Communication Research into the Digital Society

Theo Araujo is a Full Professor of Media, Organisations and Society, and Scientific Director of ASCoR. His research investigates the dynamic interplay between media and organizations, and what it means for society, with a special focus on trust and technology. His research has also a methodological focus on computational communication science and the implementation of large-scale data collection and analysis for communication research. Peter Neijens is an Honorary Fellow and Emeritus Professor at ASCoR. He held the Chair in Media and Persuasion at the University of Amsterdam until 2019. His research focuses on persuasive communication, in particular media use and effects in advertising and public opinion.

Communication research into the digital society adopts a unique approach to media effects research, focusing on how individuals uniquely respond to media content and emphasizing the importance of digital competence for young people in digital society. -Aldi Fatriadi, Alem Febri Sonni, Sudirman Karnay, and Nur Annisa, Communication, issue 2024, Given the plurality of topics, methods, and theoretical backgrounds covered over its 16 chapters, the book does not only prove the diverse research conducted by ASCoR's members but also becomes a relevant overview of the state of the art in the broad field of communication. The book illustrates the evolution of communication research over the last 25 years, showing how this institute has managed to influence those trends, but also how its capacity to navigate them has been a key to its growth over the years., -David Blanco-Herrero, Communication & Society, 2025

• PREFACE, PART 1 ASCoR 25 YEARS, Chapter 1 How international, national, and local research strategies shaped ASCoR's history in its first 25 years - Peter Neijens, Sandra Zwier, Claes de Vreese, Jochen Peter, Rens Vliegenthart and Theo Araujo, Chapter 2 How technological and societal developments shaped the agenda of ASCoR - Peter Neijens and Patti Valkenburg, PART II EMPIRICAL FINDINGS AND THEORETICAL INSIGHTS, Political Communication & Journalism, Chapter 3 Communicating delegitimisation. Political information and challenges to democracy - Michael Hameleers, Emily Gravesteijn, Linda Bos and Alessandro Nai, Chapter 4 Disenchantment with political information: Attitudes, processes and effects - Alessandro Nai, Susan Vermeer, Linda Bos and Michael Hameleers, Youth & Media Entertainment, Chapter 5 Youth and the digital society - Jessica Taylor Piotrowski, Chapter 6 The Media Entertainment Success Cycle - Jeroen S. Lemmens, Corporate Communication, Chapter 7 Organisations, media, and society (Toni G.L.A. van der Meer, Christian Burgers, Sandra H.J. Jacobs, Pytrik Schafraad and Mark Boukes, Chapter 8 Contested issues and organisations: Media debates about sustainability and diversity - Anke Wonneberger, Anne Kroon, Linda van den Heijkant, Christel van Eck and Jeroen Jonkman, Persuasive Communication, Chapter 9 Tailored health communication in a digital world - Eline S. Smit, Annemiek J. Linn, Minh Hao Nguyen, Adriana Solovei, Melanie de Looper and Julia C.M. van Weert, Chapter 10 The importance of consumer empowerment in dealing with digital persuasion - Edith G. Smit and Eva A. van Reijmersdal, Chapter 11 Persuasion in an algorithmic context - Guda van Noort, Hilde Voorveld and Joanna Strycharz, Cross-cutting topics, Chapter 12 Human-machine communication - Jochen Peter, Theo Araujo, Carolin Ischen, Sonia Jawaid Shaikh, Margot J. van der Goot and Caroline L. van Straten, Chapter 13 How Artificial Intelligence is changing ASCoR's research - Claes de Vreese, Chapter 14 Person-specific media effects - Patti M. Valkenburg, Ine Beyens, Nadia Bij de Vaate, Loes Janssen and Amber van der Wal, Chapter 15 Computational communication science in a digital society - Damian Trilling, Theo Araujo, Anne Kroon, A. Marthe Möller, Joanna Strycharz and Susan Vermeer, Chapter 16 Communication as a social system - The work of Loet Leydesdorff - Wouter de Nooy and Iina Hellsten, NOTES ON THE EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS.