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. 

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.

News and events

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African futures

This roundtable discussion brings together contemporary expertise on Africa’s media image from a variety of perspectives.

More on Roundtable on the Media Image of Africa
An exterior shot of the BBC's offices

A panel on the future of UK public service media following the BBC Charter Review, exploring regulation, policy, and the changing production ecology.

More on Media Frontiers: What Next for Public Service Media? BBC Charter Review, Regulation and the Future of the UK Production Ecology
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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

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