Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Who decides if someone should try to get to the top of this mountain? blog.google/company-news... 100
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 30/07/2026"Its not proof, its phenomenology, so believe it if it feels right ... but what does right mean?" Notes this morning reading in a cafe. #Levinas #breakfast #prophecy 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 15/07/2026What exactly is India's strategic narrative? New publication by @monikabd.bsky.social in a special issue @profmiskimmon.bsky.social and I edited. Congratulations Monika!: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comNarrating order as resistance: India, the EU, and the ‘Russia-Ukraine conflict’This article investigates how India resisted pressure from the European Union to condemn Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and align its overall response towards Russia with that of the EU. It argu... 012
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 11/07/2026James Dennis has a neat little overview of the "private turn" young and especially marginalised people are taking in their news engagement - fits with what my students tell me about how they engage with politics: impactum-journals.uc.pt/mj/article/v...impactum-journals.uc.ptVisualização de De passivo a ativo e vice-versa? 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Tales We Were Told - on oral storytelling, remembrance, and inherited narratives. Bhavika Sachan's call for submissions to an edited eBook, which will be published by U Southampton Press: drive.google.com/file/d/1fxLI... Open to all PhD students, early career +independent creative writers/artists.drive.google.comCall for Submissions - TWWT - FINAL VERSION.pdf 020
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 24/06/2026If you're in Valencia tomorrow, I'll present work @profmiskimmon.bsky.social and I've been doing on the multiple world orders co-existing. Pluralist yet antagonistic, polycentric yet hemispheric ... makes my head hurt. In-person. Thanks hosts Mélany Barragán and Marco Guglielmo. 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 16/06/2026We're hiring! Permanent Lecturer in IR, esp. if can research one or two of: Russia, China, Race/Ethnicity, and Environment/Climate Change. Deadline 20 August. Details here: jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...jobs.royalholloway.ac.ukJob Opportunity at Royal Holloway University of London: Lecturer in International RelationsFull-Time, Permanent.The Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy at Royal Holloway seeks to appoint a Lecturer in International Relations (Teaching and Research focus). The succ... 020
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Actors' use AI videos of speculative futures (Gaza as luxury resort) to justify, reward action (+investment) in the present, to commit mass violence = a big take on the #temporality of #media and #security. Its not #premediation. Well done Donatella Della Ratta: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...cambridge.orgSpeculative violence and the future archive: Generative AI, memory and the visual politics of tomorrow | Cambridge Forum on AI: Culture and Society | Cambridge CoreSpeculative violence and the future archive: Generative AI, memory and the visual politics of tomorrow - Volume 2 010
Reposted by Ben O'LoughlinSten Hansson @stenhansson.bsky.social · 15/06/2026New article out now on Russia's strategic narratives about its war against Ukraine www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... @europeansecurity.bsky.social 094
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Our CfP: AI, War, Conflict, and Political Violence, 21 July London, with @akilnawan.bsky.social . Abstract deadline 1 July. How to submit here: www.newpolcom.rhul.ac.uk/npcu-blog/20...newpolcom.rhul.ac.ukCfP Artificial Intelligence, War, Conflict, and Political Violence 21 July 2026 London — newpolcomArtificial intelligence is increasingly central to the organization, mediation, and execution of contemporary violence. Across military, political, economic, and informational domains, algorithmic sys... 011
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 03/06/2026Trump =first non-hypocritical president because he doesn't hide his selfish agenda behind a cloak of universal values? Does the world like his amorality? #Flailing: physically (coercion) + figuratively (confusion). Matias Spektor & @kevcomms.bsky.social: www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/series...carnegiecouncil.orgAmoral American Power, with Professor Matias SpektorFrom Caracas to Tehran, U.S. power is no longer justified through a narrative of liberal internationalism. Matias Spektor examines the consequences of this shift. 011
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 01/06/2026If you work on AI + war/violence, do submit an abstract to us: 002
