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Becoming more Like Friends. A Qualitative Study of Personal Media and Social Life
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009) Lüders, Marika; Carlsson, Ulla; SINTEF ICT, Cooperatuive and Trusted Systems, Oslo
Mediated interaction plays a significant role in the social life of adolescents in Norway. The purpose of the present article is to examine the qualities of mediated interaction and the integration of mediated and immediate social spheres, suggesting that the ability to juggle between online and offline social spheres has become a characteristic element of social competence in network societies. More specifically, the analysis looks at the use of personal media for maintaining and developing existing social relationships and for extending social networks. Qualitative interviews with 20 Norwegian adolescents constitute the empirical base. The analysis explains how interaction takes on mundane forms, confirming the value of social relationships between in-person meetings. Moreover, it is argued that mediated communication differs from face-to-face communication, not by being less meaningful, but by enabling other forms of disclosing practices. Mediated forms of communication, hence, have an influence on the character of social ties and networks.
Transatlantic Perspectives on the U.S. 2004 Election. The Case of Norway
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Nitz, Michael; Ihlen, Øyvind; Department of Communication, Augustana College, Sioux Falls; Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo
The U.S. Presidential election of 2004 was an exciting reprise of the 2000 election and was closely watched by numerous observers across the world. The election held significant ramifications for world issues such as the war in Iraq and the war on terror. Norwegian media in particular followed the election with great interest. The strong social and familial bond between Norwegians and Americans was a foundation for an interest in the role that social issues such as abortion, gay marriage, and religion played in the campaign. This ar - ticle was an exploratory case study based on data from three major Norwegian newspapers. The article used framing theory as a tool to examine the way in which these newspapers covered the 2004 U.S. Presidential election. A key focus was the importance and influence of culture in this framing process. Results are presented and implications for the role of framing theory in international contexts are discussed
Crisis Communication in a New World. Reaching Multicultural Publics through Old and New Media
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Falkheimer, Jesper; Heide, Mats; Carlsson, Ulla; Department of Communication Studies , Lund University
Crisis communication is a growing field of research and practice. A weakness in the traditional research field is the lack of theoretical development and the isolated sender and mass communication focus. In the present paper, we challenge traditional research by focusing on the contemporary cultural and ethnic diversity in society from an audience-oriented media perspective. In the paper, we review earlier research on multicultural crisis communication. The discussion is based on secondary data on multicultural media use in Sweden and an Internet analysis focused on dialogue and community building. All together, the review and secondary data show that persons of foreign origin in Sweden have high access to ICT. This is an argument for directing crisis communication not only through traditional mass media, but also through new media. This is not only because of the simple reach of these channels, but also because of the increase in the quality and dialogue potential of these “great good places” (Oldenburg, 1999).
Non-professional Activity on Television in a Time of Digitalisation. More Fun for the Elite or New Opportunities for Ordinary People?
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Karlsen, Faltin; Sundet, Vilde Schanke; Trine, Syvertsen; Espen, Ytreberg; Carlsson, Ulla; The Norwegian School of Information Technology / NITH; Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo
This article presents an empirically based examination of how the Norwegian television industry incorporates audience activity and audience-generated material, and of how audiences respond to the opportunities presented. It explores three main research questions: First, how extensive is audience activity on television? Second, to what degree do different television activities correspond to familiar patterns of social stratification? And third, is there any evidence for the view that digital feedback channels, such as SMS and the Web, provide access to television for new groups of people? To investigate these questions, a case study of the Norwegian media market has been carried out, based on two data sets. The extent of audience activity is examined through a representative audience survey conducted during a period of two weeks in 2004. The second data set is a one-week survey of Norwegian television output on the six Norwegian-language channels in 2005
PR and the Media. A Collaborative Relationship?
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Larsson, Larsåke; Carlsson, Ulla; School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Örebro University
What do the relations between the PR industry and the media look like? Are they traditional media-source or pressure group relations from the PR side? What is the outcome of these relations and how do they affect journalism and news selection? This study, based on inter - views with both sides, identifies a close and continuous, though mostly one-sided, contact, in which PR actors steadily provide journalists and editors with instrumental news angles with regard to news management. While the former claim that they often succeed in planting their promotional ideas in newspapers and programmes, the latter mostly deny such a claim. However, admitting that the PR sphere does constitute a skilful news producer, journalists relate that, in times of decreased editorial resources, they are dependent on material from outside sources. A mutually dependent, exchange relation can thus be seen as a summarized picture of the PR-media relationship.
Iranian-Norwegian Media Consumption. Identity and Positioning
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Alghasi, Sharam; Carlsson, Ulla; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo
This study examines 20 Iranian-Norwegians and their diverse media consumption. The claim is that the dynamics between media’s hegemonic quality, expressed in their discursive representation of realities, and Iranian-Norwegians’ subjective positions seem to have a vital impact on the processes of meaning construction and positioning that Iranian-Norwegians experience in Norwegian society. Analysis of the respondents’ media preferences indica - tes that they are most often attracted by three characteristics linked to their status: being Iranian, immigrant and Muslim. These elements emerge as identity markers that Iranian- Norwegians focus on in their relationship to the media, and furthermore employ in their negotiation of identity and position in Norwegian society. They often express an anomaly between their understanding of themselves, who they are and where they belong, and the discursive representation of them in the media. This results in an attitude of resistance, in the shape of the subjective constructions of the respondents, and which seems to propel them in different directions
New War Journalism. Trends and Challenges
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Nohrstedt, Stig A.; Carlsson, Ulla; School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Örebro University
How has war journalism changed since the end of the Cold War? After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, there was talk of a new world order holding the promise of international justice and peace. However, the Balkan Wars of the 1990s gave rise to the concept of “new wars” that in the wake of the terror attacks of 9/11 have acquired an iconicity rivalling that of fiction films. The 1990-1991 Gulf War was the commercial breakthrough for the around-the-clock news channel CNN, and the war in Afghanistan in 2001 for its competitor al-Jazeera. The 2003 Iraq war saw Internet’s great breakthrough in war journalism with the, at first anonymous, icon Salam Pax belonging to the first generation of war bloggers. A new world order (that did not turn out as hoped in 1989), new wars, and new media – what impact is all this having on war journalism? Can we see signs of a new war journalism, perhaps even the development of a peace journalism?
The International Freedom of Information Index. A Watchdog of Transparency in Practice
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Lidberg, Johan; Carlsson, Ulla; School of Media, Communication and Culture, Murdoch University, Perth
During the past two decades, the number of countries that have enacted Freedom of Information (FOI) laws has increased dramatically. In many respects, FOI laws have become a democratic ‘right of passage’. No FOI, no ‘proper’ democracy. The promises of FOI regimes are far-reaching: extensive independent access to govern - ment-held information will lead to increased transparency, prevention of corruption and maladministration and greater public participation in the political process. But are these promises borne out by the practice of FOI? This article describes a study that tracked a number of real-life FOI requests in five countries. The project puts forward a prototype for the first International Freedom of Information Index, ranking the five countries of study on how their FOI regimes function in practice. In conclusion, the paper suggest that the FOI Index should be expanded to cover all 65 plus countries that have implemented FOI laws. It is argued that such an index could play an important role in furthering some of the core properties of liberal democracy: transparency, political accountability and good governance.
Wikipedia – Free and Reliable? Aspects of a Collaboratively Shaped Encyclopaedia
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Mattus, Maria; School of Education, Jönköping University
Wikipedia is a multilingual, Internet-based, free, wiki-encyclopaedia that is created by its own users. The aim of the present article is to let users’ descriptions of their impressions and ex - periences of Wikipedia increase our understanding of the function and dynamics of this collaboratively shaped wiki-encyclopaedia. Qualitative, structured interviews concerning users, and the creation and use of Wikipe - dia were carried out via e-mail with six male respondents – administrators at the Swedish Wikipedia – during September and October, 2006. The results focus on the following themes: I. Passive and active users; II. Formal and informal tasks; III. Common and personal visions; IV. Working together; V. The origins and creation of articles; VI. Contents and quality; VII. Decisions and interventions; VIII. Encyclopaedic ambitions. The discussion deals with the approach of this encyclopaedic phenomenon, focusing on its “unfinishedness”, its development in different directions, and the social regulation that is implied and involved. Wikipedia is a product of our time, having a powerful vision and engagement, and it should therefore be interpreted and considered on its own terms.
