Mats Ekström

Mats Ekström is a Professor of Media and Communication Studies at the Department of Journalism, Media and Communication (JMG) at the University of Gothenburg. Previously, he served as Professor of Sociology (2001-) and Professor of Media and Communication Studies (2002-2011) at Örebro University.

Dr. Ekström received his PhD in Sociology from Uppsala University in 1994. His academic journey spans over two decades of research and teaching in media studies and sociology, with a focus on the intersection between media, politics, and society.

Ekström's research centers on journalism, media and social interaction, discourse analysis, conversation analysis, media politics and democracy, and youth media use with civic engagement. His work particularly examines how authoritarian values are framed in news media and how these frames activate political attitudes. He investigates right-wing populism in news discourse and the epistemological foundations of digital journalism. His methodological expertise spans conversation analysis, ethnographic observation, and qualitative research interviews.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on authoritarianism in media discourse, constructive journalism, and the epistemologies of digital news. Ekström consistently applies conversation analysis to examine how news frames activate political attitudes, particularly regarding authoritarian values and right-wing populism. His work bridges theoretical discourse analysis with practical journalistic concerns, examining live broadcasting, data journalism, and news framing effects.

Ekström teaches courses in media and communication studies and journalism education. His ongoing research projects include: Engaging audiences with constructive journalism; Activation and articulation of authoritarian attitudes; Right-wing populism in news media; The epistemologies of digital news journalism; Political socialization and human agency; and Conversation practices in social insurance contexts.