Katharine Sarikakis

Katharine Sarikakis is a Professor of Communication Science specializing in Media Industries, Media Organisation, and Media Governance at the University of Vienna, Austria. She also serves as Director of the Media Governance and Industries Research Lab at the same institution. Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Leeds (2004-2011) where she was Senior Lecturer and Founding Director of the Centre for International Communications Research, Coventry University (1999-2004), and Glasgow Caledonian University (1997-1999).

• Doctor of Philosophy: The role of the European Parliament in the formation of media policies, Glasgow Caledonian University (1997-2001)
• Magistra Artium in Public Communication (major), Sociology (minor) and Political Sciences (minor), Freie Universität Berlin (1995-1997)
• BA (Hons) in Media and Communications Studies and Politics (joint degree), University of Wolverhampton, UK (1992-1995)

Professor Sarikakis's research focuses on communication law and policy, media governance, and European media integration. Her work examines the intersection of media policy with globalization, copyright issues, and feminist perspectives in international communication. She has made significant contributions to understanding how media governance structures operate within European political frameworks and how they respond to digital transformation.

Her publication record reveals a consistent focus on media policy evolution, with recent work examining social media privacy consciousness, migration reporting accountability, and copyright challenges in user-generated content environments. Her scholarship demonstrates a trajectory from traditional media policy analysis toward contemporary digital challenges while maintaining a strong foundation in European governance structures.

• Jean Monnet Chair of European Media Governance and Integration (2016-2019)
• Honorary Research Fellow, University of Hainan, China (2014-)
• Ander Foundation of Media Research Visiting Professor, Karlstad University, Sweden (2009-2010)
• Visiting Research Fellow, McGill Centre for Research and Training in Women (2004)

Professor Sarikakis has supervised 20 PhD students throughout her career and previously served as Vice Director of the PhD Studies Programme at the University of Vienna (2011-2016). Her Media Governance and Industries Research Lab serves as a hub for examining contemporary media policy challenges in Europe. Her collaborative work spans multiple continents, reflecting her international research profile and commitment to cross-cultural media studies.