PD Dr. phil. habil. Aynur Sarısakaloğlu

PD Dr. phil. habil. Aynur Sarısakaloğlu is Acting Head of the Department of Media Studies and a senior researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Media and Communication Science at Technische Universität Ilmenau in Germany, where she completed her habilitation and was awarded the venia legendi. As part of a DAAD project, she coordinates the MA program in International Communication and Media Research at the Turkish-German University and is a long-term visiting lecturer. She received her BA, MA, and PhD degrees in communication science from the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. Sarısakaloğlu was an Assistant Professor of  Communication Science at the Turkish-German University in Istanbul. She worked as a research assistant and a project assistant at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. She was also a visiting scholar at the University of San Francisco and pursued numerous international research and teaching activities abroad. Her recent research and teaching interests include new technologies and mediated public communication, artificial intelligence in communication and media, journalism research, computational journalism, digital disinformation, crisis and conflict communication, international and intercultural communication, and the de-Westernization of communication science.

Books and Edited Books

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Löffelholz, M. (Eds.) (2026). The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Journalism. Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394250424

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Rothenberger, L. (Eds.) (forthcoming 2026). Transformation in Public Communication: Journalism, Global Crises, Technological Disruptions, and De-Westernization. Springer.

Löffelholz, M., Johansson, B., Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Estella, P. G. (Eds.) (forthcoming, 2026). The Routledge Companion to Conflict and Crisis Reporting. Routledge.

Löffelholz, M., Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Sellnow, D. D. (Eds.) (forthcoming 2027). The AI Galaxy: Communication in the Algorithmic Age. Wiley-Blackwell.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2019). Europas Identität und die Türkei: Eine länderübergreifende Framing-Analyse der Mediendebatte über den EU-Beitritt der Türkei. Transcript Verlag.

Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (forthcoming). The algorithmic turn in war communication. In M. Löffelholz & M. Seeger (Eds.). The Handbook of War Communication. Wiley-Blackwell.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (forthcoming 2026). Algorithmization of public communication: Rethinking evolving journalism practices and research. In A. Sarısakaloğlu& L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Transformation in Public Communication: Journalism, Global Crises, Technological Disruptions, and De-Westernization. Springer.

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Johansson, B. (forthcoming 2026). Journalism in conflicts and crises. In M. Löffelholz, B. Johansson, A. Sarısakaloğlu & P. G. Estella (Eds.). The Routledge Companion to Conflict and Crisis Reporting. Routledge.

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Rothenberger, L. (forthcoming 2026). Shifting perspectives in media and beyond: Journalism, global crises, tech disruptions, and De-Westernization. In A. Sarısakaloğlu& L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Transformation in Public Communication: Journalism, Global Crises, Technological Disruptions, and De-Westernization. Springer.

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Rothenberger, L. (forthcoming 2026). Communication in times of uncertainty: The academic journey of Martin Löffelholz. In A. Sarısakaloğlu & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Transformation in Public Communication: Journalism, Global Crises, Technological Disruptions, and De-Westernization. Springer.

Löffelholz, M., Johansson, B., Sarısakaloğlu, A., Estella, P. G. (forthcoming 2026). Conflict and crisis reporting in the digital age. In M. Löffelholz, B. Johansson, A. Sarısakaloğlu & P. G. Estella (Eds.). The Routledge Companion to Conflict and Crisis Reporting. Routledge.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). Navigating the research landscape of algorithm-driven journalism: A systematic literature review of authorship, research trends, and future research pathways. Journalism Studies, 26(5), 541–567. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2024.2446326

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). Artificial intelligence as a game-changer or passing tech fad in journalism? A qualitative study on journalists’ perceptions and technology adoption in a Global South country. Journalism, 0(0), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849251390943

Cazzamatta, R., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). AI-generated misinformation: A case study on emerging trends in fact-checking practices across Brazil, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Emerging Media, 3(2), 214–251. https://doi.org/10.1177/27523543251344971

Cazzamatta, R., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). Mapping global emerging scholarly research and practices of AI-supported fact-checking tools in Journalism. Journalism Practice, 19(10), 2422–2444. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2025.2463470

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Löffelholz, M. (2026). The evolution of journalism in the era of artificial intelligence. In A. Sarısakaloğlu & M. Löffelholz (Eds.), The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Journalism (pp. 3–26). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394250424.ch1

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2026). Conceptualization of artificial intelligence. In A. Sarısakaloğlu & M. Löffelholz (Eds.), The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Journalism (pp. 29–43). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394250424.ch2

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2026). Charting the research field of algorithm-driven journalism. In A. Sarısakaloğlu & M. Löffelholz (Eds.), The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Journalism (pp. 59–75). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394250424.ch4

Löffelholz, M., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2026). Journalism in 2030: Research perspectives on artificial intelligence and newswork. In A. Sarısakaloğlu & M. Löffelholz (Eds.), The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Journalism (pp. 415–423). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394250424.ch28

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). Cosmopolitanization of journalism research in the era of artificial intelligence: Bridging the global divide in algorithm-driven journalism. In C. Richter, M. Radue, C. Horz-Ishak, A. Litvinenko, H. Badr & A. Fiedler (Eds.), Cosmopolitan communication studies: Toward deep internationalization (pp. 205–225). Transcript Verlag. https://doi.org/10.14361/9783839476772

Sarısakaloğlu, A. & Estella, P. G. (2025). War reporting in an evolving media landscape: Perspectives and prospects. In A. Schwarz, M. Seeger, & S. Kim (Eds.), The Handbook of International Risk and Crisis Communication Research (pp. 119–134). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394180844.ch10

Estella, P. G., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2026). Conceptualizing algorithm-driven journalism within cosmopolitan communication studies. In A. Sarısakaloğlu & M. Löffelholz (Eds.), The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Journalism(pp. 77–87). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394250424.ch5

Schleicher, K., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). Cosmopolitanization of war coverage research: Empowering non-Western narratives. In C. Richter, M. Radue, C. Horz-Ishak, A. Litvinenko, H. Badr & A. Fiedler (Eds.), Cosmopolitan communication studies: Toward deep internationalization (pp. 187–204). Transcript Verlag. https://doi.org/10.14361/978383 9476772

Löffelholz, M., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Paradigmengeschichte der Journalismusforschung. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Handbuch Journalismustheorien (pp. 21–54). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-32151-2_2

Löffelholz, M., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (forthcoming 2026). History of paradigms in journalism research. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), TheHandbook of Journalism Theories. Springer VS. [Translation]

Rasem, B., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Journalismus als System organisierten Handelns. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Handbuch Journalismustheorien (pp. 245–255). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-32151-2_16

Rasem, B., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (forthcoming 2026). Journalism as a System of Organized Action. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger, L. (Eds.), TheHandbook of Journalism Theories. Springer VS. [Translation]

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Künstliche Intelligenz und Journalismus. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Handbuch Journalismustheorien (pp. 437–449). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-32151-2_30

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (forthcoming 2026). Artificial intelligence and journalism. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), TheHandbook of Journalism Theories. Springer VS. [Translation]

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Als Avatar an der Front – Kriegsjournalismus in Zeiten künstlicher Intelligenz und virtueller Realität. In M. Löffelholz, K. Schleicher & C. F. Trippe (Eds.), Krieg der Narrative – Russland, die Ukraine und der Westen (pp. 193–206). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111331508-014

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Tribusean, I. (2024). Virtuelle Realität und Journalismus. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Handbuch Journalismustheorien (pp. 427–436). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-32151-2_58

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Tribusean, I. (forthcoming 2026). Virtual reality and journalism. In M. Löffelholz, & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), TheHandbook of Journalism Theories. Springer VS. [Translation]

