Catherine Johnson

Professor Catherine Johnson serves as Professor of Media and Communication at the School of Media and Communication, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, University of Leeds. She joined Leeds in August 2023 after holding leadership positions at the University of Huddersfield (including leading REF21 submissions for Media, Journalism and Film) and the University of Nottingham. With over twenty-five years of expertise, her work centers on screen media industries, digital disruption, and media policy, particularly examining public service broadcasting's evolution in the streaming era.

Education:

• PhD in Film and Television Studies, University of Warwick
• MA in Media Studies, University of Sussex
• BA in Drama and Theatre Studies, Royal Holloway University of London
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Southampton

Her research investigates how media industries adapt to technological change through three major projects: the €1.5m CHANSE-funded Public Service Media in the Age of Platforms (PSM-AP) analyzing platform impacts across six countries; a Research England-funded initiative evaluating endangered genres on public service VOD services; and the Routes to Content project exploring audience discovery pathways. This interdisciplinary work combines policy analysis, organizational studies, and audience research to address critical questions about cultural diversity in digital media ecosystems.

Professor Johnson maintains deep industry and policy engagement as DCMS College of Experts member (2022-present), former DCMS Select Committee Special Advisor (2020-2023), and House of Lords evidence provider (2022). She has advised BBC, Channel 4, YouTube, and Ofcom while directing impact initiatives for her School. Her supervision of postgraduate researchers focuses on screen media industries, streaming policy, and audience practices.

Affiliated with Media Industries and Cultural Production, Digital Cultures, and Visual Media and Communication research groups, she collaborates across disciplines including Health Sciences, Midwifery, and Sociology. Her methodological approach integrates policy document analysis, organizational ethnography, and audience studies to produce actionable insights for media stakeholders.