Ayala Panievsky

Dr Ayala Panievsky is a researcher and writer specializing in the intersection of media, right-wing populism, and democratic backsliding. She currently holds the Presidential Fellow position at the Journalism Department of City St George's, University of London, a Research Associate role at the Sociology Department of the University of Cambridge, and a Research Fellow position at the Centre for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy.

• PhD from Cambridge University
• MPhil in Political Communication (with distinction) from Goldsmiths College
• BA in Journalism and Communication (with distinction) from the Honours Programme at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Ayala’s research explores the challenges journalists face in populist environments, focusing on digital hate, professional norms, and the psychological well-being of journalists. Her work has been recognized through prestigious awards including the ICA Outstanding Dissertation 2024 and the 2023 IJPP Best Article of the Year Award. She is currently working on her first book, The New Censorship, to be published by Footnote Press.

Ayala’s recent publications examine the evolving landscape of journalism in the 2020s, threats to journalist safety, and frameworks for understanding media-audience relationships in populist times. These works highlight trends such as the increasing vulnerability of journalists to digital harassment, the role of professional norms in navigating political criticism, and comparative analyses of antidemocratic populism in Turkey, India, and Israel.

• ICA Outstanding Dissertation 2024
• 2023 IJPP Best Article of the Year Award
• 2023 ICA Wolfgang Donsbach Outstanding Article of the Year Honourable Mention

As a former journalist, Ayala collaborates globally with media professionals to enhance the resilience of news institutions against sophisticated threats to democracy, equality, and justice. Her first book, The New Censorship, will be released next year with Footnote Press, reflecting her commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in the media landscape.