Audience Section Head elections 2025

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The Audience (AUD) Section will be holding online elections for two co-chair and three vice-chair positions, for the term 2025 - 2029.

The elections will be held online from 7 to 21 May using the SurveyMonkey platform.

Individual members and representatives of institutional members in good standing, who are also registered as members of the Audience Section by 5 May, are eligible to vote. Voters will receive a voting link on 7 May.

To verify if you are a member of the AUD Section, log in to your IAMCR account and select “My Sections and Working Groups” from the menu.

View the candidates and read their statements below.

Read about the Audience Section.

More information and timeline at https://iamcr.org/s-wg/elections2025

Candidates

For Co-chair:

For Vice-chair:

Statements

For Co-chair

María T. Soto-Sanfiel, National University of Singapore

Dear Members of the Audience Section,

I am María T. Soto-Sanfiel, though I am known as Maite by my family and friends. Currently, I am on leave from the Department of Audiovisual Communication and Advertising at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, serving as an Associate Professor at the Department of Communications and New Media, as well as Principal Researcher at the Center for Trusted Internet and Community at the National University of Singapore.

I have had the honor of serving as vice-chair of the IAMCR Audience Section for the past four years, though my engagement with the section extends much further. Since the Barcelona conference in 1988, I have consistently presented my research at our annual meetings, contributing as a chair, discussant, and organizer for various sessions. In my role as vice-chair, I have been actively involved in the selection committees and the organization of the last four
major conferences.

Beyond these roles, my involvement with IAMCR has extended into other significant tasks. Last year, I co-organized the IAMCR Pre-Conference on Generative AI and Academic Research in Brisbane, Australia, with our current co-chairs, Asta Zelenkauskaite and Miguel Mariño. This year, I am co-organizing the pre-conference on Emotions and Journalism in Today’s Dynamic Communication Landscape with Dr. Virpi Salojärvi, a collaborative effort between the Audience Section and the Crisis, Security, and Conflict Communication Working Group. I am also the co-editor of the Handbook of Journalism and Emotions, which will be released soon by IAMCR/Wiley.

Having gained considerable experience in these capacities, I now feel it is time to step forward and assume the co-chair position, following the exemplary leadership of Asta and Miguel, who are completing their terms. I therefore submit my candidacy for the position of chair of the Audience Section for the forthcoming term. I am eager to build on the knowledge I've gained over these years and continue contributing to the growth of our section and communication studies. I kindly seek your support in this endeavor.

As chair, I would remain steadfast in promoting the diverse perspectives and academic interests that are the hallmark of IAMCR and our section. I am committed to ensuring that our section continues to attract high-quality, cutting-edge research while reflecting the full breadth of international diversity. Our section must also foster vibrant, cross-cultural dialogue among scholars from all regions and career stages. As a scholar born and raised in South America, who has developed my academic career in Europe and now works in Asia, I value deeply the cultural diversity and social commitment inherent in our section. This diversity, combined with the dynamic approaches of our members, represents not only our unique strength but also a continuous source of inspiration, intellectual freedom, and academic enrichment.

It would be an honor to continue shaping our section into a thriving academic forum, full of creative ideas, joint projects, and a welcoming space for all members. Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and success of our section.

Rafal Zaborowski, King’s College London, United Kingdom

My name is Rafal Zaborowski and I am a Senior Lecturer in Digital Culture and Department Education Lead in the Department of Digital Humanities at King’s College London, UK. My research explores the intersections of media audiences, texts, producers, and platforms, with a focus on voice, power, and sociality. My first book, Music Generations in the Digital Age, examined how audiences engage with music through participation, interpretation, and cultural production. I have published widely on representation, virtuality, and affect in digital and traditional media. 

I identify first and foremost as an audience researcher, with the IAMCR Audience Section (AUD) as my intellectual home. I have been an active member of the section since 2011, when I presented at my first major media conference. The encouragement and insight I received from AUD members and peers at that time strongly shaped my academic journey. Since then, I have contributed regularly as a presenter, reviewer, panel chair, and minute-taker.

