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Research at UA  
    
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Media, policy and culture
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Main topics The group combines research in two major fields, on the one hand media & popular culture and, on the other hand, media structures and policy, which are studied in conjunction. The aim is to combine the analysis of media & popular culture, i.e. the meanings, uses and interpretations attached to media products and studied through a combination of production, content and reception analysis, with the analysis of media structure, i.e. the layout of the media and ICT market with its economic and political dynamics, its stakeholders and government policy. The group unites studies into different media (TV, radio, film, magazines, newspapers, ICT, games...) with a focus on popular culture (e.g. TV fiction, celebrity culture etc.) and journalism. It further incorporates multi-method research, with a focus on - but not restricted to - qualitative and interpretive methods and combines a social scientific focus on rigorous, systematic and empirically based research with a more humanities-oriented cultural and media studies focus on interpretation and deep understanding through critical analysis.
Regarding media and popular culture, we focus, first, on the link between production and content to study representational issues, including nation and ethnicity (Dhoest, Van den Bulck), gender (Van Hellemont), sexuality (Dhoest), age (Van den Bulck, Claessens), environmental risk (Maeseele) and celebrity culture (Van den Bulck, Claessens, Panis). Second, linking representation to reception, work focuses on issues of identity formation in and through (interactive) media and popular culture, include new ways of media use (e.g. Simons on ''me tv'', Dhoest on viewing popular television, Malliet on gaming experiences, Van den Bulck and Claessens on online news readers'' reactions, Maeseele on environmental issues'' reception), specific media users (Van den Bulck, Obalanlege, and Dhoest on ethnic minorities; Dhoest, Szulc & Herreman on gay/queer audiences, Van den Bulck & Claessens on the elderly; Van den Bulck and Claessens on fandom & parasocial relationships), and reception of specific content (Maeseele on environmental news reception, Van den Bulck & Panis on effectiveness of celebrity social profit endorsement) .
Media policy studies focus on challenges to existing mass media models, following digitisation, convergence and changing media-state relations (multilevel governance, new public management) (Van den Bulck on new business and governance models for old and new media). Special expertise and focus is on public service broadcasting (Van den Bulck, Dhoest).
Website http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=*CWONZ&n=13716
Projects Show the projects of this research team
  • The new 'vox populi'? A study on journalists' use of social media as sources in Flemish newspapers  01/02/2013 - 31/12/2013
    AbstractThe aim of this study is to examine the existence of echo chamber and source cycle effects due to the use and remediation of social media as sources in professional mainstream news coverage. First, a quantitative descriptive content analysis will be done of articles published in 7 Flemish newspapers over a period of six consecutive weeks in 2013 that explicitly mention Facebook, Twitter or YouTube as sources of information. The content analysis will provide an overall picture of how social media are being used in routine, day-to-day news reporting in the Flemish press. Next, a sample of news items will be selected for a qualitative content analysis to examine how social media are handled as sources in news reports. The qualitative content analysis will focus on the ''source credibility'' of social media. Do they serve as primary or secondary sources of information? How often and how is social media content explicitly cited in the news items? Is social media content presented as representative or indicative for public opinion? And (how) do journalists deal with problems of reliability, authenticity and objectivity of social media content? Additionally, to deepen our understanding of these questions, the content analysis will be combined with ''reconstruction interviews'' with newspaper journalists to obtain detailed information about the journalist''s sourcing practices in the process of the news production.
    Duration01/02/2013 - 31/12/2013
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  • Research on the perception of young parenthood among vulnerable young people.  01/02/2013 - 31/05/2013
    AbstractThis project represents a formal research agreement between UA and the Flemish Public Service. UA provides the Flemish Public Service research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract. The main objective is to investigate the media representation of young parenthood on Flemish television and its reception among socially vulnerable young people.
    Duration01/02/2013 - 31/05/2013
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  • 'Blanton the (r)evolutionary': A contextualization of Jimmie Blanton's jazz bass playing.  01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016
    AbstractIn this project we aim to analyze and situate Blanton''s artistic output in its historical context using a combination of methods such as transcription, comparative musical analysis, archival research and musical experimentation. We will do this in two parts. Based on transcriptions, the first part will analyze Blanton''s own bass playing styles and techniques. The second part will use case studies as a basis to compare Blanton''s bass playing to that of a selection of precursors and contemporaries.
