Joëlle Swart

Dr. Joëlle Swart is an Assistant Professor in Journalism Studies at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Arts. She leads the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies, coordinating the Digital Inclusion theme at the Jantina Tammes School. Her roles include editorial board membership for Digital Journalism and secretary/treasurer for academic funds like the Catharine van Tussenbroek Fund and Young Academics Network (YARN).

Education: She earned a BA in International Relations (with Journalism minor) from the University of Groningen (2009-2011), an MA in Journalism (cum laude, 2009-2011), and a PhD in Media and Journalism Studies (2013-2017). Her postdoctoral work (2018-2021) focused on digital inclusion and media literacy.

Research interests center on changing news consumption patterns, digital literacy development in youth and marginalized groups, and the sociological impact of algorithmic systems. She emphasizes practical applications of media literacy in education and policy, with fieldwork on topics like smartphone news habits, algorithmic negotiation tactics, and the paradox of play in media learning.

Recent work highlights include a 2025 study on enforced digital inclusion of low-literate citizens, a 2024 analysis of participatory tactics among marginalized populations, and a 2023 exploration of news perception on Instagram. Her grants include a €580k regional education collaboration (2025) and a €590k NWO Digital Society grant (2020).

Awards include the 2025 Faculty of Arts Impact Award and 2021 Science Prize. She frequently lectures internationally on media literacy and digital inclusion, appearing in Dutch media outlets like de Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad.

Collaborative work includes grants with Prof. Marcel Broersma and lab coordination involving researchers like Dr. Maud Rebergen and Alexander Smit. Her teaching covers journalism theory and digital media practices at undergraduate/graduate levels.