Johanna Sumiala

Professor Johanna Sumiala holds a faculty position at the University of Helsinki's Department of Media and Communication Studies. She is currently a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Department of Media and Communications, collaborating with Professors Nick Couldry, Myria Georgiou, Lilie Chouliaraki, and Terhi Rantanen. Her research focuses on media and social theory, particularly the mediation of death, ritual studies, and digital anthropology. Sumiala has held visiting fellowships at institutions including the Austrian Science Academy, University of Kent, Örebro University, and Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Her current research consortium, Hybrid Terrorizing (2017–2021), funded by the Academy of Finland, examines global media events of terrorist violence. A prior project, Digital Youth in the Media City (2016–2018), explored youth media practices in Helsinki and St. Petersburg, co-funded by the Kone Foundation. Sumiala has authored books such as Hybrid Media Events: The Charlie Hebdo Attacks and Global Circulation of Terrorist Violence (2018, co-authored) and Media and Ritual. Death, Community and Everyday Life (2013), with a forthcoming monograph Mediated Death (Polity, 2021).

Her work bridges theoretical and empirical analysis, emphasizing digital methods and interdisciplinary approaches. Collaborations with artists and researchers in multiple cities underscore her commitment to cross-disciplinary research.