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 23/05/2026South-to-North Dialogues on AI: Launch of the Favel IA Report (A Global Classroom Event), 18 June from 2pm UK time, w/ @andreamedrado.bsky.social - join online, register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/south-to-n...eventbrite.comSouth-to-North Dialogues on AI: Launch of the Favel IA ReportA Global Classroom Event. How are favela communities engaging with AI? Exeter students and participants of project exchanging ideas. 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Q: Shrimp Jesus was two years ago taken as a sign AI was killing the version of the internet of humans interacting with humans. In what ways is the internet more dead or alive in 2026? www.sciencealert.com/is-the-dead-...sciencealert.comIs The 'Dead Internet Theory' True? Shrimp Jesus Phenomenon ExplainedIf you search "shrimp Jesus" on Facebook, you might encounter dozens of images of artificial intelligence (AI) generated crustaceans meshed in various forms with a stereotypical image of Jesus Christ. 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 19/05/2026If we look past Trump and notice the consistent statements by Vance, Rubio and Hegseth, we get a reliable indicator of roughly where Trump stands on foreign policy. New by @kevcomms.bsky.social: theconversation.com/trumps-cabin...theconversation.comTrump’s Cabinet dramatically changed American foreign policy while the president made noise – a scholar of presidential rhetoric explainsThe president’s barrage of pronouncements on foreign policy mean his Cabinet members’ statements on foreign policy have become more reliable indicators of administration positions. 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Just found a folder of acknowledgements footnotes I drafted for articles that then got rejected 😕 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 08/05/2026The programme is out for our Media, War and Conflict ICA preconference: www.newpolcom.rhul.ac.uk/npcu-blog/2026/5/8/media-war-and-conflict-ica-preconference-programme-is-outnewpolcom.rhul.ac.ukMedia, War and Conflict ICA preconference programme is out — newpolcomIn June 2026 the Media, War and Conflict journal will host a preconference at the International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. We are delighted to host a... 000
Reposted by Ben O'LoughlinNina C. Krickel-Choi @nckc.bsky.social · 23/04/2026So happy that a paper from the special issue I edited on "Grappling with the climate crisis in IR" won the journal's best article award! Check it out!👇 011
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 22/04/2026New in our MWC journal!: Nataliya Roman @nataliialaba.com & John H. Parmelee, with “The architect of the invasion” vs. “a symbol of resilience”: How AI chatbots frame Zelenskyy, Putin and the Russia–Ukraine war - they struggle making sense of Russian propaganda: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 042
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 21/04/2026☺️@paulinesophieh.bsky.social and I won a prize for this article: www.ceeol.com/search/artic... Thanks to @michelpoiccard.bsky.social and the editorial team! Are you seeing actors use bad faith, for what, and do they get away with it? 011
Reposted by Ben O'LoughlinLucy Delap @lucydelap.bsky.social · 19/04/2026Anyone working in history of comedy/satire, television, modern British politics - there's a fully funded PhD to research the Spitting Image archive @theul.bsky.social, with supervision at Exeter Uni. All disciplines considered, pls do share widely. www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...exeter.ac.ukPhD: AHRC CDP Studentship | University of ExeterThe University of Exeter (UoE) alongside University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives (CULA) are pleased to announce a fully-funded Collaborative doctoral studentship, from 1 October 2026, under the... 18490
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 14/04/2026Please complete this v.brief survey about news and crime, for my brilliant dissertation student Alex Land. Thank you! 🙏https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDd9wTnwSrrjcXRSmYE01VJoguaA6e44S8DbD43BpKEzKeCg/viewformdocs.google.comDissertation SurveyPreliminary Questions 110
