University of Southern Denmark (SDU) – Centre for Journalism, Department of Political Science and Public Management

Location
Odense, Denmark

General Description
The Centre for Journalism within the Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for a three-year full-time PhD scholarship for the research project “Navigating Negativity: What Is a Healthy News Diet?” (HEALTHY NEWS). The appointment is expected to commence on 1 August 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Funded by the Velux Foundation, the project investigates when exposure to negative news helps citizens stay informed about important societal issues and when it adversely affects mental well-being and contributes to news avoidance. The overall objective is to identify barriers and opportunities for developing healthy news diets and to evaluate how the benefits and drawbacks of negative news can be balanced in an increasingly individualized media environment.

The project consists of three interconnected research subprojects:

• SP1 – Content: Analysis of negativity across news outlets, social media platforms, and individual news diets using data donations and automated content analysis.
• SP2 – Consumption: Investigation of how individuals perceive and navigate negative news through in-depth qualitative interviews.
• SP3 – Consequences: Examination of how exposure to negative news influences societal beliefs and mental well-being using panel survey data.

All empirical data will be collected in Denmark.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team led by Associate Professor Kim Andersen, together with Associate Professor Lene Heiselberg, Professor David Nicolas Hopmann, a postdoctoral researcher, and the PhD fellow. While the candidate will primarily contribute to one of the three subprojects based on their methodological strengths and research interests, they will also have the opportunity to influence the project’s scientific direction.

The PhD programme includes an individual study plan comprising coursework, conference participation, teaching responsibilities, and typically one semester at another research institution, usually abroad, although alternative arrangements may be considered. The scholarship includes office facilities as well as financial support for conference attendance and international research visits. The department promotes an inclusive, collaborative, and internationally oriented research environment.

Eligibility Criteria

• Master’s degree (or equivalent to a Danish Master’s degree) in a relevant discipline such as Journalism Studies, Communication, Political Science, Computer Science, Media Studies, Sociology, or a related field.
• Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of the PhD School under the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences.
• Strong academic record and demonstrated understanding of research design and methodology.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with supervisors and research colleagues.
• Interest in contributing to international research communities, academic dissemination, and engagement with media organizations, policymakers, and the public.
• Applicants must submit:
  • Motivated application.
  • Application form.
  • Research proposal (maximum two pages) outlining a study within one of the three subprojects, including theoretical, methodological, and analytical approaches.
  • Detailed CV (maximum two pages).
  • Master’s degree certificate and academic transcripts.
  • Information regarding teaching, dissemination, or scientific publications (if applicable).
• All non-Danish documents must be translated into English and submitted in PDF format (maximum 5 MB per file). Applications containing Danish CPR numbers must have the number removed. Incomplete applications may be rejected without substantive evaluation.

Required Expertise/Skills

• Strong computational and quantitative research profile.
• Knowledge of computational social science, automated content analysis, survey methodology, or qualitative interview methods relevant to one of the project’s subprojects.
• Excellent analytical, methodological, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong written and spoken English communication skills.
• Ability to contribute to interdisciplinary research, academic publications, conferences, and collaborative projects.
• Interest in media research, journalism, political communication, computational analysis, and public engagement.

Salary Details

• Three-year salaried PhD fellowship in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Includes a monthly salary with pension, office facilities, and financial support for conference travel and international research visits.

Application Deadline
22 March 2026, 11:59 PM (CET/CEST).

Application Link