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Review of the book “Schlüsselwerke der Journalismusforschung”, by W. Loosen & A. Scholl. Publizistik, 69(1), 107–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11616-023-00827-2

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Review of the book “Philosophie der Digitalität: Eine Kritik der politischen Technologie”, by E. Tabari. Communicatio Socialis, 57(2). 282–284. https://doi.org/10.5771/0010-3497-2024-2-282

Richter, C., Grüne, A., Hafez, K., Fiedler, A., Behmer, M., Horz-Ishak, C., Badr, H., Litvinenko, A., Hahn, O., Radue, M., Sarısakaloğlu, A., Löffelholz, M., Fengler, S., Illg, B., Hamidi, K., Hanitzsch, T., & Thomaß, B. (2023). Die „tiefe Internationalisierung“ der deutschen Kommunikationswissenschaft? Eine Evaluation der Personal- und Forschungsstrukturen sowie der Lehrprogramme deutscher Hochschulen. Global Media Journal – German Edition, 13(1), 1–51. https://doi.org/10.22032/dbt.57904

Alver, F., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2023). Communication science in Turkey: How communication research and education developed over the years. Publizistik, 68(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11616-022-00766-4

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2023). Virtuelle Realität im Journalismus: Potenziale und Herausforderungen der partizipativ-immersiven Dimension der Berichterstattung. Communicatio Socialis, 56(4), 460–470. https://doi.org/10.5771/0010-3497-2023-4-460

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2022). Algorithmisierung des Journalismus. Chancen und Herausforderungen künstlicher Intelligenzsysteme in sozio-technischen Newsrooms. Communicatio Socialis, 55(3), 308–319. https://doi.org/10.5771/0010-3497-2022-3-308

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2021). Framing discourses in Turkish news coverage regarding artificial intelligence technologies’ prospects and challenges. Turkish Review of Communication Studies, 37, 20–38. https://doi.org/10.17829/turcom.803338

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2021). The use of personalization algorithms on social networks: Hazards of living in a “filter bubble” during the COVID-19 pandemic (pp. 29–46). In Z. Acar Şentürk & Y. Kılınçarslan (Eds.), Communication studies during the pandemic period. Peter Lang Verlag. https://doi.org/10.3726/b18412

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2020). Theoretical understanding of the construction processes of the cultural ‘Other’ in news media. In Communication Theory and Research Journal (İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi), 51, 131–146.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2020). Cultural differences and algorithmic journalism: A cross-national study on the perception of algorithm-generated news by recipients. TRT International Academy Journal (TRT Akademi Dergisi), 6(10), 612–628.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2020). Algorithms as the new gatekeepers of knowledge: Possibilities and challenges regarding the use of artificial intelligence in education. In W. W. K. Ma, K.-W. Tong & W. B. A. Tso (Eds.), Learning environment and design: Current and future impacts. Educational Communications and Technology Yearbook (pp. 293–305). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8167-0_18

Presentations at Conferences (peer-reviewed)

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). 75^th Annual International Communication Association Conference: “Disrupting and Consolidating Communication Research”, 12.–16.06.2025, Denver.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). Kosmopolitisierung der Forschung im Bereich KI-gestützter Journalismus: Überwindung globaler Forschungslücken und algorithmischer Ungleichheiten. Faculty Day of the Technischen Universität Ilmenau, 14.05.2025, Ilmenau.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2025). Von Algorithmen-induzierten Ungleichheiten zur Kosmopolitisierung der Forschung zum KI-gestützten Journalismus: Zentrale Befunde und Implikationen aus einer systematischen Literaturanalyse. 70^th Annual Conference of the German Communication Association (DGPuK): “Öffentlichkeit(en) und ihre Werte”, 19.–21.03.2025, Freie Universität Berlin.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Mapping the research landscape of algorithm-driven journalism: An interdisciplinary systematic literature review of research trends and future pathways. 10^th European Communication Research Association Conference: “Communication & Social (Dis)Order”, 23.–27.09.2024, University of Ljubljana.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Charting the global development of algorithm-driven journalism: A systematic literature review of research trends and the North–South research divide. International Communication Association (ICA) Pre-Conference: “A Computational Turn in Journalism: Opportunities and Challenges in a Cross-Disciplinary Field”, 18.06.2024, National University of Singapore.

Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Cazzamatta, R. (2024). Unveiling challenges and potential paths of AI-supported fact-checking in journalism across selected countries: Navigating monitoring and verification practices. 51^st International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Conference: “Weaving people together: Communicative projects of decolonising, engaging, and listening”, 30.06.–04.07.2024, University of Canterbury, Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2023). Synopse zur algorithmenbasierten Transformation des Journalismus: Eine systematisch-interdisziplinäre Literaturanalyse zum aktuellen Forschungsstand. 68^th Annual Conference of the German Communication Association (DGPuK): “Automatisierung von Kommunikation und automatisierte Medien: Herausforderungen für die Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft”, 18.–20.05.2023, Universität Bremen.

Estella, P. E., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2023). Journalistic role performance in the time of AI: Competencies, conditions, and critical perspectives beyond the mainstream West. International Communication Association (ICA) Pre-Conference “Between ideals and practices: Journalistic role performance in transformative times”, 24.05.2023, Toronto Metropolitan University.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2022). The transformation of the journalistic profession: (Re-)defining the skills of future journalists for algorithmic newsrooms. 9^th European Communication Research Association Conference: “Social Media and Global Voices”, 19.–22.10.2022, Aarhus University.

Löffelholz, M., Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Arıkan, B. A. (2021). Hybridisierung, Algorithmisierung und Internationalisierung der Kommunikation: Situation und Perspektiven der kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Forschung. Workshop on Language, Communication, History, and Migration from a Turkish–German Perspective, 22.–23.10. 2021, University of Heidelberg.

Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2020). When algorithmic journalism meets its audience: Turkish news readers’ attitudes towards automated content. 17^th International Symposium Communication in the Millennium, 05.–06.11.2020, Anadolu University, Ankara.

With over ten years of academic teaching experience, Aynur Sarısakaloğlu has developed and taught courses in German, English, and Turkish across various areas of communication science. Her teaching portfolio encompasses lectures, seminars, colloquia, and applied courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Courses she has taught over the past five years (2020–2025) include, among others:

• Communicator Research (BA)
• Artificial Intelligence in Communication Research (MA)
• Artificial Intelligence in Journalism (BA)
• Artificial Intelligence in Public Communication (BA)
• Media Management and Communication Theories (MA)
• Journalism and Strategic Communication (MA)
• Intercultural Communication (MA)
• BA and MA Colloquia (BA, MA)
• Methods of Communication Research (MA)
• Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Communication Science (BA)
• Digital Media Laboratory (BA)
• New Media Technologies (BA)
• Media Reception and Media Effects Research (BA)

Current Research:

Aynur Sarısakaloğlu’s research examines the impact of emerging technologies on digital communication and media. A key focus of her work lies in the transformation of public communication driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies. Her research seeks to develop a nuanced understanding of the potential benefits and risks associated with algorithmic systems in public communication and to contribute to the systematic academic contextualization of current technological developments through the integration of theoretical, epistemological, and empirical perspectives.

From a communicator-centered perspective, she analyzes how new socio-technical constellations within media organizations shape the structures of journalistic communication processes, the conditions of journalistic work, and the production of media content. Her research particularly explores human–machine communication and its implications for journalistic practice. Moreover, she investigates specific applications of algorithmic systems, such as AI-driven fact-checking and the detection and analysis of AI-generated disinformation and deepfakes.

In her research on media content, she examines how new technologies are portrayed and assessed in media coverage. In addition, she analyzes how societal crises, conflicts, and wars are represented and communicated in the media.

Another central focus of her research is the promotion of a cosmopolitan perspective within communication science. A core question guiding this approach is how inclusive knowledge production can be fostered in communication science.