Research and innovation
Our research
We collaborate with academic institutions, the public sector and media industries in the UK and across the world. We examine the relations between media, communication and society, and explore the impact of these interactions.
The School of Media and Communication received excellent scores in the REF 2021 exercise. 88% of the submitted research outputs were judged to be ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. This underlines the vitality of our research culture and our commitment to supporting and developing staff and postgraduate research.
We also contribute to the Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute Sadler Seminar Series.
To get the latest School news, including our research, direct to your inbox, send your name and email address to mediamass@leeds.ac.uk.
Research Groups
Research in the School of Media and Communication is clustered around several research groups.
Digital Cultures
The Digital Cultures research group is interested in how digital media and technologies can act as disruptive - and potentially transformative - forces in society.
More on Digital CulturesGlobal Communication
The Global Communication research group is united by a critical focus on how communication processes instantiate power relations that cut across the local, regional and the transnational.
More on Global CommunicationJournalism
The Journalism research group brings together researchers with a broad interest in journalism. They are specialists in either journalism practice or research, although most have experience in both.
More on JournalismMedia Industries and Cultural Production
This research group brings together researchers with an interest in empirical and theoretical works that engage with research on media production, policy and regulation.
More on Media Industries and Cultural ProductionPolitical Communication
The Political Communication research group provides a forum for researchers to discuss and investigate how power and political ideas are represented in a diversity of communication contexts.
More on Political CommunicationVisual Media and Communication
The Visual Media and Communication research group explores the dominant role of the visual in communication and media culture - raising questions about the role of the visual in everyday life.
More on Visual Media and CommunicationGender and Media
The Gender and Media research group brings together colleagues and postgraduate researchers engaged in debates about how gender functions within and through media and communication.
More on Gender and MediaPractice
The Practice research group is interested in how practice-led research can produce innovative answers and creative outcomes to a range of media and communication questions.
More on PracticeImpact and engagement
Our research has developed impact that supports a range of charitable, educational and cultural organisations and engages with important social and political themes. We have an ongoing commitment to promoting and applying research that has the potential to challenge inequalities and innovate changes in practice and policy across a broad range of communities and organisations. Our approach to social impact is one delivered through the ongoing development of external partnerships and listening to the needs and opinions of the people we work with.
Research projects
Our research projects explore the past, present and future of media and communication using archives, new technologies and global partnerships.
Double success for graduates at national student journalism awards
Students from the University of Leeds’ School of Media and Communication…
Thursday 19 December 2024
More on Double success for graduates at national student journalism awardsLanguage@ Leeds to host public research showcase
The free showcase, titled ‘Language Research to Address Regional and Global…
Monday 3 February 2025
More on Language@ Leeds to host public research showcaseInclusive film project 'Supporting Shorts' launches with the University of Leeds
The project, Supporting Shorts, launched with a showcase of two short films…
Friday 24 January 2025
More on Inclusive film project 'Supporting Shorts' launches with the University of LeedsJournalism students Olivia Davies and Emma Jackson win Community Radio Award
Second year BA Journalism students Olivia Davies and Emma Jackson won silver…
Tuesday 10 December 2024
More on Journalism students Olivia Davies and Emma Jackson win Community Radio AwardResearch Seminar: ‘Bad feeling in journalism: Moral injury and Context Switching’
Dr Richard Stupart argues for the existence of 'context switching' and moral injury as two novel forms of emotional harm that morally directed journalism may be particularly predisposed to
Wednesday 5 February 2025, 15:45 - 17:00 |
More on Research Seminar: ‘Bad feeling in journalism: Moral injury and Context Switching’Research Seminar: ‘Responses to ‘extremist’ communication: From radicalisation to dialogue’
This presentation draws on research with actors engaged in 'extreme-right' milieus to explore the messages they encounter, their responses to them and subsequent trajectories of (non)radicalisation
Wednesday 19 February 2025, 15:45 - 17:00 |
More on Research Seminar: ‘Responses to ‘extremist’ communication: From radicalisation to dialogue’Research Seminar: ‘The Global Spread of Music Streaming: Capitalism and Colonialism, Technology and Culture’
This talk places the international effects of digital platforms on music in the long-term context of the music industry’s relations to capitalism and colonialism
Wednesday 26 February 2025, 15:45 - 17:00 |
More on Research Seminar: ‘The Global Spread of Music Streaming: Capitalism and Colonialism, Technology and Culture’Language Research to Address Regional and Global Challenges
The showcase will offer insights into cutting-edge research from academics across disciplines, addressing critical issues such as inclusivity, accessibility, and reducing inequities through education
Tuesday 1 April 2025, 16:00 - 18:30 |
More on Language Research to Address Regional and Global Challenges