Research cluster

Media &
Commun­ications

We investigate the rapidly changing role of data in communication, as well as digital media more broadly.

VISITING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME Applications now open

We are proud to open calls for our Visiting Fellowship programme, starting in the 2025/26 academic year.

“Research into media and communications research is thriving at Edinburgh! We have around 70 members, working in many different Schools across the university. We have specialist strands in data, digital design, journalism, political communications, screen studies and social media. We collaborate on research grants, to supervise PhD students, and help develop each other’s work.”

Dr Kate Wright, Media and Communications Cluster Lead

We take a unique, interdisciplinary approach to this work, bringing together media experts from across the College and beyond. Some of our members take media and communications as their object of study, whilst others engage in research as a form of media practice. Our outlook is global. We study Scottish and British media, as well as media in Africa, East and South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific. We are all profoundly interested in meaning-making, trust and the exercise of power.

Image credit: MF3d via Getty Images

Projects

These projects give you an indication of the range of research carried out by Media and Communications researchers at Edinburgh. They include more traditional research projects and research-as-practice.

An elderly woman wearing a headscarf and brown coat sits on a wooden bench in a tent. She holds a small glass in one hand and her passport in the other. She has a blue striped bag next to her. The background shows packed items and yellow ventilation tubes.

How media influences governments’ allocation of humanitarian aid

A young person with long, blonde hair lies on a pillow, wearing a dark shirt. They appear to be looking off to the side in deep thought. The lighting has a blueish tint, giving the scene a calm and reflective mood.

Signs and Gestures

A digital billboard at night shows a vibrant advertisement featuring a person in a light green jacket against a bright pink and blue background. The text reads, "MY MONEY IS ON THE MOVE." The scene is reflected in glass in front of the billboard.

Telling Tales of Engagement: Poetic Expressions of Smart Donations with Oxfam

A group of women and a child in colorful clothing sit together outdoors on a sunny day. One woman is writing in a notebook, while the others look on attentively. In the background, more people stand and the scene appears to be set in a rural area.

What is humanitarian news? A multi-sited study of how journalists define, debate and reproduce the boundaries of humanitarianism

The rear window of a vehicle is shown with a large "WHATSAPP" sticker prominently displayed, along with the app's logo. The number "505" is positioned in colorful digits on the top right of the window. Trees and buildings are faintly visible in the background.

SMS:Africa – Social Media and Security in Africa

A graph visualizing the timeline of different patient symptoms from living with progressive disease to the dying phase. It includes peaks for physical, psychological, social, and spiritual symptoms, transitioning from treatment stages to end-of-life phases.

SOCIAM: The Theory and Practice of Social Machines

A moose stands partially hidden in tall grass and shrubs at night. Its antlers are visible above the vegetation, blending into the dimly lit natural surroundings. The scene is shrouded in darkness, creating a mysterious and serene atmosphere.

Becoming Animal: “A thought-provoking, peculiar exploration of nature”

A person with dark hair is holding a large seashell up to their ear while looking down slightly. The sky is clear and blue in the background.

Kii Nche Ndutsa (Time and the Seashell)

Events

Upcoming

Past

Upcoming events and workshops will be posted here.

Meet our researchers

All

Journalism

Social Media

Screen Studies

Digital Design

Data

Political Communications

Albert Sharra

Albert Sharra

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Social and Political Science
Alex Nevill headshot

Alex Nevill

ECA Director of Internationalisation | Lecturer in Film & Moving Image
Edinburgh College of Art
Alexis Grohmann headshot

Alexis Grohmann

Professor of Contemporary Spanish Literature | Cervantes Professor
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Andrew clausen headshot

Andrew Clausen

Senior Lecturer
School of Economics
Andrew Connor headshot

Andrew Connor

Lecturer in Design and Digital Media
Edinburgh College of Art
Annika Bergman Rosamond headshot

Annika Bergman Rosamond

Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Gender
School of Social and Political Science
Ben Collier headshot

Ben Collier

Lecturer in Digital Methods
School of Social and Political Science
Ben Marder headshot

Ben Marder

Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Director of PGR Programmes
Business School
Benjamin Bach headshot