    Duration01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016
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  • Sexualisation in and by children's media. The content, use, and impact of sexualizing messages among 10- to 12-yearolds.  01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016
    AbstractThe researchers propose to fill a critical gap of scholarly knowledge on the concept of sexualisation of children. This concept refers to a process in which young people are drawn in and socialized by a culture that attaches great importance to physical appearance, heterosexual attraction, and romantic and sexual success.
    The aim of the project is to run a content analysis, qualitative reception analysis, and longitudinal survey in order to observe the content, use, and effect of sexualizing media with 9- to 12-year-olds.
    Duration01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016
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  • The Marketplace of ideas: Less owners, less ideas? An interdisciplinary study on the impact of media ownership concentration on media content, outlet and production diversity using a longitudinal and cross-national perspective.  01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016
    AbstractCombining insights from communication studies, political science 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 and cross-country comparative perspective to answer the question if concentration of media ownership limits the plurality of issues, actors, viewpoints and discourses in the media, undermining their democratic role.
    Duration01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016
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  • Queer sounds: The function and meaning of music in the formation and evolution of an LGBT subculture in the city of Antwerp (1960-2010).  01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015
    AbstractThis project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the function of music in processes of subcultural identification, focusing on the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community in Antwerp. It is widely accepted that music plays an important role in the formation and self-definition of minorities and subcultures, but its function in the LGBT community has not been extensively investigated yet. Moreover, Flemish LGBT culture and its history have hardly come up for academic analysis to date. Our aim is, first, to find out what musical repertoire and which musical functions were shared within the LGBT scene, focusing on the largest Flemish urban centre Antwerp, between 1960 (the start of the LGBT movement in Antwerp) and 2010. Secondly, we will analyse how this repertoire and its uses operate as subcultural capital and contribute to the formation of one or more LGBT subcultures.
    Duration01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015
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  • 'Jack The Bear': A comparative analysis of the innovations in jazz bass playing by Jimmie Blanton.  01/01/2012 - 31/12/2013
    AbstractJimmie Blanton is widely regarded as one of the prime innovators of jazz bass playing. However, to date there has been no attempt to precisely and systematically determine in which areas he was innovative. Based on a strong theory-practice nexus, this artistic research aims to reach a thorough understanding of the innovative aspects in the jazz bass playing of Blanton, in order to fill the lacunae that still prevail on this issue.
    Duration01/01/2012 - 31/12/2013
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  • Media monitor of the energy issue, case study Dutch- and French-language press.  01/12/2011 - 31/12/2012
    AbstractThrough setting-up a media monitor on the energy issue, the aim of this project is to analyze the circulation and reproduction of images and discourses on the ''energy issue'' (and its relevant actors) through a comparative analysis of several Dutch- and French-language newspapers. This comparative analysis will reveal (i) how the boundaries of the energy debate in Belgium shift following specific events, (ii) how Dutch- and French-language newspapers differ in their representation of the energy debate, and (iii) how individual newspapers, such as quality and popular newspapers, differ in their representation of the energy debate.
    Duration01/12/2011 - 31/12/2012
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  • The circulation and transformation of global climate change in public discourse: an investigation into frame sponsorship, news media representation and audience reception  01/07/2011 - 31/12/2015
    AbstractThe aim of this research proposal is to analyze the circulation and transformation of meanings of global climate change in local public discourses, by focusing on the reflexive circuit between frame sponsors, news media discourses and audiences. This design allows to draw conclusions not only on the contribution of news media to facilitating democratic debate and democratic citizenship on the issue of global climate change, but also on how to communicate this issue more effectively from the perspective of democratic politics.
