Two positions as doctoral research fellows (PhD-stipendiat) are available at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo. Enquiries about the posts should be directed at one of the following: • Associate Professor Anders Fagerjord, tel no +47 22850411, anders.fagerjord@media.uio.no. • Associate Professor Tanja Storsul, tel no +47 22850405, tanja.storsul@media.uio.no. • Head of Administration Niels Christian Hervig, tel no +47 22850474, n.c.hervig@media.uio.no. Salary band: 39-45 in the Norwegian state salary system (depending on qualifications and seniority) Organisation: Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo, Norway The positions are fixed three-year appointments. Closing date: 20 December 2005 Ref no: 05/17812 and 05/17813 Applicants should submit four copies of their application, including a description of their intended research project (max 10 pages), list of published and unpublished works and CV. One copy of certificates should also be submitted. Applications should be sent to Det humanistiske fakultet, Postboks 1079, Blindern, 03l6 Oslo, Norway. Project: Participation in dialogic mass media Dialogic mass media refers to a number of digital media technologies established over the past ten years, in which the receiver is also a sender and therefore able to engange in a dialogue. Media such as these combine the main features of mass media, where several audiences can observe and participate within the same context. Web and online games are typical examples of dialogic mass media, whereas new applications are being developed for mobile platforms and digital television. By participation we mean audiences who participate in a dialogue exchange by consuming media messages and, based on this, automatically generates new messages. This kind of participation is shaped by various circumstances, some in which promotes participation, others limit the participation. Dialogic media represent a new media development; they give audiences new opportunities while at the same time demanding increasingly financial resources, technical equipment and knowledge. They represent potential new opportunities for a growing participation-based society. However, research shows that the we underestimate the significance of users’ motivation, intentions and opportunities. One view is that the audiences participate differently, in different ways and have different roles when encountering various digital media and genres. Position 1: New political arenas in dialogic media (ref no 05/17812) Dialogic media seek to open new forums for political debate, with a potential to change and strenghten democracy. On one hand, there are discussion forums in online newspapers, weblogs and ’citizen journalism’. These are examples of amateur journalists given coverage in the established media. On the other hand, established political players and governments are opening up to a larger degree of direct communcation with its citizens. We are seeking a doctoral research fellow to explore this topic. Position 2: Online games with high degree of graphic realism (ref no 05/17813) Computer games are an increasingly popular form of media, and to children growing up today, computer games will become a natural part of their media experience. As a consequence, elements of computers games will potentially influence on other media forms. Computer games like Half-life 2 have taken the graphic realism in real-time animation to a new level. Multi-user games are becoming an important social arena for millions of people around the globe. There is a need to enhance our knowledge of games as moving images, of participation in virtual games communities, and of how the design influences the user’s participation in a game. We are seeking a doctoral research fellow to explore this topic. Research fellows are employed as part of the Factulty of Humanities’ research programme. The scientific production aim to complete with a PhD dissertation. Candidates should possess: • University degree equivalent to Master’s degree or Cand.Polit/Cand.Philol (in media studies) on the same level as a Norwegian degree. • Minimum 5 years degree in relevant area of study • Studies abroad need be approved beforehand and a copy of the approval letter must be enclosed with the application letter. Women are encouraged to apply. More details about guidelines and the PhD programme are available from http://www.hf.uio.no/forskning/english/phd-information.html Anders Fagerjord, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Media and Communication University of Oslo P.O. Box 1093 Blindern, N-0317 OSLO, Norway Tel. +47 22 85 04 11 Fax +47 22 85 04 01 http://fagerjord.no