Benjamin Bach

School of Informatics
Beverley Hood headshot

Beverley Hood

Reader in Technological Embodiment and Creative Practice
Edinburgh College of Art
Bronwyn Jones headshot

Bronwyn Jones

Translational Fellow
Edinburgh College of Art
Charlotte Bosseaux headshot

Charlotte Bosseaux

Chair of Audiovisual Translation Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Headshot of Charlotte Gleghorn

Charlotte Gleghorn

Senior Lecturer in Latin American Film Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Chase Ledin headshot

Chase Ledin

Lecturer in Social Science and Medicine
Usher Institute
Chi Yan Hui, Io headshot

Chi Yan Hui, Io

Visitor, Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences
Usher Institute
Christian Ilbury

Christian Ilbury

Lecturer in Sociolinguistics
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Clare Llewellyn headshot

Clare Llewellyn

Lecture in Governance, Technology and Data
School of Social and Political Science
Claudia Pagliari headshot

Claudia Pagliari

Senior Lecturer
Usher Institute
Corentin Curchod headshot

Corentin Curchod

Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management and Organization
Business School
Cristian Vaccari headshot

Cristian Vaccari

Chair in Future Governance and Policy and Technology
School of Social and Political Science
David Sorfa headshot

David Sorfa

Senior Lecturer in Film Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Ebtihal Mahadeen headshot

Ebithal Mahadeen

Lecturer in Gender and Media Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Emanuela Patti headshot

Emanuela Patti

Lecturer in Italian
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Emma Davie headshot

Emma Davie

Reader
Edinburgh College of Art
Emma Hunter headshot

Emma Hunter

Professor of Global and African History
School of History, Classics and Archaeology
Eric Laurier headshot

Eric Laurier

Reader in Geography and Interaction
School of GeoSciences
Ewa Luger headshot

Ewa Luger

Chair of Human-Data Interaction
Edinburgh College of Art
Ewelina Lacka headshot

Ewelina Lacka

Reader in Digital Marketing & Analytics
Business School
Frauke Zeller headshot

Frauke Zeller

Chair in Design Informatics | Co-Director, Institute of Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art
George Hamandishe Karekwaivanane headshot

George Karekwaivanane

Senior Lecturer in African Studies
School of Social and Political Science
Huw Davies headshot

Huw Davies

Lecturer in Digital Education (Data and Society)
Moray House School of Education and Sport
Ian Rothwell headshot

Ian Rothwell

Lecturer in Contemporary Art History and Digital Culture
Edinburgh College of Art
Ileana L. Selejan headshot

Ileana L. Selejan

Lecturer in Art History, Culture and Society
Edinburgh College of Art
James Stewart headshot

James Stewart

Lecturer
School of Social and Political Science
Jennifer Yule headshot

Jennifer Yule

Lecturer in Marketing
Business School

John Kelly

Lecturer in Sociology of Sport and Sport Management
Moray House School of Education and Sport
John Lee headshot

John Lee

Professor of Digital Media
Edinburgh College of Art
Headshot of John Vines

John Vines

Centre Co-Director, Centre for Investing Innovation | Chair of Design Informatics
School of Informatics
Jonny Murray headshot

Jonny Murray

Senior Lecturer in Film and Visual Culture
Edinburgh College of Art
Jules Rawlinson headshot

Jules Rawlinson

Senior Lecturer
Edinburgh College of Art
Julie Cupples headshot

Julie Cupples

Professor and Personal Chair of Human Geography & Cultural Studies
School of GeoSciences
Karen Gregory headshot

Karen Gregory

Senior Lecturer in Sociology
School of Social and Political Science
Kholoud Al Ajarma headshot

Kholoud Al-Ajarma

Alwaleed Lecturer in the Globalised Muslim World | Deputy Director of the Alwaleed Centre
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Lachlan Urquhart headshot

Lachlan Urquhart

Senior Lecturer in Technology Law and Human Computer Interaction
School of Law
Headshot of Laura Cram

Laura Cram

Professor of European Politics and Director of NRLabs Neuropolitics Research
School of Social and Political Science
Lotte Hoek headshot

Lotte Hoek

Professor of Cultural Anthropology
School of Social and Political Science
Louise Connelly headshot

Louise Connelly

Lecturer in Academic Development
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
A woman with long, light brown hair is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a dark-colored top and has a light complexion. The background is plain and white.

