Prof. Dr. Nina Springer

Ombudsperson for young scientists at the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences

Department of Communication
Room: E 222
Bispinghof 9-14
D-48143 Münster

nina.springer@uni-muenster.de

Phone: +49 251 83-24655

Consultation hours

Tuesday, 14.00–16.00

Research focus
- Journalism studies
- Digital communication
- Political communication
Curriculum vitae
I studied journalism—with a major in communication studies and minors in political science, sociology, and economics—at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich. After my graduation in 2007, I joined the LMUs Department of Media and Communication as a research associate. After my doctorate in 2012 (topic: user comments on news sites), I became a postdoctoral researcher and program coordinator for the master's programs in communication studies and international PR offered by the department. In addition to teaching at LMU Munich (2007–2018), I taught as a guest lecturer at the University of Helsinki (March/April 2008), the National University of Singapore (August 2014), and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (March 2017). From 2016 to 2018 I served as Vice Chair and from 2018 to 2020 as Chair of the Journalism Studies Division of the German Communication Association. In addition, I was the Secretary of the Journalism Studies Division of the International Communication Association (2017–2019). Before joining the department in Münster in October 2021, I spent the winter term of 2017/18 as a visiting researcher at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University and was a senior lecturer and later associate professor at Södertörn University Stockholm. Since September 2022 I am also an affiliated researcher and guest lecturer at the University of Gothenburg.
Memberships
- German Communication Association (DGPuK)
- International Communication Association (ICA)
- The Swedish Association for Media and Communication Research (FSMK)
Publications
- Springer N. (2022). Review Essay: Fixing 'the wicked web': 'dark participation' practices and solutions. European Journal of Communication, 37(1), 103–109. doi: 10.1177/02673231211059260.
- Springer N. (2022). Book Review: Credible Threat. Attacks Against Women Online and the Future of Democracy by Sarah Sobieraj. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 27(2), 545–547. doi: 10.1177/19401612211072863.
- Loosen W, Nölleke D & Springer N. (2022). Journalismusforschung: Disziplin durch Entdisziplinierung. Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft, 70(1-2), 3–16. doi: 10.5771/1615-634X-2022-1-2-3.
- Springer Nina & Naab Teresa K. (2022). Hass in Kommentaren: Blockieren oder Einmischen? In Weitzel, Gerrit; Mündges, Stephan (Hrsg.), Hate Speech. Definitionen, Ausprägungen, Lösungen. (S. 199–216). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.
- Springer Nina, Nygren Gunnar, Widholm Andreas, Orlova Dariya, Taradai Daria. (2022). Narrating “Their War” and “Our War” – the patriotic journalism paradigm in the context of Swedish and Ukrainian conflict coverage. Central European Journal of Communication, 15(2), 178–201. doi: 10.51480/1899-5101.15.2(31).1.
- Nelson MN, Ksiazek TB & Springer N. (2021). Killing the comments: Why do news organizations remove user commentary functions? Journalism and Media, 2(4), 572–583. doi: 10.3390/journalmedia2040034.
- Springer N. (2021). Media and communication studies in Sweden. Publizistik, 66, 1–19. doi: 10.1007/s11616-021-00685-w.
- Springer N & Troger F. (2021). "Du stehst unter genauer Beobachtung, unangenehmer Beobachtung". Wie Journalistinnen kommunikative Gewalt aus dem Publikum wahrnehmen und verarbeiten. Publizistik, 66(1), 43–65. doi: 10.1007/s11616-020-00637-w.
- Schützeneder J, Meier K, Springer N (Hrsg.). (2020). Neujustierung der Journalistik/Journalismusforschung in der digitalen Gesellschaft: Proceedings zur Jahrestagung der Fachgruppe Journalistik/Journalismusforschung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Publizistik-und Kommunikationswissenschaft 2019, Eichstätt. doi: 10.21241/ssoar.70811.
- Meier K, Schützeneder J & Springer N. (2020). Zur Einführung: Bedeutung und Transformation von Journalismus und Journalismusforschung. In Schützeneder J, Meier K, Springer N (Hrsg.), Neujustierung der Journalistik/Journalismusforschung in der digitalen Gesellschaft: Proceedings zur Jahrestagung der Fachgruppe Journalistik/Journalismusforschung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Publizistik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft 2019, Eichstätt (S. 1–8). doi: 10.21241/ssoar.70811.
- Springer N & Voronova L. (2020). Sustaining dialogue – A Södertörn case study on journalism departments and the sustainable development goals. In Appelgren E, Widholm A (Eds.), Mellan det hyperlokala och globala. Journalistikens förändringar och utmaningar i en digital tid. (pp. 195–206). Södertörns högskola.
- Krämer B & Springer N. (2020). Ontology of opposition online. Representing antagonistic structures on the Internet. Studies in Communication and Media, 9(1), 35–61. doi: 10.5771/2192-4007-2020-1-35.