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 07/04/2026Free registration 13 April panel: How strategic narratives transformed the study of public diplomacy, 4pm UK time: www.newpolcom.rhul.ac.uk/npcu-blog/2026/4/7/join-13-april-panel-how-strategic-narratives-transformed-the-study-of-public-diplomacynewpolcom.rhul.ac.ukJoin 13 April panel: How strategic narratives transformed the study of public diplomacy — newpolcomSIX DAYS TO GO‼️ Delighted to announce that on April 13th, Place Branding & Public Diplomacy will host a Special Webinar on "How Strategic Narratives have Transformed the Study of Public Diplomacy... 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 05/04/2026Have we already entered a 'new influence domain' through the intersection of emotional AI, social media and behavioural targeting? Are you being targeted? h/t @andrewhoskins.bsky.social information-professionals.org/ai-companion...information-professionals.orgAI Companion Bots: The ATHENA Kill Chain for Anthropomorphized Influence – Information Professionals Association 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 05/04/2026Media as #fatal to thinking about and feeling for human beings? Re AI + Iran war, Malik writes: 'When the true and false jostle constantly in the content slipstream, nothing feels real.' Its hard to care about the unreal: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... #compassionfatigue #compassionpreventiontheguardian.comTrump’s video game war: AI, memes and a simplistic narrative have flattened the conflict | Nesrine MalikWhat was supposed to be a quick win has become a quagmire, so it now must be reduced to a dopamine hit, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik 020
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Great new article by Bradley Ward and Christian Sherrington: why the AI-based #technosolutionism of the #Starmer government won't rescue UK governance ➡️ more public alienation ➡️ open goal for the populist right: link.springer.com/article/10.1... #doomspiral #cyclesofinsecurity #vacancy #AIpoliticslnkd.inLinkedInThis link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 02/04/2026New in Media, War and Conflict: From laughing to learning: How TikTok genres influence American youth understanding and sentiments about the war in Ukraine, by Kateryna Bystrytska: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 01/04/2026In a research seminar now: if corruption will never end, what would be a more inclusive, democratic corruption? 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 26/03/2026Conference CfP: My friends are convening Urban Elites, Rural Margins? Comparative Perspectives on Urban-Rural Divisions from Post-Socialist Europe and Latin America, at UCL on 15-16 June. How to apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanit...ucl.ac.ukCall for Papers: PIMs Annual Research Conference 2026Urban elites, rural margins? Comparative perspectives on urban-rural divisions from post-socialist Europe and Latin America 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 24/03/2026CCTV is really having fun with Trump, the dollar as global currency, and the US economy, in a little film about the Iran war. Captions are fast but its worth the 5 minutes. What do cats and eagles mean in China? Are cats cool and eagles idiots? What do red eyes mean? www.youtube.com/watch?v=As0r...youtube.comUS-Iran war explained by Chinese AI animation: Legend of the Valley of GoldYouTube video by Taipology 001
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 18/03/2026Our Media, War and Conflict journal has gone from 8 articles per issue to suddenly double. A sign of today’s wars prompting a lot of quality research? journals.sagepub.com/home/mwc 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 25/02/2026On April 13, the journal Place Branding and Public Diplomacy will host a webinar focusing on the topic: Shaping the Discipline: How #StrategicNarratives Transformed the Study of #PublicDiplomacy. Kindly convened by Ilan Manor. Free registration here: www.eventbrite.com/e/panel-and-...eventbrite.comPanel and Q&A: Shaping the Discipline- How Strategic Narratives TransformedAssessing the impact of "Strategic Narrative" on the study of public diplomacy 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 23/02/2026Let me explain our new article in International Journal of Communication. We ask who can create meaning in discourse in human-AI interactions, and the impact on power relations broadly. 111
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 17/02/2026Our new article is out! When we interact with ChatGPT and other Generative AI systems, who is shaping whom? Does the machine gradually substitute our interpretive capacities, or can it extend them? Thanks @ijoc-usc.bsky.social: ijoc.org/index.php/ij... 020
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 13/02/2026In autocratic contexts, 'Visibility becomes vulnerability. Silence becomes rational.' But AI can speak. Great new piece by @michalmaly.bsky.social and Asker Bryld Staunæs theloop.ecpr.eu/synthetic-di...theloop.ecpr.euSynthetic dissidents: how AI protects dissent under repressionMichal Malý and Asker Bryld Staunæs argue that synthetic dissidents mark a new form of opposition politics. In authoritarian regimes, AI avatars and chatbots can propagate risky speech without exposin... 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 08/02/20261/2 Great article by Noordenbos & Tuters: Russia is v.good at using digital platforms to narrate resistance to the West across the Global South. Its not just narrative content but how narrative elements circulate that creates effects - #ambient #parapolitics: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....journals.sagepub.comThe counter-hegemonic hegemon: A cross-platform analysis of a Kremlin-backed strategic narrative - Boris Noordenbos, Marc Tuters, 2026This article examines how, following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has adapted its digital diplomacy strategy to promote anti-Western narrativ... 131
