International links

In 2004 the Public Connection project developed a close relationship with researchers from the Institute of Communication Research, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Professors Bruce Williams and Andrea Press decided to adapt the project’s diary-based methodology to a new study, funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) based in Illinois and timed to coincide with the build-up to, and aftermath of, the US Presidential election of 2004.

Since 2004 the Public Connection team have had regular research meetings with the US project (in London in November 2004 and July 2005, and in New York in May 2005) and will present a joint panel on the two projects to the annual conference of the International Communication Association in Dresden 19-23  June 2006 (for details see http://www.icahdq.org/events/conference/2006/conf2006_PROGRAM.asp)

The result, we hope, will be some detailed comparative analysis and writing over the next 2 years.

The Public Connection project has also developed links with other academics researching the links between media and democracy in Europe and Australia, specifically Peter Dahlgren (University of Lund, Sweden), Kim Schroder (Roskilde University, Copenhagen, Denmark), Joke Hermes (University of Amsterdam, Holland), Stewart Hoover and Lynn Schofield Clark (University of Colorado, USA) and Ien Ang (Centre for Cultural Research, University of Western Sydney, Australia). We will present a panel on comparative perspectives on media and democracy at the ICA in Dresden in June 2006 (as above) which brings together a number of these researchers. Nick Couldry will also run a seminar with Peter Dahlgren on media and citizenship at Sodertorns University, Stockholm, on May 17-18 2006. 

Further material on comparative research will be posted on this section of the site as these exchanges develop.