Paula Haara

I am pursuing a PhD in media studies, examining the securitization of mobility. My empirical case study focuses on the Finnish passport, which, like passports more generally, functions not only as a means of identification but also as both an enabler and regulator of movement. Drawing on medium theory, the dissertation analyses both security discourses and the passport as a material artefact. The dissertation brings together perspectives from critical security studies, practice-oriented media studies, and visual culture studies. The study contributes to current debates on the increasing complexity of mobility governance and the implications of securitisation.

• Personal research grants for doctoral research: the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and the Kone Foundation

I have worked as a researcher in several projects focused on media and journalism. My research interests include the dynamics of public debate in democratic societies, hate speech, and media use in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. My doctoral research has fostered an interest in combining perspectives from media studies and science and technology studies (STS), as well as exploring questions related to security.

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.
• In the Banal Surveillance: Unravelling the Causes of and Remedies for the Privacy Paradox project (Academy of Finland), I focused on studying the history of the Finnish passport.
• The impact of hate speech on public decision-making project (The Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities 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.