Maggie Dwyer

Lecturer in African Studies and International Development
School of Social and Political Science
Marion Schmid headshot

Marion Schmid

Professor of French Literature and Film
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Merlin Seller headshot

Merlyn Seller

Lecturer in Design and Screen Cultures
Edinburgh College of Art
Morgan Currie headshot

Morgan Currie

Senior Lecturer in Data and Society
School of Social and Political Science

Nacim Pak-Shiraz

Professor of Cinema and Iran
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Nason Maani headshot

Nason Maani

Lecturer in Inequalities and Global Health Policy
School of Social and Political Science
Nick Prior headshot

Nick Prior

Professor of Cultural Sociology
School of Social and Political Science
Nicola Osborne headshot

Nicola Osborne

Manager of the Institute for Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art
Oliver Escobar headshot

Oliver Escobar

Chair of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation
School of Social and Political Science
Patrick Theiner

Patrick Theiner

Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
School of Social and Political Science
Paolo Cavaliere headshot

Paulo Cavaliere

Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and IT Law
School of Law
Rachael Craufurd Smith

Rachael Craufurd Smith

Reader in EU Law
School of Law

Rahul Sambaraju

Lecturer in Psychology
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Richard Coyne headshot

Richard Coyne

Professor of Architectural Computing
Edinburgh College of Art

Robert Dunbar

Professor of Celtic & Scottish Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Robin Hill headshot

Robin Hill

Senior Laboratory Manager
School of Informatics
Sabina Savadova headshot

Sabina Savadova

Teaching Fellow in Childhood Studies and Practice
Moray House School of Education and Sport
Sarah Liu headshot

Sarah Liu

Senior Lecturer in Gender and Politics
School of Social and Political Science
Sarah Macissac headshot

Sarah MacIsaac

Lecturer in Physical Education
Moray House School of Education and Sport
Smita Kheria headshot

Smita Kheria

Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law
School of Law
Sumin Zhao

Sumin Zhao 

Lecturer
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Tamara Trodd headshot

Tamara Trodd

Senior Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Art
Edinburgh College of Art

Thomas Molony

Senior Lecturer in African Studies
School of Social and Political Science
Tom Boylston headshot

Tom Boylston

Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology
School of Social and Political Science
Tuğrulcan Elmas headshot

Tuğrulcan Elmas

Lecturer
School of Informatics
Wilfied Swenden headshot

Wilfried Swenden

Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics
School of Social and Political Science
Xuelei Huang headshot

Xuelei Huang

Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Youssef Al Hariri headshot

Youssef Al Hariri

Research Associate
School of Informatics

We carry out research into the political economies of journalism, news organisations, management and elites. We also study changes in journalistic practice, including historical shifts, the entrance of new actors into contemporary journalism, and the rapidly changing relationship of journalism to data and social media. We are interested in the relationship of journalism to different forms of advocacy, including humanitarian and human rights activism, party politics and the creation of ‘fake news’. Finally, our members use innovative, interdisciplinary methods to study audience responses to news and current affairs coverage.

Albert Sharra

Albert Sharra

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Social and Political Science
Alexis Grohmann headshot

Alexis Grohmann

Professor of Contemporary Spanish Literature | Cervantes Professor
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Andrew clausen headshot

Andrew Clausen

Senior Lecturer
School of Economics
Ben Collier headshot

Ben Collier

Lecturer in Digital Methods
School of Social and Political Science
Bronwyn Jones headshot

Bronwyn Jones

Translational Fellow
Edinburgh College of Art
Corentin Curchod headshot

Corentin Curchod

Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management and Organization
Business School
Ebtihal Mahadeen headshot

Ebithal Mahadeen

Lecturer in Gender and Media Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Emma Hunter headshot

Emma Hunter

Professor of Global and African History
School of History, Classics and Archaeology
Ewa Luger headshot

Ewa Luger

Chair of Human-Data Interaction
Edinburgh College of Art
Frauke Zeller headshot

Frauke Zeller

Chair in Design Informatics | Co-Director, Institute of Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art
Kholoud Al Ajarma headshot

