Jennifer Young

Jennifer Young is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Groningen (RUG), affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and the Research Centre for the Study of Democratic Cultures and Politics (DemCP). She holds a PhD in Media Law (University of East Anglia, 2023) and advanced degrees in Law and Literature. Her research focuses on the intersection of humor, free speech, broadcast regulation, and human rights, with particular emphasis on socio-legal methodologies.

Education:

• PhD in Media Law, University of East Anglia (2023)
• MRes in Social Science Research, University of East Anglia (2018, Distinction)
• LLM Media Law, University of East Anglia (2015, Distinction)
• BA English and Latin Literature, University of Warwick (1990)

Research Interests: Jennifer explores how legal frameworks regulate humor, satire, and political discourse in broadcast media. Her work addresses the legal limits of comedy, the chilling effect of regulation on creative expression, and the role of humor in human rights contexts. She has collaborated on projects informing the UN Human Rights Committee's General Comment 37 on peaceful assembly in digital spaces.

Key Contributions: Her recent publications analyze humor in free speech jurisprudence, comparative case law on satire, and hate speech rulings by the European Court of Human Rights. She has presented at international conferences (ISHS, SLSA) and advised broadcasters on editorial compliance.

Awards & Grants:

• ESRC/SeNSS 1+4 Grant (2018–2021)
• HEA Associate Fellowship (2020)

Teaching & Leadership: Jennifer mentors LLM students and teaches modules in Legal Methodology and Media Law. She contributes to academic governance as a member of the Centre for Competition Policy and the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Arts.