Daniel Jurg - Digital Conservative Media Researcher
DJ

Digital
Researcher

I am a researcher working on conservative media and digital audience engagement

About Me

PhD Candidate at Vrije Universiteit Brussel passionate about conservative media and digital audience engagement

My Journey

As a PhD Candidate at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, I study conservative mediaand digital audience engagement. My research focuses on understanding how digital platforms shape communication and social behavior, particularly through YouTube's alternative influence network and reactionary fandoms.

I'm particularly interested in audience capture, reactionary fandoms, and developing innovative approaches to studying digital conservative media. My work includes the data-mirroring framework and has been presented at international conferences and workshops.

Programming

Python, R, JavaScript, SQL

Digital Methods

YouTube API, Data Donation

Audience Engagement

Digital Audiences, Fandoms

Research

h-index: 2, 27 Citations

Research Interests

My research focuses on conservative media and digital audience engagement

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Conservative Media Analysis

Studying reactionary fandoms, alternative influence networks, and conservative content on YouTube

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Audience Capture

Understanding how reactionary fandoms and alternative commentators influence their audiences

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Reactionary Fandoms

Studying how conservative audiences engage with alternative political content and form communities

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YouTube Alternative Influence

Analyzing how conservative commentators build audiences and influence political discourse

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Content Moderation

Investigating platform governance and the politics of content moderation

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Alternative Influence

Understanding reactionary fandoms and alternative influence networks online

Recent Publications

Selected publications showcasing my research in conservative media and digital audience engagement

A free market in extreme speech: Scientific racism and bloodsports on YouTube

de Keulenaar, E., Tuters, M., Osborne-Carey, C., Jurg, D., Kisjes, I.

Digital Scholarship in the Humanities (2021)

Journal Article12 citations

Alex, DO NOT BACKPEDAL ON SANDY HOOK!: Reactionary Fandom, Cancel Culture, and the Possibility of 'Audience Capture' on YouTube

Jurg, D., Tuters, M., Picone, I.

Television & New Media (2025)

Journal Article9 citations

Making sense of ambivalence: audience perceptions and uses of Ben Shapiro as an alternative political commentator

Jurg, D., Vis, S., Picone, I.

Information, Communication & Society (2025)

Journal Article2 citations

Data Mirroring: A methodological framework for data-donation-based interviews in media use research

Jurg, D. H. M., Vis, S., Picone, I. & Mathieu, D.

OSF (2025)

Preprint

Post-Authentic engagement with alternative political commentary on YouTube and twitch

Jurg, D., Luitse, D., Pouwels, S., Tuters, M., Kisjes, I.

Cultures of authenticity (2022)

Book Chapter2 citations

Inside the Cult of Stefan Molyneux: A Historical Exploration of Far-Right Radicalisation on YouTube

Jurg, D., Schlüter, M., Tuters, M.

Global Network on Extremism & Technology (2023)

Report1 citations

Cult Leaders, Masculinity, and White Supremacy on YouTube: The Case of Stefan Molyneux

Jurg, D., Schlüter, M., Tuters, M., Ronchetti, C. V., Newell, C., Hillen, B., et al.

Various (2023)

Report1 citations

YouTube's Safety Features Lost In Translation

Jurg, D. H. M., Romano, S., Çetin, R. B., Rieder, B.

AI Forensics (2025)

Report

Ranking authority: A critical audit of YouTube's content moderation

Jurg, D., Romano, S., Rieder, B.

OSF (2025)

Preprint

data-mirroring: v0. 1.0-demo

Jurg, D. H. M., Vis, S., Picone, I.

GitHub (2025)

Software

Audience Capture: Rethinking Influencer-Audience Relationships within the Alternative Influence Network

Jurg, D., Tuters, M., Trans, M., Costanzo, G., Carvalho Do Amaral, J., Wielga, J., et al.

Digital Methods Summer School 2024 (2024)

Conference Paper

Designing Digital Inclusivity: Mapping and Shaping Online Environments for the LGBTQ+ Community (Data Donation Research)

Jurg, D., Ex, L., Nieuwenhuizen, W., Veerbeek, J., Peeters, S., Picone, I., Vis, S., et al.

Various (2024)

Research Project

Detecting misinformation on TikTok with a focus on teen users

Peeters, S., Espinoza, A., Roncalli, B., Martins, B. M. M., Sussan-Molson, C., et al.

Various (2022)

Research Project

Hey Alex…:(Re) constructing Parasocial Relationships with Alex Jones Through YouTube Comment Sections

Jurg, D. H. M., Tuters, M.

Various (2022)

Research Project

Alternative Commentaries on the 2020 US Presidential Election

Jurg, D. H. M., Luitse, D., Pouwels, S., Tuters, M., Antwi, P., Yüce, N., Richards, C., et al.

Various (2021)

Research Project

Digitale Disconnectie: Wanneer polarisatie viraal gaat

Jurg, D. H. M., Picone, I.

Various (2021)

Research Project

Grounds for War

Jurg, D. H. M.

Master's Thesis (2020)

Thesis

The Secret Histories of the Radical Right on 4chan/pol

Jurg, D., Wilson, J., de Keulenaar, E., Giorgi, G., Tuters, M., Kisjes, I., et al.

Various (Various)

Research Project

Get In Touch

I'm always interested in discussing new research opportunities and collaborations

Let's Connect

Whether you're interested in collaboration, have questions about my research, or want to discuss potential opportunities, I'd love to hear from you.

daniel.jurg@vub.beVUB Research PortalGitHub ProfileORCID ProfileGoogle Scholar

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