The world of news and journalism is, like the media in general, in a period of great change. The spread of new information and communication technologies are having an impact on all aspects of the news production process, from the way reporters gather material for their stories, to the way news content is packaged and presented. There are changes too in the channels and outlets for news and in the way the established media organizations are responding to developments in the global market for news output. The News & Journalism Research Group brings together researchers to explore the impact of these changes on newsrooms, to ask questions about the consequences for the occupations connected with news production, to examine news content, and to study the audiences for news in local, national and global contexts.

Who we are

Academic Staff

Jessica Bain
Vincent Campbell
Roger Dickinson
Barrie Gunter
Anders Hansen
Julian Matthews
Kostas Saltzis
Ian Taylor
Jingrong Tong

Graduate Research Assistants

Dimitrinka Atanasova
Marc Jones

PhD Students

Rahma Al Foori
Ebrahim Hasan
Mokhtar Elereshi
Japhet Mchakulu
Bashir Memon
Letshwiti Tutwane         

Current Projects

Mistakes and malpractice in journalism. (2010) Dickinson, R, 'Making up the news: journalists, deviance and social control in news production'

'Breaking news online: A study on the patterns of news story updates in UK websites', Saltzis, K. Paper to be presented at upcoming 'Future of News Conference' at the University of Cardiff, September 2011

Recent Projects  

‘New Communications and Demonstrations’ was a day symposium hosted at the University of Leicester on 13th July, 2011. The event organised by the British Sociological Association Media Study Group in collaboration with the News and Journalism Research Group at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Leicester, brought together scholars from different disciplines with combined interests in the relationship between the media, protest and demonstration.

UK Review of the News Media 2010. Several research group members have been collaborating over the past few months to compile an overview of key developments, events and issues that have emerged during the past year relating to the UK news industry, its outputs and its audiences.

Theories of journalism as a situated social practice. Dickinson, R (2008) ‘Studying the Sociology of Journalists: The Journalistic Field and the News World’, Sociology Compass, Volume 2, Issue 5, September 2008, 1383-1399.

Why the sociology of journalism matters. Dickinson, R (2007) ‘Accomplishing Journalism: Towards a Revived Sociology of a Media Occupation’ Cultural Sociology July 2007 vol. 1 no. 2, 189-208.

Saltzis, K and Dickinson, R (2008) ‘Inside the changing newsroom: Journalists' responses to media convergence’, Aslib Proceedings, 2008, 60 (3), pp.216-228.

Interested in Doing a PhD?

Members of the research group would be interested in supervising research on a wide range of topics relating to news and journalism. Please follow the links above to individual members' web pages for a list of potential topics.

Interested in getting involved?

Please get in touch with Roger Dickinson