Research and innovation

Our research

Our research is organized around four challenge-led themes, highlighting how our research relates to key societal issues and concerns.

We are committed to our research having a positive societal impact and value engagement and knowledge exchange with partners from industry, government, the public sector and civil society.

Research themes

Our research is organized around four challenge-led themes, highlighting how our research relates to key societal issues and concerns. The themes span traditional sub-fields of media, communication, and cultural studies while also making possible inter-disciplinary connections, enabling new research collaborations and emergent outcomes.

Each intersecting theme is explored through various theoretical perspectives, modalities, and methods, including creative practice and practice-led research. As well as advancing academic knowledge in these areas, we are committed to our research having a positive societal impact and value engagement and knowledge exchange with partners from industry, government, the public sector and civil society.

Working in partnership

The School of Media and Communication collaborates with internal and external partners to inform regional, national, and international policy through collaborations with industry, regulators and policymakers, such as the BBC, Ofcom, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and the European Commission. Our researchers work with communities and industry partners to interrogate the challenges they are facing through dialogue, participation, public engagement and creative practice. Find out more.

Research projects

Our research projects explore the past, present and future of media and communication using archives, new technologies and global partnerships.

Explore our research projects

Research and innovation

Race and Media Conference

Our upcoming research events

Our research

Research themes

Media, Inequality and Representation

Media, Power and Publics

Digital Futures

Cultural Industries and Creative Work

Working in partnership

Research projects

News and events

Watch: Professor David Hesmondhalgh and Professor Anamik Saha in conversation on the Cultural Industries

“Bold and swift” action needed to maintain public service media’s democratic role, panel says at Media Frontiers event

Faculty Professor invited to Buckingham Palace party with Prince and Princess of Wales

University of Leeds’ NewsdayVR project wins Education North Award

EPOD 2026 Conference - Beyond the Classroom: The Power of Podcasts in Shaping the Future of Learning and Media