Study level

  • PhD
  • Master of Philosophy

Faculty/School

Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Digital Media Research Centre

Supervisors

Professor Daniel Angus
Position
Professor in Digital Communication
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Professor Axel Bruns
Position
Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Distinguished Professor Jean Burgess
Position
Professor - Digital Media Studies
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Dr Ehsan Dehghan
Position
Senior Lecturer
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Dr Sofya Glazunova
Position
Division / Faculty
Associate Professor Timothy Graham
Position
Associate Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Associate Professor Stephen Harrington
Position
Associate Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Dr Ariadna Matamoros Fernandez
Position
Senior Lecturer
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Associate Professor Michelle Riedlinger
Position
Associate Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Dr Aljosha Karim Schapals
Position
Senior Lecturer (Journalism)
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice
Dr T.J. Thomson
Position
Division / Faculty

Overview

Digital and social media platforms provide new opportunities for public communication, and the formation of distinct publics and communities around shared interests and identities. Such publics may engage in political debate, popular media fandom, science communication, vernacular creativity, and other activities; but they may also be affected by, or actively engage in promoting, mis- and disinformation and other problematic content. Their activities are also shaped by the features and affordances of the platforms they use, from Facebook and Twitter to TikTok and Weibo, and by the broader social, commercial, and political contexts of the societies in which they operate.

The Digital Publics research program within the Digital Media Research Centre uses innovative, mixed-methods research approaches involving advanced data science as well as forensic qualitative methods to:

  • investigate the evolution of digital publics and other communities in Australia and the world
  • study the communicative practices of digital publics and online communities, and their role in society
  • develop new frameworks for the qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods study of online public communication
  • examine the role that digital platforms, including their technical affordances and institutional operators, play in shaping user practices
  • work with state, civic, and industry partners to promote safe and constructive engagement in digital spaces.

Skills and experience

You must have completed a first-class Honours degree, a research Masters degree, or a coursework Masters degree with a significant research component from a recognised institution and in a relevant discipline (communication,  media studies, cultural studies).

Keywords

Contact

Contact dmrc@qut.edu.au for more information.