Bethia Pearson

Dr Bethia Pearson is a Lecturer in the School of Social & Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow, specializing in human rights, transitional justice, and media dynamics in Latin American democratisation processes. Her work bridges academic research and practical journalism experience.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Politics (University of Glasgow, 2018, ESRC-funded), an MSc in Human Rights and International Politics with distinction (University of Glasgow), a PgDip in Journalism Studies (University of Strathclyde), and an MA in Philosophy (University of Aberdeen).

Pearson's research examines civil society media access during democratic transitions, particularly in Uruguay's transitional justice campaigns. She employs mixed methodologies including content analysis and qualitative interviews, focusing on journalist-source relations and media representation in human rights contexts. Her work reveals how power structures influence media narratives in post-authoritarian societies.

Her publication trajectory shows increasing focus on media capture phenomena across the Global South, with recent work analyzing cognitive media capture in Africa and Latin America. The 2024 edited volume 'Media Capture in Africa and Latin America' establishes her leadership in examining resistance strategies against media monopolisation in transitional democracies.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Economic & Social Research Council PhD Scholarship (2013-2016)

Research funding supports her interdisciplinary work:

• Sociology Small Grants Fund (2019) for 'Local newspapers and their role in communities in Scotland'
• University of Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Funding (2016) on 'Human Rights and media: Reflections for policy-makers'

Pearson supervises PhD candidate Oisin Kealy on activist screening cultures in Latin American human rights movements. She teaches postgraduate courses in Media, Communication and Journalism and Equality and Human Rights programs. As Steering Group member of the Glasgow Human Rights Network and participant in the Glasgow Latin America Research Network, she connects academic work with policy communities.