Joelle Swart

Joelle Swart is a Researcher at the Research Centre for Media and Journalism Studies (CMJS) within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen. Her work focuses on digital literacy, smart societies, and media studies, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to social inclusion and equitable access to technology.

Her research explores marginalized citizens' tactics for digital participation, the interplay between structural data approaches and user reflexivity, and digital exclusion/inclusion dynamics across lifespans. She has co-authored influential chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals such as New Media & Society and Convergence.

• Received the Impact Award Faculty of Arts UG (2024) and Science Prize Campus Fryslân/RUG (2021).
• Organized academic events like the Roundtable on Re-imagining Academic Programs (2023) and co-edited the Routledge Companion to Digital Journalism Studies (2022–2023).
• Contributed to public engagement through media appearances and invited talks on regional broadcasting expectations (2019).

Swart collaborates internationally, with recent projects addressing smart cities, digital literacy education, and critical data studies. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical user-centric insights, emphasizing real-world applications for inclusive digital societies.