Hilde Stephansen

Hilde Stephansen is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Westminster, UK. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London, along with an MA in Social Research, BA in Communications and Sociology, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. She is affiliated with the Centre for the Study of Democracy and the Centre for Social Justice Research. Her research focuses on media activism, citizen media, and democratic participation in the digital age, particularly exploring how digital technologies shape public spheres and social movements. Stephansen has conducted fieldwork in Brazil, Norway, and the UK, examining transnational activism and communication practices. She currently supervises PhD students in media activism and public sphere theory. As an Academic Professional Development Fellow (2020-21), she contributes to pedagogical innovation. Her work bridges critical sociology with media studies, emphasizing the role of media practices in fostering participatory democracy.

• Education:
  • PhD in Sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London
  • MA in Social Research, Goldsmiths, University of London
  • BA in Communications and Sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, Goldsmiths, University of London

Research Interests: Stephansen’s work interrogates the intersection of media, communication, and democracy. Key themes include media activism in transnational movements, the evolving nature of public spheres, and the role of digital technologies in knowledge production. She critiques hierarchies of scale in global activism and advocates for inclusive media practices that empower marginalized voices. Current projects include writing a book on Global Media Activism and editing works on citizen media practices.

Grants & Projects: Her research has involved projects such as the EU-funded Creating Publics at the Open University and the Storycircle initiative at Goldsmiths, exploring narrative exchange in digital spaces. She has collaborated internationally, including as a guest researcher at the University of Bergen, Norway.

Labs/Teams: Active in the University of Westminster’s research centers and global networks like the World Social Forum and World Forum of Free Media. She contributes to Routledge series on citizen media and advises on media policy advocacy.