I draw on theories and methods from applied linguistics, media & communication studies and sociology. I research health & science communication (particularly the topics of obesity, mental health, climate change, sustainability, nitrogen pollution) and developments in news journalism (currently, constructive journalism). I am especially interested in the communication of health & science topics in various media (especially through culturally-embedded frames and metaphors) and in how people discuss health & science topics using various media (and how their communicative practices may vary across cultures).
I am happy to supervise new PhD research projects and I am interested in the following areas: media representations of health and science issues; mediated communication about health and science; metaphor in discourses of health and science; new media genres, particularly examples of constructive journalism; country-comparative studies of the above topics.
Prior to Lancaster, I worked as a Media Consultant at a media analysis and technology company leading pharma and technology projects. I held research positions at Queen Mary, University of London (School of Languages, Linguistics & Film), University of Sheffield (Information School) and University of Leicester (School of Media, Communication & Sociology) and taught on undergraduate and postgraduate modules as an Associate Lecturer at University of Leicester (School of Media, Communication & Sociology). I continue to do occasional media consultancy work for private, public and third sector clients.
Convene:
- LING443 Intercultural Communication (PG)
- LING445 Intercultural Encounters (PG)
Contribute:
- LING232 Understanding Media (UG)
Programme administration:
- Director of Studies for the MA in Discourse Studies, the MA in English Language and Literary Studies, the MA in Intercultural Communication, and the MA in Language and Linguistics