    Duration01/07/2011 - 31/12/2015
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  • The function and meaning of music in the formation and evolution of a LGB subculture in the city of Antwerp (1960-2010)  01/07/2011 - 30/06/2013
    AbstractThis project aims to better understand the function of music in processes of subcultural identification, focusing on the LGB (Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual) community in Antwerp. It is known that music plays an important role in the formation and self-definition of minorities and subcultures, but its function in the LGB community has not been extensively researched. Moreover, Flemish LGB culture and its history have hardly been academically researched to date. Our aim is to first find out which musical repertoire and which musical functions were shared within the LGB scene, focusing on the largest Flemish urban centre Antwerp, between 1960 (the start of the LGB movement in Antwerp) and 2010. Secondly, we will analyse how this repertoire and its uses operate as subcultural capital and contribute to the formation of one or more LGB subculture(s). A combination of qualitative methods (archive research, document analysis, in-depth interviews with informants and participants in LGB culture) is used to get a holistic view on historical processes and evolutions in these musical cultures. This project brings together insights from media studies, LGB/queer studies and history, aiming to bridge the distance between these disciplines in a specific case study.
    Duration01/07/2011 - 30/06/2013
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  • Platform of local authorities and communicators engaged in science (PLACES).  01/02/2011 - 30/11/2012
    AbstractPLACES is a four-year European project establishing and developing the concept of the European City of Scientific Culture. The project focuses on developing and strengthening City Partnerships, bringing together 67 science centres, museums, festivals and events, each partnering with local authorities, and 10 European regional networks. The project facilitates cooperation among these alliances to structure their science communication activities, sharing tools, resources and results. Within the framework of PLACES, the Universitat Pompeu Fabra coordinates an independent European committee of academic researchers involved in the field of Science in Society with the objective to measure the socio-economic value of various activities in order to extract concrete recommendations for future actions on the field of cities of scientific culture.
    Duration01/02/2011 - 30/11/2012
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  • Climate change, news media and democratic debate: an investigation into frame sponsorship and media representation  01/01/2011 - 31/12/2012
    AbstractIn the past years, it has been widely acknowledged that handling climate change is one of the greatest political challenges the industrialized world faces today. This brings forward important questions regarding the social role of news media in democratic societies and the relationship between media, power and democracy. Characterizing climate change as a risk conflict between various groups with competing values and interests, the research question of this proposal is whether and to what extent news media in Northern Belgium are found to facilitate democratic debate about climate change. To provide an answer to this question, this proposal combines two levels of analysis: in a first stage (§ 1), frame sponsorship is mapped of the various organizations in Northern Belgium having an interest in the representation of climate change. In a second stage (§ 2), a cross-media and cross-national comparison is made of the representation of climate change in: (i) the evening news broadcasts of the public channel één and the commercial channel VTM, (ii) a range of new and alternative media covering the politico-ideological spectrum (for example, DeWereldMorgen, Uitpers, In Flanders Fields, The Brussels Journal), and (iii) two local (De Standaard and De Morgen), two Dutch (NRC Handelsblad and de Volkskrant) and two American quality newspapers (The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times). The results of this study will be significant on three levels: (i) an empirical level, in terms of collecting important data on the role of local news media in the climate change debate today, (ii) a theoretical level, in terms of theory development concerning the role of media in risk conflicts in general, and (iii) a policy level, in terms of collecting important data for future strategies towards a broad social debate on science and technology.
    Duration01/01/2011 - 31/12/2012
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  • Who's In? Who's Out? A comparative analysis of sexual and gender minority self-representations in cyberspace in Poland, Scotland and Turkey.  01/10/2010 - 30/09/2014
    AbstractThis research project explores how members of sexual and gender minority communities (activists, editors and media users) represent themselves using online media.
    In particular, the project aims to explore representational practices among different sexual and gender minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and/or queer persons) and in different national, cultural and religious contexts (Poland, Scotland and Turkey).
    Duration01/10/2010 - 30/09/2014
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  • Who sponsors climate change? An investigation into the representation and reception of climate change in news media.  01/09/2010 - 31/08/2015
    AbstractThe objective is to further expand the research line on media and science -which was started in my doctoral research-, in the immediate future (i) by broadening it to the representation of climate change in the media, and (ii) by deepening it to include a reception analysis of climate change in the media. In the near future, many additional avenues for research come forward. This expansion benefits from my earlier work in two important ways: (i) the formulation of an alternative media-sociological approach to the relation between media and science, following an inventory and structuring of the theoretical and empirical studies on the domain of "media and science", which has opened up perspectives for a very elaborate research agenda, and (ii) the development of a methodological framework to adequately examine this research agenda, following the comparison of previously used methods.
