Three PhD Positions at U of Antwerp

3 PhD scholarships (bursaal) on ‘Media Ownership Concentration and Diversity of Media Content’

Prof. Hilde van den Bulck, Prof. Pieter Maeseele (Media, Policy and Culture) and Prof. Peter Van Aelst (Media, Movements and Politics) from the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, and Prof. Jan Bouckaert (Department of Economics) from the Faculty of Applied Economics, are looking for talented young researchers for three full time

Research Project

This interdisciplinary project deals with ‘the impact of media ownership concentration on the diversity of media content, production and outlets’. The central question is to what extent concentration of ownership leads to less diverse issues, actors and viewpoints in the news. This project will combine insights from the fields of communication studies, political sciences and economics. The project aims to understand the characteristics of the current media concentration (and resulting media conglomerates) and its impact on content diversity in historical (1975-2013) and cross-country comparative perspective (Belgium, Germany, UK, Greece).

Research Context

The Media, Policy and Culture research group combines expertise in two complementary but relevant areas within communication studies. On the one hand it specialises in the political-economic analysis of media structures, focusing on processes such as digitisation, concentration and convergence. The group has a profound knowledge of the media structures in Flanders and a range of other countries, and of the main economic, political and social processes behind it. On the other hand the group has extensive expertise in the critical study of media content.

The Media, Movements and Politics research group has expertise in the field of political communication. It extensively studies how the media cover political news both during and outside election times . Recently, it engaged with European and US colleagues to focus on the political role of the media from a comparative perspective.

The Department of Economics harbours research in the field of industrial organisation with special attention to competition policy and regulation. Current research related to this project focuses on optimal policies towards merger incentives and the failing firm defense, and the optimal design of broadcasting rights for sports events.

Job Description

  • You become part of an interdisciplinary research team analysing media ownership concentration and its relation to the diversity of media content. The project combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies with a focus on the former. Three subprojects are identified: 1. a longitudinal, cross-country analysis of media ownership concentration (headed by Prof. Hilde Van den Bulck & Prof. Jan Bouckaert); 2. a longitudinal (1975-2013) analysis of media concentration and news diversity in Flanders (headed by Prof. Pieter Maeseele); and 3. a cross-national comparative analysis of media concentration and news diversity: Euro-crisis (2010-2012) news coverage (headed by Prof. Peter Van Aelst). Each PhD student will focus on one of these projects while collaborating intensively with the others and the supervisors;
  • Headed by your supervisor, you prepare a P hD and you work intensively on international academic publications;
  • You allocate at most 10% of your time to teaching in the departments of Communication Studies and Political Sciences in the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences.

    • Profile and requirements

  • You hold a master degree in Communication Studies, Political Sciences, Sociology, Social-Economic Sciences, Applied Economics, Business Engin eering or related degree in the Social Sciences;
  • You can submit outstanding academic results;
  • Final year master degree students are eligible to apply
  • You have demonstrable knowledge of (and good study results in) quantitative research methods and affinities with qualitative research methods or vice versa
  • You are ambitious, quality-oriented, conscientious, creative, integer and oriented towards finishing a job on time;
  • You have a real interest in the topic and are keen to develop a PhD project in this domain;
  • You have all necessary social skills;
  • You are a team player but also like to work independently;
  • You are fluent in English and have a good command of the Dutch language or are willing to become fluent in Dutch within two years.
  • Knowledge of the German, UK or Greek casus is a plus, but not required.

    • We offer

  • A doctoral scholarship for a trial period of one year, renewable to a total of four years after positive evaluation;
  • The start date of this scholarship is negotiable but will be no later than 1 September 2013;
  • An attractive salary;
  • A dynamic, stimulating and internationally oriented research environment.

    • Interested?

  • Applications – with a letter of motivation indicating which of the three subproject you are most interested in - can only be submitted online http://solliciteren.ua.ac.be/Default.aspx?vid=315759&fac=4&empl=100&type=bap&lang=en and should reach us no later than 30 April 2013
  • A pre-selection will be made from the submitted applications. The remainder of the selection procedure is specific to the position and will be determined by the selection panel;
  • More information about the application form can be obtained from Ellen Huijer (TEL ++32-(0)3 265 31 45) or Robin Wynants (TEL ++32-(0)3 265 31 41);
  • Further information, as well as a detailed outline of the research project, can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Hilde Van den Bulck hilde.vandenbulck@ua.ac.be.

    • The U of Antwerp strives to contribute to an open, democratic and multi-cultural society. We are a family friendly environment and follow an equal-opportunities policy.