Media and Communications

Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies (CRMCS)

CRMCS provides support and a sense of collective purpose for academic staff and postgraduate students within the fields of media and cultural studies.

We have made strategic efforts to increase recruitment of postgraduate research students, offering a range of funded scholarships from within CRMCS-allocated budget and additionally through participation in the Economic and Social Research Council funded Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP), and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership.

Our research efforts have focused on global societal issues with particular relevance to the north-east of England and Sunderland. We have partnered with local community groups to learn from, inform, and develop an impact that has real importance for Sunderland as well as wider societal value.

We have developed projects with local, national and international creative industry partners which examine, for example, racism in sport, journalism, and online platforms, and have had considerable impact with policymakers, educators and health practitioners.

CRMCS's outward-looking character is evident in the links that staff members have with researchers in other universities, and with networks and organisations at national and international levels. A measure of that reach and significance is the translation of staff outputs into a total of eight other languages in the period.

English

Our research in English focuses on creativity in writing and the professional application of this in real-world contexts.

The team has generated innovative practices in relation to de-colonising the curriculum, screen writing theory, and fiction writing, alongside research in language and literature, regional dialect, and Angelo-Saxon literature.

We have developed a strong research base in the areas of creative writing in the historical fiction and crime genres, transmedia storytelling, gender, and representation in screenwriting, writing biopic and romance for fiction and film, politeness theory, regional cultural history, Gothic, contemporary British and American fictions, and Old English literature. We also contribute to the Humanities research culture in relation to local history, and to the Gender and Sexualities network.

Projects and expertise

• The Seagull City project explores Sunderland’s literary and cultural history, involving research by staff and input from students and the local community. It’s a resource for creative writers and is central to a wider project relating to Black history and other issues of social equality.
  
  
• We have close links with Sunderland City Council and co-run the annual Sunderland Literature Festival.
  
  
• Professor Angela Smith co-edits the Bloomsbury International Library of Gender in Popular Culture and is co-convenor of the Ross Priory Broadcast Talk Seminar Group.
  
  
• Dr Helen Jacey is convenor of the interdisciplinary Creative Writing Research group.

Research students

We have a long-established record of successful PhD students whose research covers areas such as politeness theory, gender, sexuality, and media discourse. The interdisciplinary element of this research means we have strong links with Media and Cultural Studies and with Social Sciences.

We have a growing community of doctoral students are engaged in a diverse range of practice-led creative writing research projects including historical fiction, crime fiction, young adult fiction, and creative non-fiction.

News and events

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Upcoming events