The Nordic Journalists of Tomorrow. An Exploration of First Year Journalism Students in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Hovden, Jan Fredrik; Bjørnsen, Gunn; Ottosen, Rune; Willig, Ida; Zilliakus-Tikkanen, Henrika; Carlsson, Ulla; Faculty of Media and Journalism, Volda University College; Faculty of Journalism, Library and Information Science, Oslo University College; Department of Communication, Business and Information Technologies, Roskilde University; Swedish School of Social Science, University of Helsinki
The present article summarizes the findings of a survey among first-year journalism students in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway. The survey covers a wide array of subjects including social recruitment, motivation for studying journalism, preferences regarding future journalistic working life, views on the role of journalism in society, attitudes toward the profession, journalistic ideals and ideas about what are the most important traits for journalists. The study reveals significant differences between journalism students in the Nordic countries. The analysis appears to support a ‘nation type’ interpretation of attitudes among journalists, linked to different national traditions, in explaining the differences found. Our results clearly indicate the importance of traditional sociological explanations of behavior for the understanding of journalistic preferences and ambitions. For example, the choice of preferred topics is strongly gendered and appears as the sexual division of labor sublimated into journalistic preferences.
Transitional Times. ‘New Media’ – Novel Histories and Trajectories
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Lagerkvist, Amanda; Carlsson, Ulla; The Swedish Institute for North American Studies (SINAS)
The alluring traits of ‘new media’ have spurred new research interests. This article discusses the discourse of ‘new media’ from the vantage point of critically reviewing three emissions from MIT Press during the years 1999-2003 within the series Media in Transition, as to the fundamental concepts used and introduced in these works. It cautions against any reductionist perspective on new media forms, and while highlighting the many merits of writing new media histories, the article shows that this discussion, also nascent within an interdisciplinary Swedish research environment, also carries other important features with implications for the relationships between communication and (time)space. It concludes that it is not enough to acknowledge that ‘new media’ call for a deep awareness of the historicity of the technological imaginary; deeper understandings of transitions in media also call for thoroughly expounding the socio-spatial ramifications of communication.
Television Textuality. Textual Forms in Live Television Programming
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-05) Bolin, Göran; Carlsson, Ulla; School of Media, Art and Philosophy, Södertörn University College
The article discusses the production of live television formats, as they have developed in Europe during the past decade. The analytical examples are taken from entertainment as well as factual television, and from public service as well as commercial contexts. In the article, it is argued that there has been an approximation between the textual features and generic and narrative structures of entertainment and factual live television, and a model is presented that is supposed to account for these narrative patterns.
Global Divides in Cosmographic Genres Charity, Solidarity and Different Explanations of Difference
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Roosvall, Anna; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
This chapter sets out to explore charity and solidarity approaches in three cosmographic genres: aid galas, foreign news, and documentaries about foreign nations. I argue that their nation-based ratio together with the panoptic character that allows the home nation a privileged invisibility as the rest of the world is being written, constitute predominantly charity approaches. Solidarity approaches towards global, inter- and intra-national divides do however appear when dialogic modes of writing (verbally and visually) are used. They also concur with political rather than culturalistic understandings of these divides, therefore oppose naturalization of differences and open up for possibilities of change. In the end I discuss possible ways of analyzing solidarity in relation to power in media studies, as well as ways of constituting solidaritarian media texts. A key feature in this project is the break- up of the opposition of genres that discuss the domestic respectively the foreign.
Global Divides and Transnational Media Literacy
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Eide, Elisabeth; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
The present article explores the challenges of global divides for media researchers through the example of a foreign reporter’s blog from an area of intense conflict in Pakistan, where he was threatened by religious students. The event triggering the threats was an MMS containing a Norwegian-made cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed. The reporter’s initial entry to the blog after this event received a large number of re - sponses from a mainly national audience, although the event itself was of a transnational character The chain of events underlines the need to further explore how, with the help of modern technology, national media events may transcend continents and be reinterpreted in very dif - ferent circumstances, while the debate mainly remains constrained by national boundaries. Furthermore it demonstrates how such a transnational event may be seen as an inspiration for academics concerned with global journalism and discusses the concept “transnational media literacy” as a tool of interpretation.