Kholoud Al-Ajarma

Alwaleed Lecturer in the Globalised Muslim World | Deputy Director of the Alwaleed Centre
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Paolo Cavaliere headshot

Paulo Cavaliere

Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and IT Law
School of Law
Rachael Craufurd Smith

Rachael Craufurd Smith

Reader in EU Law
School of Law

Rahul Sambaraju

Lecturer in Psychology
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Robert Dunbar

Professor of Celtic & Scottish Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Sarah Liu headshot

Sarah Liu

Senior Lecturer in Gender and Politics
School of Social and Political Science
Wilfied Swenden headshot

Wilfried Swenden

Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics
School of Social and Political Science

We study how social media shapes, and is shaped by, a variety of different issues and practices. These include military conflict and interpersonal violence, health beliefs and behaviour, and political attitudes or events, such as those associated with Brexit. Our members’ interdisciplinary research explores how social media captures audience members’ attention and shapes their emotional and cognitive responses in ways which shape the decisions they make. We also study the cultural and sociological aspects of social media, including humour and ‘digital detoxification’ practices. Some researchers engage with industry bodies to develop software to better cope with the more problematic aspects of social media, such as the dissemination of ‘fake news’.

Albert Sharra

Albert Sharra

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Social and Political Science
Ben Collier headshot

Ben Collier

Lecturer in Digital Methods
School of Social and Political Science
Ben Marder headshot

Ben Marder

Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Director of PGR Programmes
Business School
Beverley Hood headshot

Beverley Hood

Reader in Technological Embodiment and Creative Practice
Edinburgh College of Art
Chase Ledin headshot

Chase Ledin

Lecturer in Social Science and Medicine
Usher Institute
Christian Ilbury

Christian Ilbury

Lecturer in Sociolinguistics
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Clare Llewellyn headshot

Clare Llewellyn

Lecture in Governance, Technology and Data
School of Social and Political Science
Claudia Pagliari headshot

Claudia Pagliari

Senior Lecturer
Usher Institute
Corentin Curchod headshot

Corentin Curchod

Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management and Organization
Business School
Cristian Vaccari headshot

Cristian Vaccari

Chair in Future Governance and Policy and Technology
School of Social and Political Science
Ebtihal Mahadeen headshot

Ebithal Mahadeen

Lecturer in Gender and Media Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Emanuela Patti headshot

Emanuela Patti

Lecturer in Italian
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Eric Laurier headshot

Eric Laurier

Reader in Geography and Interaction
School of GeoSciences
Ewelina Lacka headshot

Ewelina Lacka

Reader in Digital Marketing & Analytics
Business School
Frauke Zeller headshot

Frauke Zeller

Chair in Design Informatics | Co-Director, Institute of Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art
George Hamandishe Karekwaivanane headshot

George Karekwaivanane

Senior Lecturer in African Studies
School of Social and Political Science
Ian Rothwell headshot

Ian Rothwell

Lecturer in Contemporary Art History and Digital Culture
Edinburgh College of Art
James Stewart headshot

James Stewart

Lecturer
School of Social and Political Science
Jennifer Yule headshot

Jennifer Yule

Lecturer in Marketing
Business School
John Lee headshot

John Lee

Professor of Digital Media
Edinburgh College of Art
Headshot of John Vines

John Vines

Centre Co-Director, Centre for Investing Innovation | Chair of Design Informatics
School of Informatics
Julie Cupples headshot

Julie Cupples

Professor and Personal Chair of Human Geography & Cultural Studies
School of GeoSciences
Kholoud Al Ajarma headshot

Kholoud Al-Ajarma

Alwaleed Lecturer in the Globalised Muslim World | Deputy Director of the Alwaleed Centre
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Lachlan Urquhart headshot

Lachlan Urquhart

Senior Lecturer in Technology Law and Human Computer Interaction
School of Law
Headshot of Laura Cram

Laura Cram

Professor of European Politics and Director of NRLabs Neuropolitics Research
School of Social and Political Science
Louise Connelly headshot

Louise Connelly

Lecturer in Academic Development
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
A woman with long, light brown hair is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a dark-colored top and has a light complexion. The background is plain and white.

