Faculty Professor invited to Buckingham Palace party with Prince and Princess of Wales
A Professor from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures has attended a prestigious Royal Garden Party hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales at Buckingham Palace
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) nominated Catherine Johnson, Professor of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds’ School of Media and Communication, to attend the party in recognition of her outstanding contributions to national media policy, specifically her role as Chair of the Audiences Working Group for the DCMS Stakeholder Forum on the Future of TV Distribution.
The DCMS Stakeholder Forum on the Future of TV Distribution was established to improve the evidence base on the future of TV distribution, identify the issues and options that are relevant to the future of TV distribution, and act as a forum for discussion between members to identify areas of consensus and explore options.
Professor Cathy Johnson at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party on Friday 8 May, 2026.
As Chair of the Audiences Working Group, Professor Johnson led critical discussions and evidence-gathering on how changes in television technology and distribution affect viewers across the country. Her leadership ensured that the needs of diverse audiences remained at the heart of government discussions regarding the long-term future of British broadcasting.
Professor Johnson said:
“It was an incredible honour to be invited to Buckingham Palace and a wonderful surprise to be nominated by the DCMS. The Garden Party was a fantastic experience, and it was a privilege to see the work we’ve done on the future of TV distribution recognised at such a high level.
“Being part of the Stakeholder Forum allowed us to ensure that the voices and needs of audiences are prioritised as our media landscape changes. It was lovely to celebrate that collective effort in such a beautiful setting.”
By bridging the gap between academic research and government policy, Professor Johnson’s work is helping to ensure that the UK’s media ecosystem remains inclusive and accessible to all. She has recently published three significant reports highlighting key challenges for the sector.
Public Service Media in the Age of Platforms: Challenges and Recommendations for the Future examined how the rise of streaming and social media services such as Netflix, YouTube and TikTok is reshaping the regulation, policy and practices of public service broadcasters, and identifies four key challenges faced by public service media (PSM) worldwide. Another study, Behind the Screen: How Streaming is Changing Public Service Media, found that public service streaming platforms in the UK are failing to make key genres such as the arts, religion and belief, and international issues visible and accessible to audiences. She was also co-author on an independent report for the DCMS on the Future of TV Distribution examining how trends in distribution and consumption of television are likely to develop in the UK up to 2040.
Visit Professor Johnson’s staff profile page for more on how her research is informing industry and policy, including at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the BBC, Channel 4, YouTube, Red Bee Media and Ofcom.
