The Centre for Journalism at the Department of Political Science and Public Management, 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). Employment is scheduled to begin 1 August 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Funded by the VELUX Foundation, the HEALTHY NEWS project investigates when exposure to negative news helps people stay informed about important societal issues and when it contributes to reduced mental well-being and news avoidance. The project seeks to identify barriers and opportunities for developing healthier news consumption habits while balancing the informational value and potential psychological costs of negative news in today’s individualized media environment.

The project is organized into three interconnected subprojects:

• SP1: Examines how negativity varies across news outlets, social media platforms, and individual news diets using data donations and automated content analysis.
• SP2: Explores how people perceive and navigate negative news through in-depth interviews.
• SP3: Investigates the effects of negative news exposure on societal beliefs and mental well-being using panel survey data.

All research data will be collected in Denmark.

The research team is led by Associate Professor Kim Andersen and includes Associate Professor Lene Heiselberg, Professor David Nicolas Hopmann, a postdoctoral researcher, and the successful PhD candidate. The PhD student will collaborate closely with the project team while primarily focusing on one of the three subprojects, depending on personal interests and methodological strengths.

Applicants must submit a research proposal (maximum two pages) outlining how they would investigate barriers and opportunities for healthy news diets within today’s personalized media landscape. The proposal should be anchored in one of the three subprojects while remaining open to interdisciplinary methods where appropriate. It should clearly describe the proposed theoretical framework, methodology, and analytical approach.

The successful candidate will participate in all stages of the research process, including project design, data collection, analysis, publication, teaching, and dissemination of research findings. The position also involves active participation in the Centre for Journalism’s academic environment, contribution to its strategic goals of producing internationally recognized research, engagement with researchers nationally and internationally through conferences and collaborations, and knowledge exchange with media organizations, policymakers, and the wider public.

Application materials must include:

• Motivated application
• Completed application form
• Research proposal (maximum two pages)
• Detailed CV (maximum two pages)
• Master’s degree certificate and complete academic transcripts
• Information regarding teaching, dissemination activities, or scientific publications (if applicable)

All application documents must be submitted in PDF format, translated into English if originally written in another language, with each file not exceeding 5 MB. Documents must not contain a Danish CPR (civil registration) number. Incomplete applications may be rejected without substantive evaluation.

[Eligibility Criteria]

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Journalism Studies, Communication, Political Science, Computer Science, Media Studies, Sociology, or a closely related field.
• Strong academic record and demonstrated understanding of research design and methodology.
• Ability to conduct independent research while working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.
• Interest in participating in PhD courses, teaching, academic conferences, and international research collaborations.
• Willingness to engage with journalists, policymakers, and other societal stakeholders.
• Commitment to active participation in the department’s academic and social environment.
• Applicants who already hold a PhD degree are not eligible for this PhD scholarship and are instead encouraged to consider the related postdoctoral position.

[Required expertise/skills]

• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Experience or interest in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
• Ability to develop research proposals and conduct independent scientific research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary research teams.
• Interest in journalism, media effects, political communication, news consumption, computational analysis, or related research areas.
• Organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple research activities simultaneously.
• Interest in scientific publishing, teaching, and public dissemination of research.

[Salary details – if available]

• Monthly salary in accordance with University of Southern Denmark employment conditions, including pension benefits.
• Office facilities provided.
• Financial support available for conference participation and research visits abroad.

[Application Deadline – if available]

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

Application Link