    Duration01/09/2010 - 31/08/2015
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  • Television 2.0: production and reception of transmedia fiction  01/01/2010 - 31/12/2011
    AbstractThis research studies transmedia fiction, i.e. fiction series that are not restricted to television. First, the study will focus on the production of transmedia fiction: how and why is this transmedia process happening and which possible paratexts can a TV text have? Second, the study will focus on the reception of transmedia fiction: what does it mean to follow a show, why and how do viewers engage with a TV series?
    Duration01/01/2010 - 31/12/2011
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  • Population survey in preparation for the new management of the VRT with the Flemish government.  01/12/2009 - 31/05/2010
    AbstractThis project investigates the opinion of the audience on the future position and role of public broadcasting in society. Based on a literature review on the task and future of public broadcasting, a representative sample of Flemings (1500 respondentsz) is surveyed. The analysis and interpretation of the data leads to a report analysing the vision of the audience and discussing implications for the future contract between the Flemish government and the public broadcaster.
    Duration01/12/2009 - 31/05/2010
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  • Protection and promotion of Flemish culture and identity.  29/10/2009 - 01/06/2010
    AbstractThe project concerns a mid-term review of the 2007-2011 management contract between the VRT and the Flemish Community. The assessment covers the evolving media landscape and the role of the VRT therein and in particular to the area of the evaluation task relating to the protection and promotion of Flemish culture and identity.
    Duration29/10/2009 - 01/06/2010
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  • Culture on public broadcasters.  15/01/2009 - 15/03/2009
    AbstractThe aim of this project is the study of the cultural programming of a selection of public service broadcasters in Europe with a view to create benchmarks for the evaluation of the cultural programming on Flemish PSB VRT.
    Duration15/01/2009 - 15/03/2009
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  • Celebrity acitivism: An Empirical Study of the Co-operation between Social Movements and Flemish Celebrities.  01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012
    AbstractThe core question of this project looks at how celebrity engagements exert influence on the operations of social movements, and on the relationships of these social movements with one another and with the citizens-consumers. To what extent and in what way is the support of a famous person a necessity for a social movement in a society dominated by media and market-philosophy? In what ways does the presence of the celebrity-activist influence the ideas and actions within the movement or action group? What, if any, are the changes in the relationships between movements that do and do not used a famous face, and, finally, what impact does the introduction of celebrityactivists procure with the wider audience?
    Duration01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012
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  • Celebrity activism: An Empirical Study of the Co-operation between Social Movements and Flemish Celebrities.  01/07/2008 - 31/12/2012
    AbstractAn analysis of the impact of the growing celebrity activism: the cooperation between organisations that make up civil society and Flemish celebrities. This entails: the impact of celebrity activism on the content and functioning of social movements and the relationships between these organisations and citizens-consumers. A comparative case design is operationalized via multi-methodical data collection and analysis.
    Duration01/07/2008 - 31/12/2012
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  • Study concerning the representation of women and men in publicity in Belgium.  01/04/2008 - 31/12/2008
    AbstractThe study involves an analysis of gender representation in advertising and its policy context.. This includes

    1. study of past complaints against gender representation in advertising in a Belgian context (2005-2008) and the consultation of representative actors (advertisers, gender organisation in civil society, legal institutions and media) with regards to their views on what is considered acceptable/unacceptable with regards to gender representation in advertising

    2. A tool for advertisers based on what was found under 1

    3. analyse and compare regulatory frameworks and bodies in different countries to come up with an evaluation and advice with regards to the Belgian case.
