Ella McPherson

Dr. Ella McPherson is an Associate Professor of the Sociology of New Media and Digital Technology at the University of Cambridge's School of the Humanities and Social Sciences, where she also serves as Deputy Head. She is the Anthony L. Lyster Fellow in Sociology at Queens’ College and Co-Director of the Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR), leading its research on human rights in the digital age. Her work bridges academia, policy, and grassroots advocacy, with roles including Special Adviser to the UK House of Lords’ Digital and Communications Committee.

Education: McPherson holds a PhD in Sociology and an MPhil in Latin American Studies from the University of Cambridge, and a BA from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.

Research Focus: McPherson investigates symbolic struggles in media during democratic/digital transitions, emphasizing truth-claims, pluralism, and ethics in technology. Her projects explore human rights fact-finding in the digital age, neo-Luddism, and technology's impact on voice and power. She critically examines how digital practices affect marginalized communities and advocates for self-determination in knowledge production.

Publications: Her recent articles analyze digital assembly, witnessing, and human rights advocacy, highlighting trends in technology's role in social change, verification controversies, and inequalities in digital visibility. Work consistently intersects sociology, law, and media studies.

Awards & Honors:

• Pilkington Teaching Prize (2022)
• Best Paper Award, International Studies Association (2021)
• Technology-Enabled Learning Prize, Cambridge University Press (2020)
• Times Higher Education Award for International Collaboration (2019)

Grants & Leadership: McPherson has secured significant funding (e.g., ESRC, Horizon 2020) for projects like 'The Whistle' (a platform for human rights documentation) and 'End Everyday Racism.' She co-leads Cambridge’s Centre of Governance and Human Rights and advises PhD/MPhil students in media, technology, and human rights sociology.

Labs & Teams: As CGHR Co-Director, she oversees the Cambridge Digital Verification Corps (collaborating with Amnesty International) and founded 'The Whistle,' supporting digital evidence collection for social justice. She also co-leads the 'End Everyday Racism' project mapping racial discrimination through testimonies.