaengagement.org/propaganda/ <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmediaengag…>| @zellycmartin Latest publication: Zelly C Martin, Inga K Trauthig, Katlyn Glover, and Samuel C Woolley. (2023). The political use of encrypted messaging applications: Evidence from southeast Asia and its implications for the global public sphere. *First Monday*. https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v28i10.13172

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Textbook on media, economy, and society
by Christian Fuchs 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

This guide to the critical study of the media economy in society provides insights into how to critically analyse the political economy of communication and the media. Christian Fuchs. 2024. Media, Economy and Society: A Critical Introduction. Abingdon: Routledge. Christian Fuchs. 2023. Grundlagen der Medienökonomie: Medien, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. München: UVK/utb More information (including possibility to order a review copy or a lecturer copy for use in the classroom): English book version: https://fuchsc.net/books/media-economy-and-society-a-critical-introduction/ German book version: https://fuchsc.net/books/grundlagen-der-medienokonomie-medien-wirtschaft-un… The book introduces a variety of methods and topics, including the political economy of communication in capitalism, media concentration, advertising, global media and transnational media corporations, class relations and working conditions in the capitalist media and communication industry, the Internet and digital media, the information society and digital capitalism, the public sphere, Public Service Media, the Public Service Internet and the political economy of media management. Each chapter features a highly accessible introduction, recommended readings and lots of practical exercises where you will apply the Political Economy approach to concrete examples and cases. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction Part I: Foundations 2. What is Political Economy? 3. What is Media Economics? 4. The Political Economy of Communication and the Media 5. The Critical Tradition in the Analysis of Media, Communication, Economy & Society Part II: Applications 6. The Political Economy of Media Concentration 7. The Political Economy of Advertising 8. The Political Economy of Global Media 9. Media Work: The Political Economy of Cultural Labour in the Media Industry 10. The Political Economy of the Internet and Digital Media 11. The Political Economy of the Information Society and Digital Capitalism 12. The Political Economy of the Public Sphere and the Digital Public Sphere 13. The Political Economy of Public Service Media and the Public Service Internet 14. The Political Economy of Media Management

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Update on Call for Papers: AI-Experiences & Public Safety - Keynote Speakers Announced
by Majsa Storbeck 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to inform you about a new development regarding our upcoming symposium titled 'AI-Experiences & Public Safety', scheduled for the 8th and 9th of April 2024 at Erasmus University. We have the honour of welcoming two esteemed keynote speakers, Pete Fussey and Antoinette Rouvroy, who will be sharing their perspectives on surveillance experiences in the age of AI. Please mark your calendars, as the deadline for abstract submissions is set for January 15. For more detailed information about the symposium, please refer to the website: https://www.eur.nl/en/news/call-abstracts-ai-experiences-and-public-safety Looking forward to your active participation and engagement in what promises to be an insightful event. Warm regards, Majsa Storbeck Dutch Surveillance Studies @NLSurvStudies

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Jobs - Predoctoral Researchers on Digital Sovereignty in Salerno
by Mauro SANTANIELLO 30 Nov '23

30 Nov '23

Dear colleagues, At the Department of Business, Management and Information Systems (DISA-MIS) of the University of Salerno (Italy) we are hiring* 2 research assistants* (assegno di ricerca) in the context of the PRIN 2022 project "Digital Sovereignty in Comparative Perspective: State Authority, Corporate Power and Fundamental Rights in Cyberspace". One of the two positions is for 12 months, the other one for 24 months. *Requirements:* Candidates must have a master's degree in Political Science or International Relations. Doctorate is not required, though its possession is a qualification that will be considered by the evaluation committee. Previous experience in research and participation in projects will be an asset. Fluency in English, both in oral and written expression, is required. *For more detailed information and to apply, visit our calls for applications*: 12 months position: https://web.unisa.it/uploads/rescue/67/11730/santaniello-bando-di-concorso-… 24 months position: https://web.unisa.it/uploads/rescue/67/11731/santaniello-bando-di-concorso-… *Contact person: *Prof. Mauro Santaniello (msantaniello(a)unisa.it) *Deadline: *15/12/2023 - 12:00 (Rome time, CET). Please feel free to share the call with potentially interested people. Thank you. Best wishes, Mauro Santaniello (PhD) *Senior Researcher (tenure track) qualified Associate ProfessorProfessor of Internet Governance, Digital Policy, Local Public PolicyDirector, Internet & Communication Policy Centre (ICPC)* *Scientific Coordinator, Salerno Winter School on Internet Governance (SWING)* *Associate Research Fellow, The United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS)**Principal Investigator, PRIN 2022 **Digital Sovereignty in Comparative Perspective: State Authority, Corporate Power and Fundamental Rights in Cyberspace* *Department of Business, Management and Information Systems (DISA-MIS)* *Università degli Studi di Salerno * *Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 84084 Fisciano (SA) - Italy * *W. http://docenti.unisa.it/mauro.santaniello <http://docenti.unisa.it/mauro.santaniello>*

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