Mass media
Research Topic
Language: English
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Research problems linked to this topic
- What can we learn about news consumption trends, including on which platforms news is consumed, diversity of readership; the role of media literacy in engagement with news; even expectations of what ‘news’ is and how that varies depending on the platform?
- How can we best measure and track media freedom in the UK context building upon existing international work including the RSF’s Media Freedom Index? What does a more detailed development and analysis reveal?
- How does engagement with and perceptions of different media forms shift across demographic characteristics? What interventions could improve engagement?
- What are the impact of existing initiatives to support journalists and improve their safety, in both the UK and abroad, and what does this tell us about what works? What further interventions could be introduced to improve journalist safety in the UK?
- What are the social and cultural impacts of digital engagement and how do they differ from or compliment physical engagement?
- What impact do abuse, threats and violence have on journalists in the UK? What is the most appropriate way to define ‘abuse’, particularly online abuse, of journalists? What are the perceived boundaries between abuse and valid criticism by different stakeholders? What are the potential triggers for journalist abuse in the UK and internationally, including through analysis of online abuse on social media platforms and publisher websites, and the online accounts posting this abuse and wider evidence gathering?
- Is there a link between representation in media and consumption across demographics?
- How diverse and inclusive is the media workforce at all levels and how is this changing over time? What interventions could improve diversity and inclusion in the media workforce?
- What works in terms of improving diversity (defined as representation of protected characteristics and socio-demographic background to the UK population) within the media workforce to bring it closer to being representative of the UK workforce and audiences?
- Human engagement - For future operations, are there alternatives to the use of hard/physical power? How can we best predict behaviour in response to our actions? How do we best engage with diverse communities, particularly where our adversaries may be hiding within the civilian populations? How do we work effectively with our Allies?
- In what ways and why do audiences value audio content? Particularly thinking about the differences between live audio content and on demand.
- Which techniques are best for estimating the effects of interacting risks? How do we ensure that communication of risk is relevant and effective? What lessons can we take from the response to the coronavirus pandemic about the communication of risk and of the need for behavioural change?
- The role and influence of the internet and social media in the radicalisation process and ways to intervene.
- How can we make the most of participatory/ co-design approaches with different groups in society, including digital engagement, to generate new ideas, learn from existing practice, and build consensus for the future of policy?
- How safe are journalists in the UK and how has this changed over time?
- Understanding the effects of mainstream and social media on violence
- Role of mainstream and social media in promoting / countering extremist communication, and in recruitment.
- How do experiences of advertising harm differ across demographics, including across adults and young people?
- How can creative businesses support behaviour change of citizens (and their audiences) to meet net zero targets? What types of information and delivery maximise positive behaviour change?
- Which methodologies could be used to more accurately forecast physical engagement at cultural events?
- Perceptions: What are the effects of perceptions – held by individuals, society, employers, the media – of the justice system? How do perceptions impact on individual behaviours and outcomes?