Madalina Botan

@comunicare.ro

National University of Political Studies and Public Administration
National University of Political Studies and Public Administration

Madalina Botan


                     Download Compact PDF  
https://researchid.co/madalina.botan
I have a keen interest in understanding the mechanisms behind digital technologies and my ambition is to be able to design research tools in order to measure their impact on public opinion, political systems and societies.
Holding both a PhD diploma in sociology (2012) and one in political studies (2015) enables me to have a trans-disciplinary approach towards communication studies, social media and digital technologies.
I feel most challenged when using my academic and organisational experience in order to shape better formats for effective media research, political campaigning and public policies implementation.

EDUCATION

PhD, Political Communication (2012 - 2015), National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest/ research fellowship at Amsterdam School of Communication and Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam
PhD, Sociology (2009 - 2012), L’École Doctorale francophone en Sciences Sociales (EDFSS)/ University of Bucharest/ École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris/ Université Libre de Bruxelles
MA, Journalism and Research Methodologies, University of Bucharest/ Université Bordeaux III
BA, Public Relations and Communication, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Social Sciences
5

Scopus Publications

190

Scholar Citations

9

Scholar h-index

8

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • The price of (un)regulation: Tracing the flow of political advertising budgets and voter targeting across online platforms in Romanian elections
    Andreea Stancea, Madalina Botan
    Communications, 2025
    In the ongoing 2024 elections, European democracies are facing multiple challenges, including declining voter turnout, extremist factions gaining electoral ground, and various risks posed by technology platforms. This article explores the characteristics of online political advertising in Romania, focusing on the advertising budgets allocated by mainstream and extremist parties and their specific targeting strategies based on voter segmentation. The study examines multiple electoral cycles in Romania, employing a longitudinal approach to analyze the online political advertising of the mainstream and extremist Romanian parties with a significant electoral impact. Utilizing data from the Meta Ad Library Reports, the study aims to explore the scale of online political advertising expenditure, and discuss voter segmentation and its potential impact on voter mobilization. Through this lens, the paper highlights the significant role of political advertising leveraged by online platforms in modern politics and the consequent challenges to the integrity of the electoral processes. It discusses gaps in existing national and EU regulations, and argues for regulatory measures to enhance transparency and accountability in political advertising.
  • Electoral dynamics in the age of disinformation: Understanding Romanian voter support for nationalist populist parties in the 2024 elections
    Madalina Botan, Remus Stefureac, Andreea Stancea
    New Perspectives, 2025
    This study looks at factors influencing voters’ preference for nationalist populist parties in Romania that support closer ties with Russia. Using data from a national survey, we propose that factors like awareness of disinformation, social media use, trust in party leaders, and belief in conspiracy theories significantly affect voting choices. We test each of these factors with logistic regression analysis to see how much they contribute to predicting support for nationalist movements with pro-Russia stance.
  • The Romanian Media System: Dynamics, Challenges, and Implications for Democracy
    Madalina Botan
    Media and Communication, 2024
    This article endeavors to delve into the recent transformation of the Romanian media landscape, aiming to offer a nuanced comprehension of the cultural and political dynamics that have influenced journalistic practices. The Romanian media environment has undergone swift changes, transitioning from a monolithic structure to one increasingly driven by commercial interests, all while navigating economic and political pressures. The shift toward a free-market framework has not only reshaped the social and political fabric but has also significantly impacted the media sector. This article posits that the Romanian media landscape is shaped by the interplay of cultural, economic, and political forces, evident in journalistic outputs across both traditional and digital platforms. This assertion aligns with Hallin and Mancini’s (2004) notion of parallelism between journalism and politics. Moreover, it extends this perspective to encompass cultural influences and the evolving media landscape resulting from shifts in the media market, changing consumption patterns, and the proliferation of digital media. Key indicators such as professional standards, editorial autonomy, transparency, financial sustainability, political influence, and media regulations are critically examined within the unique context of Romania, in which political interference and growing reliance on advertising revenue often curtail editorial independence. In conclusion, the article reflects on the current state of the Romanian media system and the manifold challenges it confronts amidst the changing dynamics of the media landscape.
  • Trust in information sources during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Romanian case study
    Raluca Buturoiu, Nicoleta Corbu, Denisa-Adriana Oprea, Mădălina Boțan
    Communications, 2022
    Higher levels of trust in credible sources of information in times of crisis such as the current COVID-19 pandemic increase public compliance with official recommendations, minimizing health risks and helping authorities manage the crisis. Based on a national survey (N=1160), this article explores (a) actual levels of trust in various sources of information (government websites, legacy media, social media, and interpersonal communication) during the pandemic and (b) a number of predictors of such trust. Results show that during the period studied government websites were the most trusted source of information. Trust in an information source is correlated with consumption of COVID-19–related news from that specific source, media fact-checking, and self-perception about the incidence of COVID-19–related fake news. Only income and age are significant trust predictors, and only with respect to specific source types.
  • Patterns of digital behaviour on instant messaging platforms. WhatsApp uses among young people from Romania
    Romanian Journal of European Affairs, 2020

