The Network for Forest Media Studies aims to strengthen research on media communications related to forests, fostering collaboration among European researchers, especially in the forest-rich Baltic Sea region. We strive to develop and disseminate theories and methods for analyzing traditional and digital media communications on forests. Print and online media shape public perceptions, policies, and power dynamics in forest governance. While digital platforms enable participation, they also risk polarization and algorithm-driven biases. Understanding how these evolving media structures influence forest use and governance amid the climate crisis and biodiversity loss is crucial for sustainability.
A two-day, in person workshop ahead of the NordMedia 2025 conference in Odense, Denmark, will facilitate interdisciplinary exchange on ongoing research, methods, and future collaborations. Senior and junior researchers from media studies, forest governance, and journalism will co-organize the workshop and contribute with their insights.
The network will be strengthened through face-to-face interactions and joint efforts to produce a conference paper and panel discussion. Collaboration between Södertörn University and other institutions in the Baltic Sea region and beyond will advance interdisciplinary research on media’s role in forest debates, fostering informed discourse and democratic governance.