Research interests

Members of staff in the Department of Journalism Studies have a wide range of research interests. Currently, research is focused around four major strands of work:

The interplay between media, journalism, civil society and politics

Research within this strand explores the ways in which different media, together and separately, have shaped the political and social landscapes and have been shaped by them. Research in this area includes work on developments in journalism in Latin America, free speech and censorship, media freedom, the civil power of news, critical approaches to the language of the news and political communication.

Journalism and History

Research in this area includes an examination of newspapers in the 19th and 20th century, and the history of political broadcasting.

The department also houses a University Centre for the study of Journalism and History.

Journalism ethics, education and practice

Different forms of journalism – for example, `alternative´ media - is one area of interest in this strand and it is a part of work that explores ethical issues in journalism, the role of journalism education and the influence of national cultures in the formation of journalists views and ethics and values.

The media in Europe and Europe in the media

The EU features as a focus of study in various projects and includes the analysis of EU regulation, issues of European identity in media coverage and, more generally, the media in Europe and the coverage of Europe in the media.

The Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM)

The Department also hosts The Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) which is an interdisciplinary research centre that studies issues of media freedom and standards.

The founding principle of CFOM is to illuminate where news media freedom is undermined or abused and to examine news media standards of independence and truthfulness.