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Disinformation on Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen accession fuels Euroskepticism
    N Corbu, R Buturoiu, M Boțan, A Stoycheff
    Communications , 2026
    2026
  • Assessing the EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation: Platform Responses to Information Disorders
    MAH Madalina Botan
    Global Policy , 2025
    2025
  • Beyond Borders: Platformized Disinformation and Diasporic Activism in Romania
    M Botan
    Available at SSRN 6164946 , 2025
    2025
  • Electoral dynamics in the age of disinformation: Understanding Romanian voter support for nationalist populist parties in the 2024 elections
    M Botan, R Stefureac, A Stancea
    New Perspectives 33 (2), 103-121 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 6
  • Implementing the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation
    M Botan, T Meyer
    European Digital Media Observatory , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 5
  • Tracing the flow of political advertising budgets and voter targeting across online platforms in Romanian elections
    A Stancea, M Botan
    Communications , 2025
    2025
  • The Price of (un) regulation: Tracing the Flow of Political Advertising Budgets and Voter Targeting across Online Platforms in Romanian Elections
    M Botan, A Stancea
    Communications 50 (4), 10.1515 , 2025
    2025
  • Old Habits, New Platforms: Exploring the Age-group Divide in Romanian News Consumption
    R Buturoiu, A Stancea, M Boțan, N Corbu
    Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations 27 (2), 45-70 , 2025
    2025
  • How is disinformation addressed in the member states of the European Union?–27 country cases
    K Bleyer-Simon, MA Horowitz, M Botan, M Brautović, E Brogi, I Bucholtz, ...
    2025
    Citations: 2
  • Literature review on actors of disinformation in the European Union
    MA Horowitz, M Botan, K Bleyer-Simon, M Brautović, E Brogi, I Bucholtz, ...
    2025
  • What Young People Know and Think They Know about Politics: Factors Influencing Political Knowledge among Romanian First-Time Voters
    N Corbu, R Buturoiu, M Boțan, V Frunzaru
    Media Literacy and Academic Research 7 (2), 5-22 , 2024
    2024
  • The Romanian media system: Dynamics, challenges, and implications for democracy
    M Botan
    Media and Communication 12 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 17
  • What’s on the Menu for Today? Consumption Patterns, Threats and Opportunities of the High-Choice Media Environment
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 1
  • News Media Consumption and Key Covariates: Media-Related and Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Media Diets
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 1
  • Information Disorders in the Current Media Environment
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 2
  • Agenda-setting: 50 years of research
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 11
  • Setting the agenda during the COVID-19 pandemic
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of news consumption in a high-choice media environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 2
  • Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 21
  • New Avenues for Agenda-Setting Research: Network Agenda-Setting , Agenda-Melding and Intermedia Agenda-Setting
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 2
  • News Consumption Patterns Then and Now: From Traditional Media Repertoires to New Ways of Consuming News
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 3

