Hello! My name is Anna, and I'm pursuing a PhD focused on the role of moral rhetoric in political communication. Specifically, my research delves into how populists utilize moral rhetoric on social media. Given the persuasive power of moral rhetoric, I aim to uncover how populist politicians wield this tool, which can tell us something about how populist communication resonates with people, drawing them to populist parties. As my project progresses, I also plan to explore how mainstream media picks up on this moral communication and how this is perceived by audiences.

 

In my free time, I am a bookworm. Since my work involves extensive non-fiction reading, I indulge in fiction during my free hours. I particularly enjoy reading in cafes, where I can soak in the bustling atmosphere while savoring a piece of cake and a cup of coffee. My love for cake often means I can't resist ordering more than one! Besides reading, I love going out and dancing, preferably all night long.

Sweeney is a PhD candidate at ASCoR’s Persuasive Communication department at the University of Amsterdam. She is studying the occurrences and impact of greenwashed claims by social media influencers, and further, the role of parasocial relationship in persuasive attempts. Ultimately, she aims to design an intervention to lessen the persuasive power of greenwashed messages posted by influencers. Other than the effect of social media content, she is also interested in research exploring the uses and impact of innovative technologies such as extended realities and video games.

 

Outside of academia, she is into video gaming, music (musicals, all kinds of concerts, occasionally playing instruments and singing herself). She loves her cat sisi and she will bring her up somehow when meeting someone for the first time :)