PhD Scholarship – Navigating Negativity: What Is a Healthy News Diet?
University of Southern Denmark – SDU
Odense M, 5230 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?”. Funded by the Velux Foundation, this project investigates when exposure to negative news informs people about important societal issues, and when it negatively affects mental well‑being and leads to news avoidance. The research aims to identify barriers and opportunities for healthy news diets and assess how the benefits and drawbacks of negative news can be balanced in today’s individualized media environment. The research comprises three interconnected subprojects:
SP1 (Content): Analysis of negativity levels across news outlets, social media platforms, and individual news diets using data donations and automated content analysis.
SP2 (Consumption): Examination of how people perceive and navigate negative news through in‑depth interviews.
SP3 (Consequences): Assessment of how exposure to negative news affects societal beliefs and mental well‑being based on panel survey data.
The PhD candidate will work with the project team—led by Associate Professor Kim Andersen alongside Associate Professor Lene Heiselberg and Professor David Nicolas Hopmann—to focus on one of the subprojects, depending on personal interests and methodological strengths. While the broad framework and methods are defined, the candidate will also help shape the research direction. Applicants must include a research proposal (max two pages) outlining how they intend to investigate barriers and opportunities for healthy news diets within one of the subprojects, describing theoretical, methodological, and analytical approaches. The scholarship includes a monthly salary with pension, office facilities, and financial support for conference travel and research visits abroad. PhD candidates will follow an individual PhD plan, including coursework, conference participation, and teaching, and may spend a semester at another research institution.
Eligibility Criteria
A relevant Master’s degree in fields such as journalism studies, communication, political science, computer science, media studies, sociology, or related disciplines.
Ability to work independently and in consultation with a supervisor to prioritize PhD plan elements, including research, courses, and teaching.
Interest in engaging with national and international research communities, including conference participation and dissemination of research.
Interest in engaging with societal actors such as news media, the public, and policymakers.
Active engagement in the academic and social environment of the department.
Required Expertise/Skills
Strong academic level with a solid grasp of research designs and methods.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Research skills pertinent to one of the subproject areas (e.g., content analysis, interviews, survey data analysis).
Motivation to contribute to high‑quality international research and knowledge exchange.
Salary Details
The scholarship provides a monthly salary including pension, office facilities, and financial support for conference travel and research visits abroad.
Application Deadline
22 March 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST.