News – University of Klagenfurt

Project #NoFakeFacts! boosts young people’s media literacy in times of disinformation

The project #NoFakeFacts! is a new initiative from Sparkling Science 2.0 that aims to equip young people with the skills they need to deal with digital information and sources. The idea is to help young people spot fake news, think critically about it, and handle digital content responsibly. As well as boosting media and information literacy, this also promotes young people’s understanding of science and democracy.

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Лариса Лазебная/Adobestock (KI generated)

Bringing a new function to journalism: Research project focuses on book clubs in journalism culture

In her research project, Mercedes de Luis Andrés explores how so-called BoJo Clubs, – book clubs within journalism culture – particularly in post-conflict societies, can contribute to a shift in how we relate to journalism and reading circles, providing practical insights for communities in challenging societal contexts. She recently received the CLS INFRA Transnational Access Fellowship for this work, providing her with an opportunity to conduct research at the University of Galway in Ireland.

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Foto: Phindulo-T/peopleimages.com Adobestock

Fitness influencers help followers to improve their fitness and boost sports brand sales

In recent years, fitness influencers have become important advocates for healthy and athletic behaviour, often with significant advertising value for sports brands. A research team at the University of Klagenfurt recently investigated who benefits from the work of these fitness ambassadors.

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Mumtaaz D/peopleimages.com Adobestock

Taking pride in the company: Employees regard those well who do good in an authentic way

In addition to flexibility and development prospects, activities that endeavour to promote the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) also play an important role when it comes to looking for a job, especially in the case of young people. Organisations that recognise their social responsibility, for example by supporting the environment or social causes, convey values that are highly relevant to many employees. A team of researchers recently investigated how employees’ perception of CSR programmes affects organisational pride.

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Kirsten Davis/peopleimages.com Adobestock

The evolving office: new project examines media discourse on the introduction of digital media into our offices

The changes in media that come with digitalisation are also changing how we work in offices. Over the next two years, media and communication researcher Caroline Roth-Ebner and her team will examine how this so-called mediatization of offices has been discussed in media discourse since the 1980s. The project is funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF.

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Julia/Adobestock

The Dunning-Kruger effect and the muesli bar: Those who know the least tend to believe they are highly competent

The Dunning-Kruger effect can be observed in many different areas: Those who know the least often think of themselves as particularly competent, while those with a lot of knowledge tend to underestimate their own expertise. A research team recently investigated the extent to which this phenomenon can be observed in the area of media and nutrition. The results are clear: Even when it comes to evaluating a supposedly healthy low-carb bar, people who are not competent at all consider themselves to be particularly competent.

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stcom/Adobestock

New ideas in journalism aim to strengthen democracy

The world of communication is in a state of upheaval: Fractured publics turn to different sources of information. Facts are no longer recognised as such, because confidence in the media is dwindling. This poses a threat to the stability of democratic societies. The project “Innovations in Journalism in Democratic Societies: Index, Influence and Prerequisites in an International Comparison”, brings together researchers from five countries who, for the past three years, have been investigating how new forms of journalism can strengthen democracy.

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Foto: KK

From volleyball to marketing

“Teamwork and leadership skills are important, but so is being human in every aspect of our lives,” Chara Papadopoulou recounts the lessons she learned as a professional volleyball player. The former Greek national player came to Klagenfurt in 2020, where she subsequently became aware of the Master’s degree programme “Media and Convergence Management”. Now in the fourth semester of her studies, she is preparing for a career in marketing.

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Heading to Silicon Valley with a degree in Media and Communications

Silke English studied Media and Communications at the University of Klagenfurt. Shortly after graduating, she joined a start-up which later relocated to Silicon Valley, taking her along. Today, she still has a wide range of responsibilities there, and in this interview she tells us how she manages to juggle all of these projects, how much her university degree helped her to start her career and what she still associates with the university today.

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Foto: aNRBV/Adobestock

Journalism needs to reach out and engage

Social discourse is becoming increasingly heated and radicalised. Why is it that the movements that threaten democracy are more successful in drawing people in than those seeking to promote democracy?

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