Editorial Team

Maria Bakardjieva PhD. Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Maria Bakardjieva is a professor and the current Chair in Communication and Media Studies at the University of Calgary, Canada. Her research examines the social construction of communication technologies and the use of digital media in various cultural and practical contexts with a focus on user agency, critical reflexivity and emancipation. She has numerous publications in leading journals and influential anthologies. The books she has authored and co-edited include Internet Society: The Internet in Everyday Life (2005), Socialbots and Their Friends: Digital Media and the Automation of Sociality (2017), Digital Media and the Dynamics of Civil Society: Retooling Citizenship in New European Democracies (2021), and How Canadians Communicate (2004 and 2007). Between 2010 and 2013, she served as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Her current projects investigate the role digital media play in citizen engagement and democratic participation. Dr. Bakardjieva teaches courses in communication theory and research methodology, communication technology and society, digital media and democracy. She works to promote undergraduate research activities in Communication and Media Studies and engages in knowledge mobilization and community outreach intended to advance the public understanding of issues related to Communication and Media Studies.

Abbi Johnson, Managing Editor

Abbi Johnson is a third-year Communications and Media Studies major and second-year Film Studies student at the University of Calgary. Her academic interests include transnational cinema, cultural imaginaries, and investigative journalism, with a particular focus on the intersection of media, politics, and representation. Alongside her studies, she has contributed to a range of student and cultural initiatives, including volunteer work with the Calgary Underground Film Festival and UCalgary Racing Team. She also previously worked with Global Affairs Canada during the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit. Outside of her studies, Abbi enjoys spending time outdoors and watching far too many films.

The Motley Team grows and changes every year! For a full list of editorial contributors, please refer to the Meet the Editorial Team section of each respective issue.