[Air-L] Announcing the 2021 Best Dissertation Award

[Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers]

We are pleased to announce the Best Dissertation Award for 2021 goes to Dr.
Niki Cheong for “Cybertrooping and the Online Manipulation of Political
Communication in Malaysia: The Barisan Nasional Years.”

Congratulations, Dr. Cheong!

Dr. Cheong’s dissertation on cybertrooping in Malaysia is a beautifully
written work, combining a unique dataset, a solid and sophisticated
research design and an important but understudied topic into a stimulating
and significant treatment of an issue that resonates in our time. This
dissertation makes an important contribution to our understanding of the
use of the Internet as a tool of misinformation, media manipulation and
political obfuscation in both a local and global context. This provides a
point of reference for taking a new look at astroturf and political
propaganda efforts in other venues. While the dissertation is certainly of
interest to Internet researchers, it would be useful to scholars in social
movements, political action and public policy.

The Committee has also recognizes Dr. Niels ten Oever’s “Wired Norms:
Inscription, Resistance, and Subversion in the Governance of the Internet
Infrastructure”, with an Honorable Mention. Dr. ten Oever’s dissertation
also tackles a pressing issue. It is strong in both theory and methods and
offers a critical perspective to internet governance.

AoIR is grateful for the hard work by this year’s Best Dissertation Award
committee: Taina Bucher, Chair, Nadia Kutscher, Jessica Lingel, John
McNutt, Jasmine Rault, and Aljosha Karim Schapals. Thank you for your hard
work and professionalism during the review process.