Maggie Dwyer

Lecturer in African Studies and International Development
School of Social and Political Science
Nason Maani headshot

Nason Maani

Lecturer in Inequalities and Global Health Policy
School of Social and Political Science
Nick Prior headshot

Nick Prior

Professor of Cultural Sociology
School of Social and Political Science
Nicola Osborne headshot

Nicola Osborne

Manager of the Institute for Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art
Patrick Theiner

Patrick Theiner

Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
School of Social and Political Science

Rahul Sambaraju

Lecturer in Psychology
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Robert Dunbar

Professor of Celtic & Scottish Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Robin Hill headshot

Robin Hill

Senior Laboratory Manager
School of Informatics
Sarah Macissac headshot

Sarah MacIsaac

Lecturer in Physical Education
Moray House School of Education and Sport
Smita Kheria headshot

Smita Kheria

Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law
School of Law
Sumin Zhao

Sumin Zhao 

Lecturer
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Thomas Molony

Senior Lecturer in African Studies
School of Social and Political Science
Tuğrulcan Elmas headshot

Tuğrulcan Elmas

Lecturer
School of Informatics
Wilfied Swenden headshot

Wilfried Swenden

Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics
School of Social and Political Science
Youssef Al Hariri headshot

Youssef Al Hariri

Research Associate
School of Informatics

Our members study cinema, documentary film, television and other screen-based media. Some scholars are practitioners who engage in award-winning forms of research-as-practice. Others undertake empirical and theoretical investigations of the ways in which the screen animates social, political, aesthetic and economic relations, drawing on a range of disciplinary and critical perspectives from area studies, the arts and humanities, social anthropology, human geography, international development, and participatory politics. 

Alex Nevill headshot

Alex Nevill

ECA Director of Internationalisation | Lecturer in Film & Moving Image
Edinburgh College of Art
Andrew Connor headshot

Andrew Connor

Lecturer in Design and Digital Media
Edinburgh College of Art
Beverley Hood headshot

Beverley Hood

Reader in Technological Embodiment and Creative Practice
Edinburgh College of Art
Charlotte Bosseaux headshot

Charlotte Bosseaux

Chair of Audiovisual Translation Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Headshot of Charlotte Gleghorn

Charlotte Gleghorn

Senior Lecturer in Latin American Film Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
David Sorfa headshot

David Sorfa

Senior Lecturer in Film Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Emanuela Patti headshot

Emanuela Patti

Lecturer in Italian
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Emma Davie headshot

Emma Davie

Reader
Edinburgh College of Art
Ian Rothwell headshot

Ian Rothwell

Lecturer in Contemporary Art History and Digital Culture
Edinburgh College of Art
Jonny Murray headshot

Jonny Murray

Senior Lecturer in Film and Visual Culture
Edinburgh College of Art
Jules Rawlinson headshot

Jules Rawlinson

Senior Lecturer
Edinburgh College of Art
Julie Cupples headshot

Julie Cupples

Professor and Personal Chair of Human Geography & Cultural Studies
School of GeoSciences
Lotte Hoek headshot

Lotte Hoek

Professor of Cultural Anthropology
School of Social and Political Science
Marion Schmid headshot

Marion Schmid

Professor of French Literature and Film
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Merlin Seller headshot

Merlyn Seller

Lecturer in Design and Screen Cultures
Edinburgh College of Art

Nacim Pak-Shiraz

Professor of Cinema and Iran
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Nicola Osborne headshot

Nicola Osborne

Manager of the Institute for Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art

Robert Dunbar

Professor of Celtic & Scottish Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Tamara Trodd headshot

Tamara Trodd

Senior Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Art
Edinburgh College of Art
Wilfied Swenden headshot

Wilfried Swenden

Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics
School of Social and Political Science
Xuelei Huang headshot

Xuelei Huang

Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

In addition to our work on the visual representation of data, cluster members analyse and design different kinds of digital media, including comics, games and immersive media. They also study how digital media shape the lived experiences, cultures and practices of users, including their interactions with space and place. Finally, cluster members are interested in using digital design to solve problems in the ‘real world’, as well as supporting those working in these areas within the creative industries in several ways, including investigating the application of copyright within online media.