For the past four years, I have had the privilege of serving as Vice-Chair of the IAMCR Audience Section. During this time, I have been actively involved in planning and organising the annual IAMCR conferences and other section activities, including the 2023 IAMCR AUD webinar, where I served as a discussant. It has been a pleasure to be part of the section’s leadership team during a time of transition and growth.

As Co-Chair, my primary goal would be to ensure that every member finds AUD to be as positive and stimulating an intellectual space as it has been for me. I hope to build on the thoughtful and caring leadership of our current Chairs, Asta and Miguel, and further expand opportunities for intellectual exchange in a rapidly changing academic landscape. I also want to contribute to the section’s continued growth and diversity—something that is deeply important to me culturally (as a Pole, educated in Japan and the UK, now working in London) and intellectually (as an interdisciplinary scholar researching audiences from different perspectives and fields). Additionally, I see great potential for expanding AUD’s activities between conferences. The section has long been a hub for diverse ideas and rich debates, often exploring perspectives not always represented in major communication journals.

I am eager to support and further this mission as Co-Chair and I would greatly appreciate your consideration.  

Rafal Zaborowski

For Vice-chair

Chikezie E. Uzuegbunam, Rhodes University, South Africa

I joined IAMCR in 2014, as a bright-eyed Master’s graduate and young lecturer in Nigeria, eager to launch deeper in academia and be a part of a global community of scholars interested in the ways in which media and communication research could be a conduit for lifelong learning and social good. Relatedly, I have been a member of the Audience Section for the last eight years.

Eleven years after my first IAMCR conference – IAMCR-Hyderabad – my career has taken off in ways that have remained truly momentous and sublime. IAMCR supported me right from the first years of my membership with travel grant awards that enabled me attend its conferences. Regular sharing of opportunities for growth and meeting scholars from all walks of life and at different career stages have been one of the greatest highlights of my academic career.

Having benefitted from this truly inclusive association for over a decade, I strongly feel it is
time to give back to IAMCR by way of active service. Currently, I am a a Senior Lecturer, Masters’s Programme Coordinator, and Deputy Head of School for Teaching and Research at Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies in South Africa. I am a rated research scientist by the National Research Foundation of South Africa – awarded in recognition of scholars’ international research standing. I have produced over 25 peer-reviewed publications on topics such as digital culture, children and youth, cultural studies, and misinformation. I earned a PhD (2019) in Media Studies from the University of Cape Town. I am a 2024/2025 Global Fellow at Northwestern University in Qatar and have held similar visiting fellowships in the UK, China, France, Ghana, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the USA. I serve as Assistant Editor of African Journalism Studies and Annals of the International Communication Association, in addition to sitting on the boards of several reputable journals.

The Audience Section is home to me, personally, as well as my work: My key research interest – young people and digitality in the African context – has enabled me to present in the Audience Section and others at several IAMCR conferences over the years. My first book focusing on young audiences, Children and Young People’s Digital Lifeworlds: Domestication, Mediation, and Agency (2024) was published as part of IAMCR-Palgrave Book Series.

My intention to stand for election for this post is solely to serve and help shape audience studies, while supporting the Co-Chairs in managing the Section’s activities, such as organising events, strategising on the Section’s growth, and promoting the work of the Section. As a Global South scholar based in South Africa and of Nigerian origin, I am also prepared to use this role to increase the participation of emerging and early-career scholars in sub-Saharan Africa in the Section’s activities and in IAMCR generally. I have relevant experience serving as Executive Board member of the foremost media and communication association in Southern Africa – South African Communication Association (SACOMM).

Dr. Chikezie E. Uzuegbunam
Rhodes University, South Africa
Senior Lecturer & Deputy Head of Department for Teaching and Research

Erika Ningxin Wang, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

My name is Erika Ningxin Wang. I am a media anthropologist and ethnographer, currently serving as an assistant professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. I received my PhD degree in Culture, media and Creative Industries from King's College London. My research focuses on youth culture, digital media, and audience communities, with specific attention to women, Asian youth, and fans. My commitment to exploring audiences’ lived experiences and cultural dynamics is rooted in my teaching philosophy, which emphasizes equality, inclusion, and humanistic care for audience communities.

