Wayne Hope

Professor Wayne Hope is a distinguished academic in Communication Studies at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), affiliated with the Faculty of Design & Creative Technologies. His research focuses on the political economy of media, global capitalism's temporal dimensions, and media ownership dynamics. He co-directs AUT’s Journalism, Media and Democracy (JMAD) research centre and co-edits the Political Economy of Communication journal. With a PhD in Political Studies from the University of Auckland (1991), his career spans teaching at all academic levels and supervising postgraduate students in media and communication studies.

Key research themes include media concentration’s impact on democracy, liveness in global television, and the intersection of time, capitalism, and communication. Notable works include Time, Communication and Global Capitalism (2016) and annual Aotearoa New Zealand Media Ownership Reports. His analyses often critique corporate media’s role in shaping public discourse on economic and environmental issues.

Professor Hope’s professional activities include editorial roles, keynote presentations on global crises and media futures, and regular media commentary via platforms like The Daily Blog. His teaching contributions include curriculum leadership for media communication courses impacting over 800 students annually. Beyond academia, he engages in cricket, alt-country music, and debating current affairs.