Alex Nevill headshot

Alex Nevill

ECA Director of Internationalisation | Lecturer in Film & Moving Image
Edinburgh College of Art
Andrew Connor headshot

Andrew Connor

Lecturer in Design and Digital Media
Edinburgh College of Art
Beverley Hood headshot

Beverley Hood

Reader in Technological Embodiment and Creative Practice
Edinburgh College of Art
Emanuela Patti headshot

Emanuela Patti

Lecturer in Italian
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Ewa Luger headshot

Ewa Luger

Chair of Human-Data Interaction
Edinburgh College of Art
Ian Rothwell headshot

Ian Rothwell

Lecturer in Contemporary Art History and Digital Culture
Edinburgh College of Art
James Stewart headshot

James Stewart

Lecturer
School of Social and Political Science
John Lee headshot

John Lee

Professor of Digital Media
Edinburgh College of Art
Headshot of John Vines

John Vines

Centre Co-Director, Centre for Investing Innovation | Chair of Design Informatics
School of Informatics
Jules Rawlinson headshot

Jules Rawlinson

Senior Lecturer
Edinburgh College of Art
Lachlan Urquhart headshot

Lachlan Urquhart

Senior Lecturer in Technology Law and Human Computer Interaction
School of Law
Merlin Seller headshot

Merlyn Seller

Lecturer in Design and Screen Cultures
Edinburgh College of Art
Nick Prior headshot

Nick Prior

Professor of Cultural Sociology
School of Social and Political Science
Rachael Craufurd Smith

Rachael Craufurd Smith

Reader in EU Law
School of Law
Richard Coyne headshot

Richard Coyne

Professor of Architectural Computing
Edinburgh College of Art
Robin Hill headshot

Robin Hill

Senior Laboratory Manager
School of Informatics
Sabina Savadova headshot

Sabina Savadova

Teaching Fellow in Childhood Studies and Practice
Moray House School of Education and Sport
Wilfied Swenden headshot

Wilfried Swenden

Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics
School of Social and Political Science

We are interested in how data can be communicated through different kinds of media, how data structures different modes of digital communication, and the effects of data on other socio-economic practices. Our members design different ways to represent data visually, and to encourage ethical participation in the creation of data infrastructure and datasets. We also critique the ways in which algorithms and other kinds of data shape different forms of labour, surveillance, messaging, governance and accountability processes. Finally, our members study how data informs political activism and personal decision-making, as well as the policies of media and other organisations.

Ben Collier headshot

Ben Collier

Lecturer in Digital Methods
School of Social and Political Science
Benjamin Bach headshot

Benjamin Bach

School of Informatics
Beverley Hood headshot

Beverley Hood

Reader in Technological Embodiment and Creative Practice
Edinburgh College of Art
Chase Ledin headshot

Chase Ledin

Lecturer in Social Science and Medicine
Usher Institute
Clare Llewellyn headshot

Clare Llewellyn

Lecture in Governance, Technology and Data
School of Social and Political Science
Claudia Pagliari headshot

Claudia Pagliari

Senior Lecturer
Usher Institute
Corentin Curchod headshot

Corentin Curchod

Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management and Organization
Business School
Ewa Luger headshot

Ewa Luger

Chair of Human-Data Interaction
Edinburgh College of Art
Ewelina Lacka headshot

Ewelina Lacka

Reader in Digital Marketing & Analytics
Business School
Frauke Zeller headshot

Frauke Zeller

Chair in Design Informatics | Co-Director, Institute of Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art
James Stewart headshot

James Stewart

Lecturer
School of Social and Political Science
Jennifer Yule headshot

Jennifer Yule

Lecturer in Marketing
Business School
John Lee headshot

John Lee

Professor of Digital Media
Edinburgh College of Art
Jules Rawlinson headshot

Jules Rawlinson

Senior Lecturer
Edinburgh College of Art
Lachlan Urquhart headshot

Lachlan Urquhart

Senior Lecturer in Technology Law and Human Computer Interaction
School of Law
Headshot of Laura Cram

Laura Cram

Professor of European Politics and Director of NRLabs Neuropolitics Research
School of Social and Political Science
Nicola Osborne headshot

Nicola Osborne

Manager of the Institute for Design Informatics
Edinburgh College of Art
Robin Hill headshot