As an early career scholar, I have actively contributed to the academic community through my service roles. I was elected as the Early Career Representative in the Popular Media and Culture Division of the International Communication Association (ICA), where I served for three years. During my term, I managed the division’s social media accounts and official website, significantly enhancing its online presence and communication with members. My extensive experience in media outreach and promotion has equipped me with the skills to serve the academic community effectively and foster connections among scholars worldwide.

I am deeply dedicated to supporting early career scholars and students. I have established social media accounts on platforms such as X, Bluesky, and RedNote (Xiaohongshu) to share resources, including research updates, job opportunities, and academic insights, tailored to the needs of young researchers. My passion for community-building extends to my teaching, where I have delivered ethnographic methods workshops on East Asian audience studies at King’s College London, CUHK Shenzhen, and other institutions, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in research.

As an Asian female scholar, I hope to bring a unique perspective to the IAMCR Audience Section, advocating for diversity and inclusion in audience studies and the broader academic community. I believe my interdisciplinary training, cross-cultural research experience, and dedication to serving early career scholars will contribute to the Audience Section’s growth and impact. If elected as Vice Chair, I will work collaboratively with the co-chairs ang the vice chairs to enhance the section’s academic excellence, organizational effectiveness, and community engagement.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and vision to the IAMCR Audience Section. 

Best regards,  

Erika Ningxin Wang
Assistant Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 

Maria-Jose Masanet, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

Dear members of the Audience Section, 

My name is Maria-Jose Masanet, and I am an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Information and Media, University of Barcelona. With this letter, I introduce myself and present my academic and personal background for consideration as Vice-Chair of the Audience Section. 

My research explores the intersection of media studies, gender studies, and youth studies, with a strong emphasis on audience research. In the past four years, I have secured funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Spain), as well as the European Commission, to lead three research projects: Tales from Sex, Media and Youth (SEXMEDIA), Observatory for Sexualities, Youth and Media (KALEIDOSCOPE), and Transmedia Gender & LGBT+ Literacy (TRANSGELIT). 

I have regularly participated in IAMCR conferences, particularly within the Audience and Gender Sections. Since 2013, I have presented papers, reviewed submissions, and moderated panels at IAMCR conferences. IAMCR has been invaluable for learning, sharing, and collaborating, and now feels like the right time to give back, especially to the Audience Section. 

Over the past year, I have been on a temporary academic hiatus due to becoming a mother. I returned to my job three days ago and I am trying to ensure that my current personal situation does not impact my academic activity. Many colleagues have had to scale back their academic work -and thus, their opportunities- due to motherhood. I feel I must try to break these dynamics and make an effort to continue developing my activity in international spaces like IAMCR and assuming leadership roles. This is why I consider it a strategic moment to assume the role of Vice-Chair, as it represents both a personal challenge and an act of political activism for gender equality. 

I have also been asking myself what I can contribute as Vice-Chair to the Section. I am excited to bring creative ideas and initiatives to the section, as my experience and leadership roles within my faculty make me well-suited for this position. These include serving as Head of Studies, coordinator of the Master's in Research in Communication and Diversity, leading the Gender, Inclusion, and Diversity research area, presiding the faculty’s Equality Committee, co-directing the International Congress on Media, Gender and Sexualities, and serving on scientific committees for international journals and conferences. These experiences have given me a strong background in team management, leadership, event organization, and collaborative research. 

Personally, I am committed to supporting emerging researchers and tackling harmful dynamics that can sometimes arise in academic environments. My profile and experience can also contribute to incorporating an intersectional theoretical and methodological perspective into the section. We need diverse and pluralistic teams and research to better understand media realities from a complex perspective. 

For all these reasons, I believe I can make meaningful contributions to the Audience Section. I hope you find this of interest, and I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration. 

Maria-Jose Masanet
Universitat de Barcelona 

Nissim Katz, Kinneret Academic College on the Sea of Galilee, Israel​

My name is Dr. Nissim Katz. I am a faculty member and senior lecturer of communication department at Kinneret Academic College on the Sea of Galilee. My research interests are “media and social change” and “media and audiences” specifically audiences such as national and ethnic minorities.

