[Air-l] Oslo PhD grants in participation, games

[Anders Fagerjord]

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 at media.uio.no.
	• 	Associate Professor Tanja Storsul, tel no +47 22850405, 
tanja.storsul at media.uio.no.
	• 	Head of Administration Niels Christian Hervig, tel no +47 22850474, 
n.c.hervig at 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published and unpublished works and CV.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