New Media at the Beijing Olympics

I would like to inform you of an advertisement for a PhD studentship.A stipend is attached to the studentship. Please feel welcome to contact medirectly in relation to this [preferably by email].Please note that the deadline for applications is 27 July 2007, but theformal advertisement does not appear until Monday 9th July, so there will beno other information on the University website until then. However,application documents are available. Please also note that applications canbe sent electronically.- - - - - - - - -New Media at the Beijing OlympicsSchool of Media, Language & Music, University of Paisley, Scotland, UK.Closing date: 27 July, 2007.This project investigates the development of new media within China, inassociation with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In so doing, it responds tonew agendas in media research in three areas: studies of the media in China,studies of new media, and the role of the media in the construction of theOlympic Games to an international audience. In combining these areas, thestudent will focus on media discourses surrounding the Beijing OlympicGames. The aim will be to consider the ‘external’ impression of the BeijingOlympics, by studying the cultural and political dimensions of the Games.This work will draw on key theoretical insights into international mediaevents and digital culture. It will also theorize the transformation ofjournalism as a profession in the context of new media publishing andbroadcasting.Key concepts: citizen journalism, social software, media event, Olympics.This research will draw on collaborative research projects undertaken by DrMiah with the London School of Economics and the University of East London.Partner institutions also include various Beijing Universities, particularlythe Communication University of China, a leading provider of broadcastingexpertise in Beijing and China. Collaborations are also underway with theAnnenberg School of Communication, various new media organisations and thestudent will be assisted to attend the Beijing Olympics in August 2008. Thestudent will support the teaching of ‘Sport & Spectacle’, a course directedby Dr Miah focusing on the media, cultural and political aspects of theOlympic Movement. The project also benefits from an External Adviser CharlieBeckett, Director of POLIS at the London School of Economics. There willalso be an opportunity to provide Editorial Assistance to the academicmagazine ‘Culture at the Olympics’ http://www.culturalolympics.org.uk