Carolina Matos

Carolina Matos is a Professor at City, University of London's School of Communication & Creativity, specializing in media studies, gender politics, and communications research with a particular focus on Brazil and Latin America. Her scholarly work bridges academic inquiry with practical advocacy, especially in the areas of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), feminist media studies, and democratic processes in the Global South.

Dr. Matos's research interests span several interconnected domains:

• Gender politics and feminist media studies, with particular attention to Brazilian and Latin American contexts
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) communications and advocacy across global contexts
• Media democratization and public service broadcasting in Brazil and Latin America
• Digital activism and online networks for social change and gender equality
• Health communication in the age of misinformation, particularly regarding women's health in politically polarized environments
• Journalism's role in democratic processes and political transitions

Her recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a clear trajectory toward examining how marginalized communities, particularly women in the Global South, navigate complex media landscapes around reproductive health. Her methodology frequently employs focus group research designed to empower participants while gathering insights on media consumption and interpretation. She has conducted significant research in partnership with NGOs like Reprolatina in Brazil and Open Arms in Florida, examining how disadvantaged communities process health communications in contexts of political polarization and misinformation.

Dr. Matos has made substantial theoretical contributions through both foundational and recent works:

• Her book "Globalization, gender politics and the media" (2016) examines changing media representations in relation to feminist movements globally
• Her seminal work "Journalism and Political Democracy in Brazil" (2009) analyzes media's critical role in Brazil's democratization process following the military dictatorship
• She has conducted extensive comparative research on how NGOs communicate about SRHR across the Global North and South
• Her research on "New Brazilian feminism and online networks" (2017) documents the emergence of digital feminist activism in Brazil

Her methodological approach consistently combines rigorous academic frameworks with practical applications, often utilizing mixed methods including content analysis, discourse analysis, and participatory research techniques designed to center marginalized voices while advancing scholarly understanding of media, gender, and power dynamics.