Welsh Crucible 2026 is open for applications - a programme of personal, professional and leadership development for the future research leaders of Wales welshcrucible.org.uk/why-apply/

Day 1 at AANZCA, summarised thanks to Jonathon Hutchinson. And I am pretty sure that this image is of real AANZCA people, though that could be the conference drinks talking #AANZCA2025 #AANZCA #Communication #Media #Academia jonathonhutchinson.com.au/aanzca-2025-...

Karin Wahl-Jorgensen discussing her idea of “Boutique media” at #AANZCA25. Including news influencers, podcasts, newsletters/substack, and local news entrepreneurs (hyper local); Karin highlights the blurred boundaries, complexities, the role of authority/trust, economics, and the research needed 📚

A great keynote by @karinwahlj.bsky.social on the rise of boutique news media to start off the #AANZCA25 conference on the Sunshine Coast. Liveblog is up:

BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. 🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states. This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺

I will restate my modest proposal to save the BBC: ban the BBC from covering itself. Every BBC scandal goes huge, because every BBC News show wants to assert its independence by covering it prominently, even if several other shows already did. So it gets blanket headlines.

A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy. Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common. My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...

‘If the industrial strategy is to succeed, we’ll need English graduates as well as engineers, historians alongside computer scientists, and social scientists together with health professionals.’ www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/do-we-n... @timeshighered.bsky.social

Mabrouk and llongyfarchiadau to our colleague @karinwahlj.bsky.social of @cujournmedcul.bsky.social as the newly incoming president for @icahdq.bsky.social

Really worrying trend of right-wing actors targeting journalists for harassment - that way lies fascism. We just call out Reform supporters for such behaviour.

I wrote about the stupid white paper. In summary, with these people in the driver's seat and apparently unbothered by consequences, we're so cooked.

Cardiff Council is set to become the first local authority in the UK to introduce higher parking charges for SUVs and other heavy vehicles, in a move campaigners say will make city streets safer and fairer

Awful news from Wales, the St Fagan's Museum has been broken into and prehistoric goldwork has been taken. Its painful to think what objects might now be at risk. Thoughts with the museum team who must be devastated, all speed to the police and a curse on the crooks. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

approximately three hundred of you have sent me this and you know what? Sure. I’ve got time today. Put 40 bulbs of garlic in my pasta, coming right up

Are you a member of @icahdq.bsky.social? If so, have a say! The 2025 ICA elections are live, with lots of important decisions about association-wide and division-level leadership positions. Link for ICA members: www.icahdq.org/general/cust... Polls close on 21 October, 12:00 noon EDT.

Jeez this is depressing as Trump continues attacks on research integrity as signs new EO that political appointees would have say over research grants not peer review 🧪🧵

Contemporary Nova Scotia textile artist Laurie Swim creates quilt art which captures her local landscapes #womensart

Shrinking of REF research culture metric ‘reflects political climate’. Reported moves to change Research Excellence Framework measures prompt warnings about impact on academics’ careers. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

'If a conclusion is reached that it is not feasible to carry the sector toward a new REF in time for 2029 there only seems to be one route forward which is to return to a system more like 2021.' A good analysis of many of the woes of REF2029.

😱

Because we all need to see elephants ambling along to the waterhole - from Etosha National Park, Namibia.

#MustRead: Expertise under authoritarian siege: A defense of academic freedom 🙏 This article addresses the growing global assault on academic freedom—a cornerstone of democratic societies now under increasing threat from authoritarian regimes. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

At JMCQ, we have a large number of published works to select for recognition every year. Although only one can be the winner, we *ungate* the Top 5 Articles to show the solid work and range of methods/theories used by @jmcquarterly.bsky.social authors. Enjoy!! journals.sagepub.com/page/jmq/col...

The @icahdq.bsky.social is a wonderful association and is blessed to have fabulous individuals committing time to the community. Having @jesstpiotrowski.bsky.social and @karinwahlj.bsky.social run for president makes for strong ICA future #ica25 #ica26 🙏🏻

Building the #ica25 🦋 buzz 1️⃣ follow the #ica25 feed ⬇️ 2️⃣ boost stuff! With no algorithmic amplification, you need to do it yourself. If you see something interesting, share it so others get to see it 3️⃣ be kind. We all need it these days #ICAcommunity @icahdq.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/did:...

On my way to #ica2025! Looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues!

Shortly heading off to #ica2025 - looking forward to seeing you all!!

Thrilled to be able to share my latest article, "Bringing Up the Body: Uncovering the Subjectivity of Journalists," which looks at what an emphasis on the body - or a "corporeal turn" - means for understanding journalistic practice. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... (1/4)

New article alert: I argue Ofcom’s should rethink allowing politicians to present broadcast programming because audiences appear uncomfortable with it and want impartial reporting @cujournmedcul.bsky.social @uk.theconversation.com Thread 1/10 theconversation.com/why-ofcom-wa...

Today’s essential read: @aoir.bsky.social just released their risky research guide. Whether you study disinfo, extremism, gender, or tech accountability—this guide is a lifeline. Critical reading for anyone navigating the risks of digital scholarship. aoir.org/wp-content/u...

The Trump administration is announcing a plan to tie accreditation of colleges and universities to whether they have enough right-wing faculty members. This would be the end of academic freedom. (www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...)

Another report on how our high visa costs deter top R&D talent www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

This @niemanlab.org story gives more background and concrete examples of revoked disinformation research, fx @katestarbird.bsky.social @lkfazio.bsky.social following the NSF announcement. Defunding disinformation research is very shortsighted in today’s world. www.niemanlab.org/2025/04/nati...

In which I try to call things what they are. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/o...

Can anyone recommend any good articles by social policy scholars/sociologists/social researchers about the term 'hard working families' & how it is mobilised by the state, politicians and advocacy groups?

Taking a stand against authoritarianism, for 25 hours straight.

Hundreds of international students have just received an email telling them their visas have been revoked. The ‘justification’ is campus activism or social media posts. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/hun...

Green card holders detained. A French researcher denied entry for anti-Trump messages. A new travel ban on 40+ countries coming. Given all these encroachments on travelers' civil liberties, we've updated our guide to digital privacy while crossing US borders. www.wired.com/2017/02/guid...

WHAT www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Some incredible developments: "Dutch parliament calls for end to dependence on US software companies" www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Chilling report from Brown University. Administration advises all foreign students, staff, and faculty to postpone or reconsider (ie cancel) international travel, due to federal government's crackdown on universities. Brown also warns against *domestic travel* -since it's unclear what ICE will do.

'There are now fears that US university libraries might soon be targeted if they are seen to be buying new titles related to politically sensitive areas.' Will academic publishers, in line with so many big businesses in their annual reports, abandon "DEI"? 1/2

All five parties in Greenland’s parliament have issued a joint statement rejecting President Donald Trump’s latest effort to take control of the strategic Arctic island

What authoritarianism and the end of academic freedom looks like

A French University is funding a Safe Place For Science program meant to recruit scientists who cannot continue their work in the US. www.univ-amu.fr/fr/public/a...

Killing off our research facilities and talent pipelines is perhaps the biggest, dumbest self-own in American history.