Consortium

The PODtrust consortium brings together a diverse and interdisciplinary team of leading scholars from four countries and institutions. The project is coordinated by Professor Katharine Dommett (University of Sheffield, UK), with co-investigators including Dr. James Weinberg (University of Sheffield), Professor Elizabeth Dubois (University of Ottawa, Canada), Professor Karolina Koc-Michalska and Dr. Odile Vallée (Audencia Business School, France), and Professor Damian Guzek (University of Silesia, Poland).

Together, this team spans expertise in political communication, political psychology, trust research, and digital media studies. The consortium structure supports collaborative, comparative research design while integrating local perspectives from each national context.

Beyond academic excellence, the consortium shares a commitment to inclusivity, equity, and societal impact. The project includes PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and research assistants, ensuring training and development for a new generation of interdisciplinary scholars.

This partnership allows for a unique transatlantic dialogue and robust exchange of methods, perspectives, and data. Through sustained collaboration, the consortium aims not only to produce high-impact research outputs, but also to inform practical reforms in digital political communication across democratic systems.

School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield, the United Kingdom

The School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield is one of the leading UK schools for research across sociological studies, politics and international relations. The School has expertise in sociology, social policy, politics and international relations and the digital society. Their world-leading research and teaching directly impacts people, policy, and how societies are organised. The University of Sheffield is a world top-100 university, ranking 15th in the UK and 92nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

Pol Comm Tech Lab, University of Ottawa, Canada

The Pol Comm Tech Lab, Directed by Dr. Elizabeth Dubois, is an interdisciplinary academic research group based at the University of Ottawa, Canada. The Lab explores the intersections of politics, communication, and technology. The Lab’s research seeks to shed light on the various ways that digital technologies like social media and artificial intelligence shape political landscapes, journalism, and the media environment.

The Pol Com Tech Lab strives for excellence in research through methodological rigour and seeks to advance knowledge by developing innovative new methodological and theoretical approaches. The Lab actively searches out national and international research partners and works closely with other experts in related fields. Additionally, Lab members works diligently to make research available freely to the public and improve our capacity to engage in creative and novel knowledge mobilization efforts.

Department of Communication, Culture and Languages, Audencia Business School, France

Audencia, founded in 1900 in Nantes, is one of France’s leading business schools, ranked 7th nationally and among the top 40 in Europe. The school holds the prestigious triple accreditation (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA), placing it among the top 1% of business schools worldwide. Audencia is renowned for its research in management, communication, and innovation, with over 100 faculty members actively publishing and contributing to international research. The school collaborates with more than 210 academic institutions and 900 corporate partners globally. Audencia has also participated in research projects funded by regional, national (including ANR), and European programs such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.

Institute of Journalism and Media Communication, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

The Institute of Journalism and Media Communication at the University of Silesia is a vibrant academic centre for the study of local communication, political communication, media coverage, as well as religious media, and digital politics. At the same time, it engages in diverse research areas of journalism and media studies across Central and Eastern Europe, bringing together theoretical inquiry with practical expertise. Its mission is to foster critical reflection on contemporary media while preparing graduates for dynamic careers in journalism, communication, and the creative industries.