7 July: fyi -- electronic media, UK

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New deadline = 31st July 2008

BT/EPSRC CASE Studentship "The life-course of public and private media
assets"

http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/node/3232

ISTR - Institute for Social and Technical Research
University of Essex
Subjects: Geography - Human | Information Sciences | Information
Technology | Media and Communications | Sociology | Telecommunications

The explosive growth of public media services such as youtube, flickr,
Slide and the like together with the widespread penetration of
domestic broadband are starting to cause significant challenges for
telecommunications networks which were not designed with the
instantaneous viral spread of multi-media content in mind. This
studentship will develop ways of studying and conceptualising high
bandwidth multi-media content usage that can take account of the
'flow' of media across geographically dispersed social networks
through a range of hosting services such as facebook, youtube, Slide,
blogs and the like. The student will be expected to carry out
conceptual and empirical work applying (for example) theories of
exchange and reciprocity to the emerging arena of the sharing of
public (published/broadcast) and private (within closed groups) media
content.

Whilst the successful applicant will be based at the Technology and
Social Change Research Centre (http://istr.essex.ac.uk/tasc/ -
Colchester campus) they will also spend time with BT?s R&D teams (who
are located at Adastral Park) gaining industrial experience and access
to unique datasets and other resources. Although pursuing their own
research agenda the student will be expected to work closely with and
contribute to the research team and the programme in which they will
be embedded.

The studentship would suit a qualitative social scientist with an
interest in technology mediated consumption and social behaviour.
Applications are therefore invited from graduates with a first or
upper second class degree in a demonstrably relevant discipline.

The studentship covers fees, research expenses and the standard RCUK
tax-free living allowance with an additional contribution from the
industrial partner.

Desirable experience, skills and attributes would also include one or
more of the following:
? Qualitative social science research methods
? The ability to engage with non-academic researchers
? The ability to work as part of a collaborative team
? An interest in the relationship between social and technological
change

To apply please email a CV and covering letter (both in pdf format) to
Dr Ben Anderson (benander@essex.ac.uk).

----
Dr Ben Anderson
Director, Technology & Social Change Research Centre
University of Essex
http://istr.essex.ac.uk/tasc/



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