Introducing the JoC Forum editorial: “A forum for books”, by JoC forum editors: Jefferson Pooley, and Julia Sonnevend. Read here: https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqae047

Julia Sonnevend, author of Charm: How Magnetic Personalities Shape Global Politics (now out in paperback!), offers her thoughts on how Péter Magyar defeated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Her book features a chapter on Orbán for those who’d like to learn more. Read her piece:

In Charm, Julia Sonnevend explores the utilization—and weaponization—of charm in contemporary global politics. Learn more in this engaging and enlightening book, now available in #paperback with a new preface by the author. Read a free preview: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb... #Sociology

Post Viktor Orbán, @thenewschool.bsky.social Julia Sonnevend discussed the election, Hungary's future, and whether we are in the twilight of populism. @princetonupress.bsky.social Watch below or click this link for the whole post: clairepotter.substack.com/p/the-twilig... youtu.be/8_5lofc5X8E

I summarized the key takeaways of the Hungarian elections for democratic movements worldwide www.ms.now/opinion/vikt...

Bureaucracy isn’t just red tape—it’s interpretation, neutrality, and the infrastructure of democracy. What happens when autocrats attack it? Mark Frazier, James Miller, Kim Lane Scheppele, and Julia Sonnevend unpack the administrative state. @nssrnews.bsky.social publicseminar.org/2025/05/the-...

The utilization—and weaponization—of charm in contemporary global politics. Charm by Julia Sonnevend is now available in #paperback, with a new preface by the author! Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb... #Sociology

Close to a year of total joy working with Jeff Pooley!

Have you ever been charmed by a politician? While charm is often brushed aside as superficial, could it actually shape the world we live in? Julia Sonnevend joins Zing Tsjeng to explore the impact of charm in global politics. Listen here: listen.podmasters.uk/BNKR241105Ch...

Watching "Good Night and Good Luck" last night, I realized there's a direct line from Edward R. Murrow seated at a desk, staring into the camera & directly (personally) addressing the viewer, to the format Hannity, Maddow, et. al. exploit today. It's a form of televangelism.

RIP Jonathan Sterne - most influential sound studies scholar of the past 20 years, renowned mentor, dedicated colleague.

NEW: As Americans increasingly get their news from online shows and streamers, our analysis found that this expanding media ecosystem is overwhelmingly right-leaning.

Things I would like to see ranked more than people under the age of 30 or colleges: Groupchats Hacker houses Mensches What else...

The CU Boulder Media Studies Department is hiring an Assistant Teaching Professor! We’re seeking candidates with expertise in global media, screen cultures, and digital production cultures. jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...

Save the date for a day-long Postdoctoral Fellows Colloquium on Friday, February 28: bit.ly/4jkYBkj! Co-organized by @annenbergcargc.bsky.social, @mic-center.bsky.social, @cdcspenn.bsky.social, and @ascmediarisk.org, the colloquium will feature presentations by Annenberg postdocs followed by a Q&A.

“Charisma belongs to the godlike character symbolic of wealth and power, while charm is associated with everydayness.” @sonnevend.bsky.social, author of Charm, spoke with Lauren Villagran for USA Today: www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

“Trump has both charm and charisma. He is a godlike, far-away person who people associate with wealth, with being able to make it in the U.S., but there is also this everydayness about him with the baseball hat and him saying the things people think but cannot say." www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

I am very honored and excited about this appointment — and slightly worried that I may have become mainstream! But I could not dream of a better co-editor and I am thrilled to work with the JoC’s excellent editors-in-chief. 💜

“Today it is not enough for politicians to remain remote or godlike. They must also excel at the new game in which they create the illusion of an intimate relationship with their audiences.” Read more: www.the-tls.co.uk/regular-feat... @thetls.bsky.social @sonnevend.bsky.social

Check out our new, open access journal article! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

@annenbergpenn.bsky.social PhD candidate @jennyjlee.bsky.social moderates our keynote conversation, asking, "If as scholars we are best at diagnosing and analyzing problems, how do we orient ourselves toward solutions?"

"Connecting charm and academia is a stretch" a quote of the day by @sonnevend.bsky.social at Academe in the age of social media by @ascmediarisk.bsky.social

Can’t wait to speak at this amazing event!! www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/...

Saying out loud what many of us have experienced, but haven't wanted to raise for fear of busting up movements. @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social and Rachel Schreiber in @nytimes.com today: Misogyny and antisemitism are a toxic brew. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/o...

cc: academic administrators

It was a real pleasure having Julia over here at @lborouniversity.bsky.social - many thanks for the inspiring talk & discussion, let's do it again some time soon!

Had a blast discussing illiberal public spheres and political charm at Loughborough University (UK)! And saw my dear former PhD student, Yuval Katz, whom I can now call Professor Katz. 💖

Some *EXCELLENT* news to start the week: @ulrikeklinger.bsky.social has been appointed full professor at U Amsterdam @ascor.bsky.social 🚀✨ Ulrike brings a timely agenda on how digital platforms, algorithms, and AI reshape communication. commsky polcom polisky csssky www.uva.nl/en/shared-co...

Democrats “need to reject their allergy to ‘debate bros’ and learn how to argue and debate again; indeed, they need to recover the central challenge of politics—to persuade people.” Read ⁦‪@lionel_trolling‬⁩! www.thenation.com/article/poli...

Folks: Please REPOST! ==> Come Tuesday 11/19 to a great night at the New York Historical Society, where Mark Whitaker and I discuss the legacy of John Lewis! www.nyhistory.org/programs/joh...

I could talk about podcasting and history - and why I love both and their intersection - for hours! TYSM to @katejewell.bsky.social for putting this great panel (us, Kellie Carter Jackson, Dylan Gottlieb, Kevin McCarthy) together and to the S-USIH audience for wonderful questions

We need to keep Bluesky weird and good because I don’t think I have another ‘social media migration’ in me

Loved this conference about propaganda research at Columbia, organized by Anya Schiffrin. My favorite type of conference: small, focused on one topic, with amazing researchers.

My book, "Charm: How Magnetic Personalities Shape Global Politics" is coming out with @princetonupress.bsky.social in August. Available for pre-order at: Princeton: shorturl.at/XSRtU Amazon: shorturl.at/atJLJ Bookshop: shorturl.at/xCeY3 Get in touch about book talks, podcasts, etc.!