apr
Final PhD Seminar - Oscar Björkenfeldt
PhD candidates at the Sociology of Law Department hold three seminars during their education - a start-up seminar, a mid-seminar, and a final seminar. Participation in seminars is an essential part of the PhD education to fully reach the learning outcomes. The seminars are always in English.
Online Harassment Against Journalists: A Socio-Legal and Work-Life Study of the Challenges and Impacts in Swedish Journalism
Oscar Björkenfeldt's research aims to enhance the understanding of how the evolving digital landscape, particularly the rise of online harassment, influences journalism and its potential repercussions for fostering a healthy public discourse. His compilation thesis comprises four articles. The first article analyzes journalists' views on legal frameworks against online harassment, identifying a protection gap and linking harassment more to workplace issues than criminal law. The second article examines the sociopragmatic use of harassment in populist rhetoric on platforms like Twitter, often disguised as free speech. The third article, utilizing institutional theory, reveals barriers within the journalism industry to effectively handle harassment, advocating for a holistic approach that prioritizes mental well-being. The fourth article tests factors influencing journalistic self-censorship in response to harassment, uncovering a mismatch between its impact and the strategies news organizations employ to address it.
Collectively, these articles comprehensively address the overarching aim of the research. Additionally, this research enhances socio-legal studies by exploring how digital media and hostility towards journalism challenge legal frameworks and create new forms of social control over journalists. It underscores the need for socio-legal adaptation to protect journalism and information freedom amidst these evolving digital and societal changes.
Oscar Björkenfeldt is a Doctoral Student in sociology of law with funding from The Swedish Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority. He has an M.Sc. in sociology of law and a B.A. in sociology of law from Lund University; has previously worked as a junior analyst at Oxford Research and as a research assistant at Lund University.
Om evenemanget
Plats:
Room M221, 2nd floor, Allhelgona kyrkogata 18 (House M), Lund
Kontakt:
oscar [dot] bjorkenfeldt [at] soclaw [dot] lu [dot] se