- Ksiazek TB & Springer N. (2020). User comments and moderation in digital journalism: Disruptive engagement. London, New York: Routledge.
- Chen GM, Pain P, Chen VY, Mekelburg M, Springer N & Troger F. (2020). 'You really have to have a thick skin': A cross-cultural perspective on how online harassment influences female journalists. Journalism, 21(7), 877–895. doi: 10.1177/1464884918768500.
- Springer N. (2019). Crowdsourcing. In Vos T, Hanusch F (Eds.), The international encyclopedia of journalism studies (pp. 1–7). John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781118841570.iejs0259.
- Springer N & Kümpel AS. (2018). User-Generated (Dis)Content. Eine Literatursynopse zur Nutzung der Kommentarfunktion auf Nachrichtensites im Internet. In Nuernbergk C, Neuberger C (Hrsg.), Journalismus im Internet. Profession - Partizipation - Technisierung (S. 241–271). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. doi: 10.1007/978-3-531-93284-2_9.
- Ksiazek TB & Springer N. (2018). User comments in digital journalism: Current research and future directions. In Eldridge S A, Franklin B (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of developments in digital journalism studies (pp. 475–486). London: Routledge.
- Ziegele M, Springer N, Jost P & Wright S. (2017). Online user comments across news and other content formats: Multidisciplinary perspectives, new directions. Studies in Communication and Media, 6(4), 315–332. doi: 10.5771/2192-4007-2017-4-315.
- Baden C & Springer N. (2017). Conceptualizing viewpoint diversity in news discourse. Journalism, 18(2), 176–194. doi: 10.1177/1464884915605028.
- Bilandzic H, Koschel F, Springer N & Pürer H. (2016). Rezipientenforschung. Konstanz: UVK Verlag.
- Kümpel AS & Springer N. (2016). Commenting quality. Effects of user comments on perceptions of journalistic quality. Studies in Communication and Media, 5(3), 353–366. doi: 10.5771/2192-4007-2016-3-353.
- Pürer H, Springer N & Eichhorn W. (2015). Grundbegriffe der Kommunikationswissenschaft. Konstanz: UVK Verlag.
- Springer N, Engelmann I & Pfaffinger C. (2015). User comments: Motives and inhibitors to write and read. Information Communication and Society, 18(7), 798–815. doi: 10.1080/1369118X.2014.997268.
- Springer N, Koschel F, Fahr A & Pürer H. (2015). Empirische Methoden der Kommunikationswissenschaft. Konstanz: UVK Verlag.
- Springer N. (2014). Beschmutzte Öffentlichkeit?: Warum Menschen die Kommentarfunktion auf Online-Nachrichtenseiten als öffentliche Toilettenwand benutzen, warum Besucher ihre Hinterlassenschaften trotzdem lesen, und wie die Wände im Anschluss aussehen. Münster: LIT Verlag.
- Baden C & Springer N. (2014). Com(ple)menting the news on the financial crisis: The contribution of news users’ commentary to the diversity of viewpoints in the public debate. European Journal of Communication, 29(5), 529–548. doi: 10.1177/0267323114538724.
- Obermaier M, Springer N & Popp S. (2012). Ins Netz gegangen. Was das onlineaffine Publikum vom Journalismus erwartet. In Springer N, Raabe J, Haas H, Eichhorn W (Hrsg.), Medien und Journalismus im 21. Jahrhundert: Herausforderungen für Kommunikationswissenschaft, Journalistenausbildung und Medienpraxis (S. 549–572). Konstanz: UVK Verlag.
- Springer N, Raabe J, Haas H, Eichhorn W (Hrsg.). (2012). Medien und Journalismus im 21. Jahrhundert: Herausforderungen für Kommunikationswissenschaft, Journalistenausbildung und Medienpraxis. Konstanz: UVK Verlag.
- Eichhorn W & Springer N. (2012). Medien und Journalismus im Spannungsfeld von Tradition und Wandel. In Springer N, Raabe J, Haas H, Eichhorn W (Hrsg.), Medien und Journalismus im 21. Jahrhundert: Herausforderungen für Kommunikationswissenschaft, Journalistenausbildung und Medienpraxis (S. 15–23). Konstanz: UVK Verlag.
- Springer N. (2011). Suche Meinung, biete Dialog? Warum Leser die Kommentarfunktion auf Nachrichtenportalen nutzen. In Wolling J, Will A, Schumann C (Hrsg.), Medieninnovationen. Wie Medienentwicklungen die Kommunikation in der Gesellschaft verändern (S. 247–264).
- Meyen M & Springer N. (2009). Freie Journalisten in Deutschland. Konstanz: UVK Verlag.
- Springer N & Wolling J. (2008). Recherchoogeln. Wie Zeitungsjournalisten das Internet für ihre Arbeit nutzen. In Quandt T, Schweiger W (Hrsg.), Journalismus online – Partizipation oder Profession? (S. 45–59). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Scientific Talks
- Wehden, Lars-Ole, Uth, Bernadette, Engelke, Katherine M., von den Driesch, Lea, Springer, Nina (2024): ‘Transitioning to transparency: Footnote journalism as a novel journalistic practice’. 10th European Communication Conference (ECREA), Ljubljana, 25/9/2024.
- Springer, Nina; Brantner, Cornelia; Wilhelm, Claudia; Engelmann, Ines; Stehle, Helena; Detel, Hanne; Lobinger, Katharina (2022): ‘The Online Communication Disinhibition Model: Toward a holistic understanding of benign and toxic online communication’. Annual Congress, International Communication Association (ICA), Paris, 30/5/2022.