Communication, the Nexus of Class and Nation, and Global Divides Reflections on China’s Post-Revolutionary Experiences
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Zhao, Yuezhi; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
This paper locates the problematic of communication and global divide in the nexus of class and nation in the context of post-revolutionary China’s twisted developmental path and its world historical economic ascent in the era of neoliberal globalization. After a brief overview of the politics of class mobilization for nation-building during the Maoist period, the paper moves on to examine the role of communication in contributing to reform-era China’s spectacular rise in the global hierarchy of economic power on the one hand and a drastic process of domestic social stratification and class polarization on the other. As China’s lower social classes are making redistributive and social justice claims on the Chinese state and propelling it to fulfill its socialist promises from within, China’s increasingly denationalized middle class are protecting this state from the outside by championing Chinese nationalism in the global symbolic arena. These historically specific re-articulations of class and nation not only continue to bolster China’s post-revolutionary state in the capitalist global order, but also make it impossible to completely shed its socialist color.
Representing the Rise of the Rest as Threat Media and Global Divides
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Pieterse, Jan Nederveen; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
Like a giant oil tanker, the world is turning. New growth poles of the world economy have been emerging in the south and east. Globalization once belonged to the west and now the tables are turning. We have entered the era of the ‘rise of the rest’. Western media and politics of representation have celebrated the rise of the west for two hundred years, how then do they represent the rise of the rest? The main trends are that the rise of the rest is ignored, or represented as a threat, or celebrated in business media as triumphs of the marketplace. Media echoing free market ideology have contributed to vast wealth polarization; representing the rise of the rest as threat contributes to global political polarization; recycling the 9/11 complex produces cultural and political polarization; and overusing celebrity narratives contributes to existential polarization. These are the global divides discussed in this paper. In the wake of the economic crisis of 2008 there have been marked changes in discourse and a new motif has taken shape: recruiting the rest to rescue the west.
The Poverty of Journalism and the Politics of Reporting Poverty Statistics in South Africa
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Berger, Guy; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
Unpacking Cultural Divides
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Isar, Yudhishthir Raj; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
This text is based on an introductory Keynote delivered by the author for a Plenary panel of Nordic researchers that took place during the 2008 ‘Media and Global Divides’ conference. Designed to provide an international stage-setting context for a range of Nordic perspec- tives, the text first deconstructs the notions of ‘global’ and ‘divide’. It then takes up ‘global divides’ that are cultural in nature, referring principally to ‘divide’-related notions analyzed by various contributors to the two published volumes of the Cultures and Globalization Series , of which the author is co-editor. Finally, it seeks to displace the ‘divide’ metaphor, by attending to the complex relations of competition and collaboration that link different centres of cultural production, e.g., the spatial dynamics of film and television production as explored by Michael Curtin in the recently published second volume of the Series entitled The Cultural Economy
Bridging the Divide between the Press and Civic Society Civic Media Advocacy as “Media Movement” in Latin America
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Waisbord, Silvio; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
The gap between the press and civic society has been a paramount concern for media research on Latin America. Press systems in the region have been historically dominated by states and markets. During the past decades, two “media movements” have emerged to strengthen the linkages between the press and civic society: one set of efforts have promoted reforms in media policies, and the other one developed alternative media independently from governments and markets. This chapter examines the rise of “civic media advocacy” as a third “media movement” in the region. Civic media advocacy aims to change news coverage of civic and social problems in the mainstream press. The analysis examines its strategies and political underpinnings and discusses its achievements and limitations. The experience of civic media advocacy in contemporary Latin America offers insights into whether and how civic society can effectively transform journalism
Telescopic Philanthropy, Emancipation and Development Communication Theory
(Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordicom, 2009-06) Alhassan, Amin; Carlsson, Ulla; IAMCR World Congress, Media and Global Divides; Department of Journalism, Media and Communication Stockholm University
Development communication theory can be framed as the rescue mission of the global north to save the global south from itself. It is in view of this that this paper asks: what does it mean to found the emancipation of the postcolonial nation on the philanthropic whim? Us - ing Derrida’s theory of gift as a framework, this paper opens up discussions around the cost of international development assistance on the instrumentality of the postcolonial state as an agent of national development. It uses illustrative examples from Ghana and Uganda to demonstrate how development aid has transformed the postcolonial state into an instrument of tutelary governance, and invites development communication scholars to question the discursive and performative functions of international development assistance.

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