    Duration01/04/2008 - 31/12/2008
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  • Media, Gender and Ethnicity: The image of Ethnic Minority Women In and Through Flemish Audiovisual News Media. A Content and Reception Analysis.  01/01/2007 - 31/12/2010
    AbstractAim and Objectives
    Media coverage of ethnic minority women (and their perception hereof) is a strongly debated, yet far less researched topic. Especially in relationship to the specific position of women within the ethnic minority community and their participation in wider society, the role of the media is regarded important. In Belgium the discussion is based on impressions rather than research, some interesting studies notwithstanding (cf. d''Haenens & Koeman, 2005). In other countries there are examples of studies of the perception by certain female ethnic groups of their media representation (cf. Gillespie, 1995), but this is rarely linked with a detailed study of the specific content of this type of media content. This project aims to shed new light upon this topic by combining content analysis of news and news commentaries with qualitative reception analysis of these media messages by ethnic minority women. The relationship between the media and gender-specific ethnicity is investigated, in the first part of this research project, by means of a content analysis of the representation and framing of ethnic minority women in an extended sample of non-fiction television programmes. In the second part, we will gain insight into the way in which ethnic minority women deal with this representation by qualitatively studying their viewing habits, perception and interpretations of media portrayal withing the broader reception context. The third part of the research project puts the results of the first and second phase into context by confronting experts (television makers, ethnic minority organisations,¿) with the obtained results. These experst have been dealing with these issues for a long time but, up un til now, have not had at their disposal any systematic analysis of the relation between the content of media messages and the way in which they are perceived and interpreted by ethnic minority women.
    Duration01/01/2007 - 31/12/2010
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  • Representation of Labour.  01/10/2006 - 31/12/2007
    AbstractThe study ''Labour in advertising m/v'' is part of the ESF study (2006-2007) with regards to the representation of labour in Flemish media. This specific sub study analysis advertising in particular, advertising involving labour. The study analysis the role of man and women in these labour related advertisements. The aim is a handbook on gander in advertising.

    The study ''labour in advertising m/v'' has two parts
    1 analysis of an artificial week of advertisements in prime time tv (19 - 21 h)
    2 analysis of the ZORRA archive of advertisements (1996-2005)
    Duration01/10/2006 - 31/12/2007
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  • Cultural identification with Flemish TV drama: Reception research into the formation of identities.  01/10/2005 - 31/12/2007
    AbstractThis project researches the contemporary reception of and identification with Flemish television fiction. First, the textual characteristics of contemporary TV-fiction are charted. The basic question is: how is Flanders represented? A particular point of attention is the representation of ''normality''. On this level, we situate the contemporary form of national identity in television fiction: that what is represented as ''common sense'', everyday and taken for granted. Secondly, this project researches viewer responses to contemporary Flemish TV-fiction. How are its images of Flanders experienced by the viewers, and do they identify with it? There are many indications that a stable notion of national identity was replaced by less stable, multiple forms of identification. To research this, we use qualitative audience research.
    Duration01/10/2005 - 31/12/2007
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  • Media Framing and the Attitude Concerning the Use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Soft Drugs by Youngsters.  01/05/2005 - 30/04/2009
    AbstractThis project deals with the relationship between popular TV series and how Flemish youngsters between the age of 12 and 18 form an attitude on the use of stimulants. Both theoretically and methodologically, the research combines framing research and the literature on the study of representation and stereotyping. Besides an analysis of the use of frames in a case study of the use of alcohol in TV series, an experiment will be set up to explore the effect of mediaframes on the attitude concerning these stimulants by youngsters. The expected outcomes of this project include, first, a better understanding of the interrelationship between media frames and audience frames with regards to the use of alcohol and youngsters, but, second also the applicability of these concpetual and methodological new insights to other cases.
    Duration01/05/2005 - 30/04/2009
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  • The Articulation of National Identity in Belgian Audiovisual Media Content in Light of the Globalisation and Postmodernisation of the Medialandscape and of Society at Large.  01/10/2003 - 31/12/2006
    AbstractThe main goal of this project is to analyse the contemporary role of media in collective identity formation. In particular, it sets out to study whether and how notions of national identity '' the key form of collective identification in modernity '' are articulated in a globalising and postmodernising society, particularly in the audiovisual media in Belgium. The Flemish and French speaking audiovisual media can be considered an excellent field of study as the articulation of collective identities within these communities and their media have always been a central and complex topic. The project wants to look at the way in which broadcasters, in the changing media and society, articulate, create and maintain collective identity. To this end, on the one hand, a theoretical framework will be built. On the other hand an actual analysis will be done, concentrating on Flemish and French speaking audiovisual media content, situated within the specific social changes of the last few decades. Both policy analysis of public and commercial broacasters and actual content analysis will be conducted.
    Duration01/10/2003 - 31/12/2006
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