- Springer, Nina (2021): ‘The good, the bad and the ugly sides of participation. We came a long way, but where are we headed?’ International Scientific Conference: Comments, Hate Speech, Disinformation, and Public Communication Regulation (The Agency for Electronic Media Croatia, Media Research, Scientific Council for the Theatre, Film, Radio and TV), Zagreb, 17/9/2021.
- Nygren, Gunnar; Springer, Nina (2021): ‘Sweden: Journalism in change and under pressure’. NordMedia Conference 2021 (University of Iceland in cooperation with the national Nordic research associations and Nordicom), (Reykjavik, digital), 20/8/2021.
- Springer, Nina (2021): ‘Hate speech as communicative violence’. 71st annual International Communication Association (ICA) conference, (Denver, digital), 28/5/2021.
- Baden, Christian; Springer, Nina; Krämer, Benjamin; Steindl, Nina (2021): ‘Negotiating Nonsense: Discursive interactions between believers in conventional and "alternative" facts’. 71st annual International Communication Association (ICA) conference, (Denver, digital), 27/5/2021.
- Springer, Nina; Haim, Mario (2020): „Machine learning in journalism studies: Legal, ethical and practical challenges of an interdisciplinary research/teaching project“. DGPuK-Fachgruppentagung Journalistik/Journalismusforschung (DGPuK-Fachgruppe Journalistik/Journalismusforschung), (Hamburg, digital), 24/9/2020.
- Slavtcheva-Petkova, Vera; Hamada, Basyouni; Ramaprasad, Jyotika; Hughes, Sallie; Steindl, Nina; Hanitzsch, Thomas; Springer, Nina; Hoxha, Abit (2020): ‘Work in progress: Towards developing a journalists’ safety index’. 70th annual International Communication Association (ICA) conference, (Sunshine Coast, digital), 21/5/2020.
Teaching
- Winter term 2023/24: Befragungen in der Berufsfeldforschung [Surveys in Journalism Studies] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies/Strategic Communication)
- Winter term 2023/24: Prekarität im Journalismus und darüber hinaus [Precarity in Journalism and Beyond] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies/Strategic Communication)
- Winter term 2023/24: Comparing journalistic cultures around the globe (seminar in English language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies)
- Summer term 2023: Vorlesung: Journalismusforschung [Lecture: Journalism Studies] (lecture in German language, University of Münster, BA Communication Studies)
- Summer term 2023: Seminar: Crowdsourcing im Journalismus und darüber hinaus [Crowdsourcing in Journalism and Beyond] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies/Strategic Communication)
- Winter term 2022/23: Crisis Communication in the Baltic Sea Region (seminar in English language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies/Strategic Communication)
- Winter term 2022/23: Verschwörungserzählungen [Conspiracy Narratives] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies)
- Winter term 2022/23: Sinn, Unsinn und Irrsinn von Wut im Netz II [Sense, Nonsense and Madness of Anger online II] (1 year research project in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies/Strategic Communication)
- Summer term 2022: Vorlesung: Journalismusforschung [Lecture: Journalism Studies] (lecture in German language, University of Münster, BA Communication Studies)
- Summer term 2022: Un-/Sicherheiten und Risiken der journalistischen Berufsausübung [Uncertainties and Risks of the Journalistic Profession] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Bachelor Communication Studies)
- Summer term 2022: Sinn, Unsinn und Irrsinn von Wut im Netz II [Sense, Nonsense and Madness of Anger online II] (1 year research project in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies/Strategic Communication)
- Winter term 2021/22: Verhärtete Fronten: Formen und Effekte polarisierter öffentlicher Kommunikation [Hardened Fronts: Forms and Effects of Polarized Public Communication] (research seminar in German language, University of Münster, Bachelor Communication Studies)
- Winter term 2021/22: Journalistische Wissenschaftskommunikation in einer globalen Pandemie [Journalistic Science Communication in a Global Pandemic] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies)
- Winter term 2021/22: Werden „nette Menschen im Internet böse“? [Do nice people become evil on the internet?] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies/Strategic Communication)
- Winter term 2021/22: Das Spannungsfeld zwischen Objektivität, Mobilisierung und Manipulation: Formen, Dynamiken und Effekte medialer Polarisierung [The Tension between Objectivity, Mobilization and Manipulation: Forms, Dynamics and Effects of Media Polarization] (seminar in German language, University of Münster, Master Communication Studies)

Projects
- Principal Investigator for the Worlds of Journalism Study (Sweden), together with Gunnar Nygren (funded by the Anne-Marie och Gustaf Anders Stiftelse för Medieforskning, volume: 1.105.000 SEK)
- Grant Coordination Officer for the COST Action “OPINION” (Measuring Opinionated Communication; CA21129)

Research focus

Curriculum vitae

Memberships

Publications

Scientific Talks

Teaching

Projects