Elin Strand Larsen

Elin Strand Larsen serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Technology and Communication at Østfold University College, where she is Deputy Head of the Area Studies Research Group (AreaS) and contributes to the Digital Communication (DIGICOM) research group. Based in Halden, she teaches core courses in the Bachelor in International Communication and Bachelor in Digital Media and Design programs, including spring 2024 coordination of Media Studies (SFB50316) and supervision of bachelor theses (SFB58022).

Her academic foundation stems from a 2014 PhD in media and journalism from the University of Oslo, where her dissertation When a woman has to apologize... Mediated scandals, female politicians and rhetorical defense strategies analyzed rhetorical defenses by eight female politicians and trade union leaders during political scandals. This work established her expertise in gendered political communication and apology rhetoric.

Dr. Larsen's research centers on media integrity in digital environments, with key interests spanning fake news and fact-checking mechanisms, political scandal dynamics, female politicians' rhetorical strategies (apologia), and crisis communication frameworks. Her work critically examines how misinformation spreads during conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war, how female politicians navigate media scandals, and how trust erodes in polarized digital societies—often revealing gendered double standards in political accountability.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2015-2024) shows persistent engagement with misinformation combat through fact-checking initiatives (e.g., CrossCheck), rhetorical analysis of political crises, and interdisciplinary explorations of borders/trust in digital societies. Her scholarship frequently appears in edited volumes on trust, alliances, and border studies, demonstrating strong collaborative patterns with researchers like Franck Orban and Sondre Lindahl.

As an educator, she integrates research into bachelor-level teaching on media systems and digital design, emphasizing real-world applications of crisis communication theory. Her leadership in AreaS and DIGICOM facilitates cross-disciplinary projects examining digital society challenges, though specific lab structures or grant funding isn't detailed in available texts.