Shumaila Jaffery

Profile

I am a PhD researcher in the School of Media and Communication. My research focuses on diasporas and nationalism, specifically how media influences the identities of diasporic communities and their alignment with the values of their host countries. For my PhD, I focus on Leicester—recognised as the UK’s first plural city—as a case study to examine the landscape of diaspora information.

Before joining academia, I worked at the BBC as a frontline correspondent, managed a regional bureau, and led multiple teams. I am also a trained mentor who has supported women and young journalists in their career development.

I occasionally contribute op-eds for Dawn, Pakistan’s premier English-language newspaper. https://www.dawn.com/authors/12331/shumaila-jaffery.

I am also an International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) and a Chevening South Asian Journalism Fellow.

Publications:

Jaffery, S. (2026). Mediated Solidarities: Hyper-nationalist Indian Media and Transnational Alignment between Hindu Nationalism and the UK Far-Right. Global Media Journal - German Edition, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.60678/skxbd479

Conference Papers:

Jaffery, S. (2026). “Mediated Solidarities: Hyper-nationalist Indian Media and Transnational Alignment between Hindu Nationalism and the UK Far-Right”. International Association of Media and Communication (IAMCR) Annual Conference, Galway, Ireland.

Jaffery, S. (2025). “Disinformation, Disdain and Distress” WRoCAH Festival of Research, York, UK.

Jaffery, S. (2025). “Diaspora Media, Ethnopolitical Entrepreneurs and the Mainstreaming of Extremism”. School of Media & Communication PGR Symposium, Leeds, UK.

Jaffery, S (2018). “Working Within and Against Structures: Women, Media and Transnational Perspectives”. Lahore, Pakistan.

Projects:

Organised the WRoCAH annual Festival of Research (FoR-2025), titled “Voice & Noise: Communities, Culture Wars and Creative Disruption”.

Led a workshop for community journalists titled “Tackling Communalism in Leicester– What is the Role for Independent and Community Media?”. Leicester, UK. https://decentered.co.uk/better-together-in-leicester-rebuilding-the-conditions-for-public-discussion/

Internship – Decentered Media. Leicester, UK. https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media/news/article/3084/school-of-media-and-communication-phd-candidate-gains-unique-experience-at-community-media-placement-in-leicester

Research interests

Nationalism; Diasporas; Political Communication; International Communication

Qualifications

• PhD in Media and Communication (University of Leeds - ongoing)
• Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) in Multimedia Production Arts (University of the Punjab)
• MA in Mass Communication – Islamia University, Bahawalpur
• BA Journalism – Lahore College for Women, Lahore

Research groups and institutes

• Political Communication
• Journalism