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Trust in information sources during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Romanian case study
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, DA Oprea, M Boțan
    Communications 47 (3), 375-394 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 24
  • Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 21
  • The Romanian media system: Dynamics, challenges, and implications for democracy
    M Botan
    Media and Communication 12 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 17
  • Telepreşedinţii: radiografia unei campanii electorale
    N Corbu, M Boţan
    Centrul de Certetare în Comunicare , 2011
    2011
    Citations: 12
  • Stabilirea agendei publice referitoare la Uniunea Europeană: Alegerile europarlamentare din 2009, în România
    N Corbu, V Frunzaru, M Boţan, C Schifirneţ
    Europenizarea societăţii româneşti şi mass-media, 158 , 2011
    2011
    Citations: 12
  • Agenda-setting: 50 years of research
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 11
  • Social networking websites usage and life satisfaction: A study of materialist values shared by Facebook users
    V Frunzaru, M Boțan
    Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations 17 (2), 43-50 , 2015
    2015
    Citations: 11
  • New perspectives on the study of political communication
    M Boţan
    Revista Română de Comunicare şi Relaţii Publice 12 (3), 9-19 , 2010
    2010
    Citations: 10
  • Profiles of news consumption in a high-choice media environment: Evidence from Romania
    RB Dana Raluca Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Media Literacy and Academic Research 5 (1), 95-115 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 9
  • Europenizarea societăţii româneşti şi mass-media
    C Schifirneţ, M Boţan
    Constantin Schifirnet , 2011
    2011
    Citations: 8
  • Electoral dynamics in the age of disinformation: Understanding Romanian voter support for nationalist populist parties in the 2024 elections
    M Botan, R Stefureac, A Stancea
    New Perspectives 33 (2), 103-121 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 6
  • Patterns of digital behaviour on instant messaging platforms. WhatsApp uses among young people from Romania
    N Corbu, M Botan, R Buturoiu, A Dumitrache
    Romanian Journal of European Affairs 20 (2) , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 6
  • Deep-rooted prejudices: The online proliferation of hate speech against the Roma minority group in Romania
    M Boțan, R Buturoiu, N Corbu, A Voloc
    Politics and knowledge: New trends in social Research, 56-64 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 6
  • Implementing the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation
    M Botan, T Meyer
    European Digital Media Observatory , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 5
  • The complicated relation between news frames and political trust: A case study of Romania
    M Botan, N Corbu, D Sandu
    Středoevropské politické studie/Central European Political Studies Review 18 … , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 5
  • News Consumption Patterns Then and Now: From Traditional Media Repertoires to New Ways of Consuming News
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 3
  • Different types of conflict in the news and their impact on political trust: the cumulated effect of incivility and intrusiveness
    M Boţan
    Revista Română de Comunicare şi Relaţii Publice 15 (2), 49-57 , 2013
    2013
    Citations: 3
  • Framing European Issues in Romanian Media
    N Corbu, M Botan, A Bargaoanu, E Negrea
    International Conference The New World of Public Opinion Research, World … , 2011
    2011
    Citations: 3
  • How is disinformation addressed in the member states of the European Union?–27 country cases
    K Bleyer-Simon, MA Horowitz, M Botan, M Brautović, E Brogi, I Bucholtz, ...
    2025
    Citations: 2
  • Information Disorders in the Current Media Environment
    R Buturoiu, N Corbu, M Boțan
    Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment: A Romanian … , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 2

Publications

Buturoiu, R., Corbu, N., Boțan, M. (2023). Patterns of News Consumption in a High-Choice Media Environment, Springer Open
Negrea-Busuioc, E., Buturoiu, R., Oprea, D., Boțan, M. (2023). Online hate speech in Romania and its impact on people’s civic engagement with the Roma minority. Revista română de sociologie (în curs de publicare).
Buturoiu, Raluca, Corbu, Nicoleta, Oprea, Denisa-Adriana and Boțan, Mădălina. "Trust in information sources during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Romanian case study" Communications, vol. 47, no. 3, 2022, pp. 375-394.  
Boțan, M., Buturoiu, R., Corbu, N., Voloc A. (2020). Deep-Rooted Prejudices: The Online Proliferation of Hate Speech against the Roma Minority Group in Romania. In A. Țăranu (Ed.). Politics and Knowledge. New Trends in Social Research (pp. 56-64). Bologna: Filodiritto Publisher.
Corbu, Nicoleta, Boţan, Mădălina, Buturoiu, Raluca, Dumitrache, Alexandru-Cristian (2020). Patterns of digital behaviour on instant messaging platforms. WhatsApp uses among young people from Romania. Romanian Journal of European Affairs. 20(2),  62-78
Boţan, Mădălina, Corbu, Nicoleta, Sandu, Dani (2016). The Complicated Relation Between News Frames and Political Trust: A Case Study of Romania. Central European Political Studies Review. 18(2-3), 122-140.