Postdoctoral position in journalistic fact checking, facts and truths in public debate at the F[...]

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Postdoctoral position in journalistic fact checking, facts and truths in public debate at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen

The Department of Communication (COMM), Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for a postdoctoral position associated with the Carlsberg-funded project “Tell Me the Truth: Fact Checkers in an Age of Epistemic Instability” (The TMT project) to be filled by December 1, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is a fixed term for 1 year and 6 months.

The TMT project
The TMT project investigates questions of facts and truths in public debate and focuses on the practice and role of journalistic fact checkers. The project understands the establishment of facts as a fundamentally rhetorical practice where people argue for and try to gain support for their way of understanding and conveying the truth. Moreover, the project highlights that this happens in a challenging time for traditional authorities and institutions while, at the same time, social media, algorithms, and generative AI are fundamentally reshaping media and politics, making it possible for new types of actors to gain power in the hybrid media system. In this, fact checkers unquestionably play a central role, but — as the TMT project argues — not as objective truth-tellers but as an integrated part of the argumentative process over truth.

The TMT project contains four subprojects asking different but related questions about journalistic fact checking as a developing practice. The postdoctoral candidate is expected to suggest an independent subproject that either extends one of the existing subprojects or adds a fifth subproject.

A short version of the project description can be found here: Project Description . The complete project description, including the four subprojects, can be forwarded upon request ( ).

The ideal postdoc candidate is:

• An excellent scholar of rhetoric, media studies, or journalism studies.
• Experienced in theories relevant to the project, e.g., theories of public controversies and mediated political debate, knowledge claims and knowledge production, journalists, scientists or other knowledge workers in the information ecosystem, or the use and consequences of algorithms, AI, and machine learning in journalistic fact checking.
• Experienced in methods for collecting and analyzing material relevant to the subproject.
• Interested in journalistic fact checking and related communication practices.
• Expected to independently develop a subproject within the framework of the overall project, including a timeline illustrating the feasibility of the subproject.

The successful candidate will collaborate with the project leader, Associate Professor Mette Bengtsson, and the other members of the TMT project group at the University of Copenhagen. The successful candidate will be employed in The Section of Rhetoric with the opportunity to be part of the rhetoric research group or other relevant research groups in the department.

Duties and Responsibilities
The post is a full-time research position with no teaching obligations. The postdoc is expected to participate in meetings in the Section of Rhetoric and Department of Communication (COMM).

Qualification requirements and assessment criteria
Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

More information on careers at UCPH and the requirements for the different academic positions is available on:

Applicants will primarily be assessed on their research qualifications, publications, and ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and potential will be assessed on the criteria for the ideal candidate described above.

Application
Applications must be submitted online in PDF or Word format. Click on the “Apply now” button at the bottom of this advertisement to apply.

The application must be written in English and should include the following documents:

• Cover letter (maximum of one page).
• CV (maximum of two pages).
• Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma).
• Complete list of publications. The list must be structured systematically and divided into peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications. Attached publications must be marked with an asterisk.
• A selection of publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of three publications for assessment. Publication dates must be marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and listed from 1 to 3.
• Research plan, including a) a brief description of previous research (in relation to) b) a detailed account of the envisioned subproject. The envisioned subproject must be formulated as part of the TMT project — either as an extension of one of the existing subprojects or as an additional fifth subproject. Research question(s) and methodology must be carefully described (maximum of five pages).
• Documentation of research dissemination, if any.

Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavors, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be stipulated. The faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.

Salary and terms of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at DKK 38,500 (app. EUR 5,100) + a 17.1% contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The recruitment process
Once the deadline for applications has expired, the Head of Department will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Head of Department will then set up an expert assessment committee to consider the applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. They will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR, email: , please refer to ID number: 211-1907/24-2I #1.

Additional information about the position can be obtained from PI, Associate Professor Mette Bengtsson, email:

The deadline for applications is 23:59 (CEST) on September 15, 2024.

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Employment start: 01-12-2024

Contact: University of Copenhagen

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