Research and innovation
Our upcoming research events
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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.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky for updates on our latest research.
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.
Faculty researcher named Jisc Community Champion for 2026
A researcher from the University of Leeds’ Faculty of Arts, Humanities and…
Monday 9 February 2026
More on Faculty researcher named Jisc Community Champion for 2026
Exclusive communications placement programme launched for University of Leeds students
Students selected for the programme will gain hands-on experience across PR,…
Monday 2 February 2026
More on Exclusive communications placement programme launched for University of Leeds students
Jacqui Oatley MBE returns to Leeds to support arts and humanities students
Broadcaster and sports commentator Jacqui Oatley MBE returned to the…
Monday 2 February 2026
More on Jacqui Oatley MBE returns to Leeds to support arts and humanities students
Supporting Shorts: the project quietly shaping who gets to make films
“They all have this body of work that proves they’re as entitled as…
Thursday 15 January 2026
More on Supporting Shorts: the project quietly shaping who gets to make filmsRoundtable on the Media Image of Africa
This roundtable discussion brings together contemporary expertise on Africa’s media image from a variety of perspectives.
Tuesday 21 April 2026, 13:00 - 15:00 | Events
More on Roundtable on the Media Image of AfricaMedia Frontiers: What Next for Public Service Media? BBC Charter Review, Regulation and the Future of the UK Production Ecology
A panel on the future of UK public service media following the BBC Charter Review, exploring regulation, policy, and the changing production ecology.
Wednesday 13 May 2026, 16:00 - 17:30 |
More on Media Frontiers: What Next for Public Service Media? BBC Charter Review, Regulation and the Future of the UK Production Ecology2026 Jay Blumler Lecture with Guest Speaker Professor Jeffrey Alexander
"Theory of Trump"
Wednesday 10 June 2026, 17:30 - 19:00 |
More on 2026 Jay Blumler Lecture with Guest Speaker Professor Jeffrey AlexanderEPOD 2026 Conference - Beyond the Classroom: The Power of Podcasts in Shaping the Future of Learning and Media
Education through Podcasting (EPOD) is a conference and book series where experts share research and practice on learning through recorded audio, media, and podcasting in educational contexts
Thursday 18 June 2026 - Friday 19 June 2026, 09:00 - 18:00 |
More on EPOD 2026 Conference - Beyond the Classroom: The Power of Podcasts in Shaping the Future of Learning and Media





