Organised by the Centre for Sociology of Media and Digital Society – CEMEDIG, and supported by the CULTMED project, the second edition of the summer school Political Economies of the Media – Theories and Methods took place at the educational campus of St. John’s Fortress in Šibenik from 9 to 12 September 2025. The event gathered students and lecturers from Austria, Croatia, India, Ireland, Germany, Norway, the United States, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
The focus was on the critical political economy of the media and on connecting theoretical and methodological approaches with research practices. Thirteen students presented various case studies dealing with digital commons, the regulation of online services, the political influence of influencers, digital labour, propaganda, and post-feminist approaches to aesthetic labour, media privatisation, precarious work in the media sector, youth digital literacy, sourcing practices, and related topics. Special attention was given to practical issues of methodological choices in media research and the challenges of combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The importance of feminist and historical perspectives in critical reflections on technologies and media systems was highlighted. Throughout the program, discussions centred on digital labour, theories of value, and the socio-ecological challenges shaped and transmitted by the media.
Lectures and workshops were delivered by nine lecturers – Mandy Tröger (University of Tübingen, Germany), Micky Lee (University of Suffolk, USA), Thomas Allmer (University of Paderborn, Germany), Jernej Amon Prodnik and Sašo Slaček Brlek (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia), Benjamin Birkinbine (University of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA), Toni Prug (University of Rijeka, Croatia), and Jaka Primorac and Paško Bilić (Institute for Development and International Relations, Croatia).
As part of the school, a presentation titled “Students on the Streets, Propaganda on the Screens: RTS and the Student Movement in Serbia” was given by CULTMED project associate Lucija Gegić Stanić.
In addition to high-quality academic content, the summer school was marked by an open and dynamic atmosphere. The discussions encouraged the exchange of perspectives, and the constructive and supportive interaction with students was especially emphasised. The accompanying program offered additional opportunities for networking and collaboration, contributing not only to the development of participants’ research skills but also to the strengthening of professional ties at the international level.
See photos from the summer school below.
You can find more about the summer school here.
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Photo_ Jernej A. Prodnik
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Photo_ Jernej A. Prodnik
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Photo_ Jernej A. Prodnik
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Photo_ Jernej A. Prodnik
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Photo_ Jernej A. Prodnik
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Photo_ Jernej A. Prodnik