I have been a member of IAMCR for many years, I appreciate very much the IAMCR organization and especially the AUD section. I participated and presented my articles in AUD section more than nine times. Also, I was vice chair of the AUD section for one term (4 years). As a vice chair, I helped the head sections to review the abstracts submitted to the section and help to build the sessions in the conferences program. I have also been chairing sessions in the AUD section. 

Globally, I am a member of ICA and AIS and have many connections with scholars  in communication research field worldwide. In Israel I was a board member of Israel Communication Association. In my membership I helped to organize the annual conferences. Also, I was a financial critic member of the Israel Communication Association. In addition, I was the founder of “Junior Faculty forum” of Israel Communication Association and the first chair of “Junior Faculty Forum” in Israel. During my Ph.D. studies I founded the “Junior Faculty Forum” to build a community of young scholars and researchers to assist them academically and mentally. To do so, I gathered all the Ph.D. communication students in all universities across Israel. I started the forum with twenty people and today this community numbers over two hundred people. In this forum, I initiated various academic workshops to help students during their Ph.D. degree and created a supportive community where students share experiences, obstacles, methods and help each other. 

I believe I can continue to bring my abilities in creating an academic community to the AUD section and continue to assist the chairs elected to enhance their goals in advancing the AUD section academically, organizationally, and numerally. I will be more than glad to continue as vice chair for the second term. 

To conclude, I will be more than happy to contribute my skills to the AUD section. I have organizational skills and human skills to be an excellent vice-chair. For me it will be a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with the best researchers and have experience in worldwide organization. 

Thank you, 
Dr. Nissim Katz

Ratan Kumar Roy, South Asian University, New Delhi, India

I am Ratan Kumar Roy, Assistant Professor of Sociology at South Asian University, New Delhi. As a new member of IAMCR I found the AUD section very encouraging and relevant for the changing media cultures of the new age. I humbly seek support from the members for Vice Chair of AUD section for the term 2025 - 2029.

I am trained in ethnographic research with a prime focus on audience ethnography in Bangladesh as well as South Asia. My first monograph Television in Bangladesh - News and Audiences was published by Routledge in 2021 based on my doctoral research on News and Audiences: An Ethnography of Television in Bangladesh. During my post-doctoral research, I conducted ethnography among the audiences of Korean cultural content in South Asia, digital media users and digital prosumers (see, Korean Wave in South Asia- Transcultural Flow, Fandom and Identity Palgrave MacMillan 2022). As a Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust Visiting Fellow at LSE South Asia Centre, I have conducted research on online activism and ordinary participation to understand the non-elite civic practices in the age of internet. My recent work, Television Publics in South Asia (coeditor, Routledge, 2024) explores the audiences and their everydayness of television across the borders. Similarly, another edited volume Seeing South Asia: Visuals Beyond Borders (co-editor, Routledge, 2022), examines the interplay of seeing and showing of the viewers across visual medium and the construction of visual landscape in South Asia.

Having experience in working as a broadcast journalist in Bangladesh before moving into academia, I have always tried understanding the audiences, their passion, preferences, politics what can be anthropologically called as “worldviews”. Before joining at South Asian University, I was teaching at the School of General Education at Brac University and taught courses in collaboration with the Department of Radio, Film and Television of UT Austin on Streaming Media Cultures that enables the students explore new practices of streaming media audiences. Through such engagements in research and teaching, I am developing a nuanced and unique understanding of audiences practice in South Asia.

Currently I am supervising research scholars from various nations of South Asia such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. It will be a great opportunity to share my knowledge among academic community of AUD section from a diverse set of skills and experiences of teaching sociology, researching media audiences and supervising students from South Asian nations.
 
I am highly motivated to work as a Vice Chair of the AUD section to enhance the goals of this network and enable critical thinking to audience research through various activities across the regions. 

Ratan Kumar Roy, Assistant Professor of Sociology, South Asian University, New Delhi ​