Media, Power and Publics

people standing on street during daytime

In the context of concerns about democratic regression, information disorder and global conflict, this theme investigates media and communication as sites of power and dialogue. We examine how media and communication - at local, national, international, and transnational levels, and across both formal and informal contexts - influence the shape and quality of public information, discourse, and participation. The theme includes (but is not limited to) research on political communication, engagement, and citizenship; journalism, misinformation, and trust; environmental and climate communication; media freedom and independence; communication and conflict; activism and resistance; promotional communication.

The co-convenors for Media, Power and Publics are Shira Dvir-Gvirsman, Imke Henkel and Yuan Zeng.

Education through Podcasting (EPOD) Conference, June 2026

The third Education through Podcasting (EPOD) Conference will take place on 18-19 June 2026 at the University of Leeds. Education through Podcasting (EPOD) is a conference and book series where academics, researchers and professionals come together to discuss and disseminate their research and innovative practices around learning/educational contexts using recorded audio, media and podcasting.

Research projects

Nationalist polarization and the fight over climate change: how nationalism is shaping the politics of climate skeptics and activists in the US and Canada

This project focuses on how nationalism shapes the polarized politics of climate change in the US and Canada. Specifically, we aim to show how both climate skeptics and climate activists are infusing their communication with nationalism, and how by doing so they are becoming ever more polarised. Funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Mediated climate change politics: the epistemology and performance of contested digital truth claims

The project explores the political performance of online truth claims surrounding the UK government's Net Zero policy and citizens' engagement with such truth claims through online argumentation. I aim to delineate the boundaries of valid and perverted digital truth claims in a context of influential climate deniers within UK politics. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Developing Confidence in Community Journalism

The ‘Developing Confidence in Community Journalism’ project saw staff from the University of Leeds School of Media and Communication work alongside Bradford's community radio station, BCB, to build volunteer confidence in broadcasting local democracy content. Funded by the School of Media and Communication.

Events

See more events like this

Research Seminar: The Trauma Machine: Reality Television, Bureaucracies of Care and the Regime of ‘Crisis Ordinariness’

This event forms part of the Research Seminar Series in the School of Media and Communication.

More on Research Seminar: The Trauma Machine: Reality Television, Bureaucracies of Care and the Regime of ‘Crisis Ordinariness’

'Can We Have a Democratic National Conversation?' with Professor Stephen Coleman

The School's Media, Power and Publics Research Theme invites you to a book talk by Professor Stephen Coleman on his new publication, ‘Shaping Citizenship through Talk Radio’ (Intellect, 2026).

More on 'Can We Have a Democratic National Conversation?' with Professor Stephen Coleman

Science into Pop: Triangulating Legitimacy in Three Experimental Music Traditions

How can the case of Jamaican dub reggae broaden our understanding of music experimentation?

More on Science into Pop: Triangulating Legitimacy in Three Experimental Music Traditions

Research Seminar: Environmental Activism and Digital Communication: Scaling, Space, and the Limits of Transnational Solidarity

The talk explores how digital communication shapes environmental activism across local, national, and transnational levels, sometimes undermining rather than strengthening transnational solidarity

More on Research Seminar: Environmental Activism and Digital Communication: Scaling, Space, and the Limits of Transnational Solidarity

A cell phone sitting on top of a purple circle

Media, Power and Publics