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 03/02/2026Wonderful that my friend and collaborator @profvaccari.bsky.social's #inaugural lecture will happen 11th March, Edinburgh, in-person. A great moment for Cristian and an urgent topic he addresses: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...eventbrite.co.ukInaugural lecture: Professor Cristian VaccariJoin us to celebrate Cristian Vaccari's professorship at his inaugural lecture. 030
Reposted by Ben O'LoughlinKate Knibbs @knibbs.bsky.social · 30/01/2026X is hiring a creative writing specialist at $40 an hour to make Grok better at writing and a true LOL at the qualifications 46557621142
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 30/01/2026I had a chat about what @profmiskimmon.bsky.social and I wrote recently about how many narratives used in politics are deliberately ambiguous - watch here, responses appreciated: 032
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 20/01/2026This sums a lot of what AI offers, some blurry vibes, and how its promise is part of a longer history of dealing with some pretty big dilemmas. By @tomdivon.bsky.social + Christian Pentzold: AI can make the dead talk – why this doesn’t comfort us: theconversation.com/ai-can-make-... 121
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 19/01/2026Thread 👇 on a new article by @profmiskimmon.bsky.social and I, Strategic narrative: its origins and evolution, its connection to public diplomacy, and some future paths. Read here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comStrategic narrative: its origins and evolution, its connection to public diplomacy, and some future paths - Place Branding and Public DiplomacyPlace Branding and Public Diplomacy - 143
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 13/01/2026Researching how and why journalists are being targeted and killed in huge numbers today? Apply to attend our journal's event in Cape Town in June. 31 Jan abstract deadline: link.icahdq.org/discussion/c...link.icahdq.org CFP: Media War & Conflict ICA Pre-conference Call: Challenges to Contemporary Conflict Reporting | Public Channel Dear colleagues,A reminder that the deadline (31 Jan) is approaching for this ICA pre-conference.Please find below a Call for Abstracts for the Media, War & Con 010
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 12/01/2026New book by @maydinger.bsky.social - Discourse, Voice, and the Politics of Participation in the Scottish Independence Referendum - important on the difficulty of creating inclusive #participation: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...link.springer.comClient Challenge 041
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 11/01/2026New online: A PhD thesis exploring how Russia does #strategic #narrative work against the West, by @christierns.bsky.social [bias: I examined it ✋]. Adds historical perspective re: why certain actions to address Russia's efforts will or won't work today. Read here: cadmus.eui.eu/server/api/c... 132
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 09/01/2026Great time at the @psampg.bsky.social annual conference in Bournemouth. #AI #theory #discourse and #moderation discussed by our team me, Marco Guglielmo and @andreucasas.bsky.social. Thanks Dan Jackson and all the organisers. 021
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 03/01/20262026 Statistic of the Year is already decided 🤷 Very interesting analysis here of how #Trump uses #shrugs to communicate several different things, by @chrishartlinguist.bsky.social and Steve Strudwick, here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1... 000
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 02/01/2026How to help young people become full political agents? They want to be. The new 'civic mentoring model' from @jamessloam.bsky.social, based on what works or doesn't, in various cities. How to help local authorities make this pathway happen? Read in detail at: www.google.co.uk/books/editio... 030
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 19/12/2025The Vacancy is being written. @paulisci.bsky.social and I have caffeine and words to write. 030
Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 18/12/2025A lovely MSc graduation day is over, and lovely to hear who has started PhDs elsewhere and to meet the parents who help it all happen. They also waived the one drink per person rule so some of them were very happy. 020