Robin Hill

Senior Laboratory Manager
School of Informatics
Sabina Savadova headshot

Sabina Savadova

Teaching Fellow in Childhood Studies and Practice
Moray House School of Education and Sport
Sarah Liu headshot

Sarah Liu

Senior Lecturer in Gender and Politics
School of Social and Political Science
Tuğrulcan Elmas headshot

Tuğrulcan Elmas

Lecturer
School of Informatics
Wilfied Swenden headshot

Wilfried Swenden

Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics
School of Social and Political Science

We define political communication broadly: researching the manifold ways in which media shape, and are shaped by, political processes. This includes analysing how social and mainstream media support or undermine effective political participation in Scotland and beyond. It also includes interrogating how media constructs relations between nation states, communities, genders, political parties and other interest groups, especially during armed conflict and post-conflict peace processes. Finally, the persuasive properties of media are a key area of investigation for our researchers, including so-called ‘fake news’, political protests, and other forms of mediated activism, including humanitarian and human rights advocacy.

Albert Sharra

Albert Sharra

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Social and Political Science
Annika Bergman Rosamond headshot

Annika Bergman Rosamond

Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Gender
School of Social and Political Science
Ben Collier headshot

Ben Collier

Lecturer in Digital Methods
School of Social and Political Science
Ben Marder headshot

Ben Marder

Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Director of PGR Programmes
Business School
Beverley Hood headshot

Beverley Hood

Reader in Technological Embodiment and Creative Practice
Edinburgh College of Art
Headshot of Charlotte Gleghorn

Charlotte Gleghorn

Senior Lecturer in Latin American Film Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Clare Llewellyn headshot

Clare Llewellyn

Lecture in Governance, Technology and Data
School of Social and Political Science
Cristian Vaccari headshot

Cristian Vaccari

Chair in Future Governance and Policy and Technology
School of Social and Political Science
Ebtihal Mahadeen headshot

Ebithal Mahadeen

Lecturer in Gender and Media Studies
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Emma Hunter headshot

Emma Hunter

Professor of Global and African History
School of History, Classics and Archaeology
George Hamandishe Karekwaivanane headshot

George Karekwaivanane

Senior Lecturer in African Studies
School of Social and Political Science
Ileana L. Selejan headshot

Ileana L. Selejan

Lecturer in Art History, Culture and Society
Edinburgh College of Art
James Stewart headshot

James Stewart

Lecturer
School of Social and Political Science

John Kelly

Lecturer in Sociology of Sport and Sport Management
Moray House School of Education and Sport
Julie Cupples headshot

Julie Cupples

Professor and Personal Chair of Human Geography & Cultural Studies
School of GeoSciences
Headshot of Laura Cram

Laura Cram

Professor of European Politics and Director of NRLabs Neuropolitics Research
School of Social and Political Science
Nason Maani headshot

Nason Maani

Lecturer in Inequalities and Global Health Policy
School of Social and Political Science
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Oliver Escobar

Chair of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation
School of Social and Political Science
Patrick Theiner

Patrick Theiner

Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
School of Social and Political Science

Rahul Sambaraju

Lecturer in Psychology
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
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Robin Hill

Senior Laboratory Manager
School of Informatics
Sarah Liu headshot

Sarah Liu

Senior Lecturer in Gender and Politics
School of Social and Political Science

Thomas Molony

Senior Lecturer in African Studies
School of Social and Political Science
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Wilfried Swenden

Professor of South Asian and Comparative Politics
School of Social and Political Science

Our external researchers

  • Ella McPherson
    Associate Professor of the Sociology of New Media and Digital Technology, University of Cambridge
  • Nikki Usher
    Associate Professor, Communication, University of San Diego
  • Daniel Kreiss
    Edgar Thomas Cato Distinguished Professor, Hussman School of Media and Journalism. Principal Researcher, Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Work with us

We are open to potential collaborations with other institutions and/or industry partners.

We do not currently offer a Media Communications PhD however we can supervise related studies in our respective disciplines. We welcome contact from potential PhD candidates, who are invited to directly contact relevant researchers. In keeping with our interdisciplinary approach, we encourage applicants to consider having co-supervisors in different disciplines.

Get in touch

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