Paula Haara

In my dissertation, I study the securitization of human mobility (media studies). The study investigates how the prioritization of security modifies and complicates the governance of mobility. My empirical case is the Finnish passport, which functions not only as a means of identification but also as both an enabler and a barrier to movement. The study analyses security discourses and the passport document itself, through a medium-theoretical approach. The dissertation combines perspectives from critical security studies, practice-oriented media studies, and visual culture studies.

I have worked as a researcher in several projects linked to media and journalism, focusing in particular on the dynamics of public debate in a democratic society, hate speech, and on the use of media in a fragmenting media landscape.

Selected previous research projects:

• Haffect (Research Council of Finland) examined the production, experience, and governance of hate speech in the digital age.
• Image/Knowlege (Åkerlund Media Foundation) developed new forms of photojournalism, taking into account advances in digital technology, needs of the professional field and latest research related to the field.
• The impact of hate speech on public decision-making project (Viha vallassa, VN TEAS) examined the scale, quality and impacts of hate speech on societal decision-making.
• In the Information Chaos and Trust in Traditional Media project, the Information Disorder Survival Guide web site was produced, presenting common forms of influence, manipulation, mis/disinformation, as well as offering tips for recognizing them.
• The Conciliatory Journalism project (Kone Foundation) sought through action research new tools for journalism to address conflict-sensitive topics. I paid particular attention on the moderation of online discussions.

I am a member of the Visual Studies Lab (VSL), which brings together researchers who work on vision and visuality from a social science and humanities perspective.