Geomedia

News

• 2026-10-28

  New project explores how events can drive sustainable change

  Can concerts, festivals and other live events contribute to a more sustainable society? Researchers at Karlstad University will investigate this question in the project ”Beyond the spotlight: navigating sustainable development and empowering change agents in the event industry”.

  The project will explore how live events can contribute to sustainable development, not only by reducing their environmental impact but also by influencing how people think about and act on sustainability.

  “We are particularly interested in how artists, organisers and other stakeholders can act as agents of change, and how audiences respond to and engage with different sustainability initiatives,” says Jenny Karlsson, senior lecturer in Business Administration at the Service Research Center (CTF) at Karlstad University.

• 2026-08-31

  From Office to Lifestyle: Research on the Post-Digital World of Work

  In the special issue The Touristification of Work in the Post-Digital City, two major societal trends are brought together: the “touristification” of work and the “post-digital” city.
  – The six articles in this issue explore how these dynamics are reshaping cities around the world, says André Jansson, Professor of Media and Communication at Karlstad University, who served as editor together with Karin Fast of Karlstad University and Magnus Andersson of Malmö University.

  The title The Touristification of Work in the Post-Digital City encapsulates a dual societal trend: the touristification of work and the post-digital city. The touristification of work refers, among other things, to the rise of digital nomads and to new forms of office environments, such as coworking spaces, which are not merely practical workplaces but are increasingly packaged as relaxed lifestyle experiences resembling leisure travel.

• 2026-05-27

  The Geomedia Day 2026

  A full day filled with insightful discussions, research presentations, and creative collaboration.

  The Geomedia Day 2026 offered a diverse and engaging program where current research and creative methods took center stage. The day began with a welcome introduction by André Jansson, Professor of Media and Communication Studies and Director of the Centre for Geomedia Studies at Karlstad University.

  – This is one of the highlights of the year, when we gather for a full day that combines both serious and lighthearted elements – from research-related discussions to more playful exercises focused on our field. It’s a day that brings us together as a group, says André Jansson.

• 2026-05-21

  Glitter with an Edge – Why Eurovision Is More Than Just “Nonsense”

  Behind feather boas, kitsch, and spectacle lies one of the most powerful cultural arenas of our time. According to Richard Ek, who is also connected to Centre for Geomedia Studies, Mia Larson, Professor in Business Administration at Karlstad Business School and researcher at the Centre for Service Research (CTF) and Professor Can-Seng Ooi at University of Tasmania, Eurovision uses playful “camp” to push the boundaries of identity, norms, and politics – while appearing to be pure entertainment.

  The chapter “Camp and Frivolity as Cultural and Political Transgressions in the Eurovision Song Contest Events,” is a part of the book “Tourism, Events and Leisure Perspectives on the Eurovision Song Contest.”

• 2026-05-08

  In Virtual Reality Yet Still at Home – How VR-technology Is Changing Our Relationship with Places

  Immersion is the feeling of being absorbed in such a way that perception of the surrounding environment diminishes – as if you were transported elsewhere. Virtual Reality (VR) is often described as the ultimate immersive medium, since it shuts out the physical space for both sight and hearing. Linnea Saltin, newly minted PhD in cultural geography and affiliated with Geomedia, has researched the topic.

  The feeling of losing track of time while scrolling on your phone is an example of how effectively digital technology can envelop us, while analogue experiences such as reading a book can also be highly immersive.

• 2026-02-06

  Welcome to Geomedia Ana Jorge, Lusófona University

  Ana, what is the reason for your visit to Karlstad University and Geomedia?

  – When FCT, the Portuguese research agency, presented an exceptional scheme with funds EC’s Recovery and Resilience Plan for mobility abroad, I immediately thought of Geomedia to finish working on the project’s book, and find a stimulating intellectual environment to develop my research further. I had worked with André Jansson in 2023-24, who worked as an external advisor to our funded project On&Off, and I was looking for further dialogue with Karin Fast and Mats Nilsson.