Stig Hjarvard

Stig Hjarvard is a Professor in Media Studies at the Department of Media, Cognition and Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, with extensive contributions to mediatization theory and journalism studies. His primary research spans mediatization theory, political communication, media history, and digital media's societal impact. Previously, he served as Professor in Journalism at Roskilde University and held leadership roles including Head of the National Research School in Media, Communication and Journalism.

• Ph.D. in Media Studies, University of Copenhagen (1994)
• Mag. Art. in Comparative Literature, University of Copenhagen (1988)
• BA in Comparative Literature, University of Copenhagen (1983)

Hjarvard's research centers on how media logic transforms social institutions and cultural practices, with particular focus on religion, politics, and journalism. His work demonstrates how digital platforms reshape authority structures and public discourse, examining conflicts in mediatized religious environments and the transformation of individualism through media. He has pioneered comparative studies on Scandinavian media systems, especially regarding immigration debates and public service media's evolution in networked societies.

His 15 most recent publications (2012-2022) reveal consistent theoretical development in mediatization frameworks while expanding into digital religion, platform governance, and cultural consumption patterns. Key trends include analyzing power dynamics in media infrastructure, the erosion of religious authority through media logic, and tensions between commercial imperatives and public service values in online news ecosystems.

• Ridder af Dannebrog (2019)
• SMID-Prisen (2024)
• Stewart M. Hoover Mentorship Award (2023)
• Hædersprisen for Humanistisk Forskning (2024)
• Member of Royal Danish Academy of Sciences (2016)
• Humanities Research Award, University of Copenhagen (2016)

Hjarvard has supervised numerous doctoral candidates in mediatization theory and journalism studies while leading major research initiatives including the FKK-funded 'Mediatization of Culture' program and the SCANPUB project on Scandinavian immigration discourse. His editorial leadership as Chief Editor of Nordic Journal of Media Studies and Northern Lights journal has shaped scholarly discourse. Current work focuses on mediatized conflicts in religious environments through the CoMRel project.

He directs research networks including the Nordic Research Network on Mediatization of Religion and serves as coordinator for Scandinavian collaborative projects examining media's role in cultural transformation. His departmental leadership as Vice-chair (2011-2015) and research priority area head has established Copenhagen as a hub for critical media studies.