Fernanda Amaral

Fernanda Amaral is a Visiting Professor at the Leicester Media School, De Montfort University (DMU), and a researcher at the Media Discourse Centre (MDC). Her work focuses on media discourse, voice poverty, state violence, and social movements in marginalized communities, particularly in Brazil’s favelas. She holds a PhD in Media Discourse from DMU, supported by a CAPES international scholarship (~£200,000).

Her research explores how digital tools empower counter-narratives in conflict zones, with a focus on police violence, racial inequality, and pandemic impacts. Key areas include media activism, public sphere theory, and decolonizing media concepts.

Publications highlight her analysis of favela resistance, pandemic-era police brutality, and cross-cultural studies in Iraq, Brazil, and China. She has contributed to edited volumes on journalism, power, and global dissent.

Awards: CAPES international PhD scholarship. Affiliated with LEMRI (Brazil) and NIBRAHC (Brazil).

Teaching areas include Media Discourse and Journalism Studies, reflecting her expertise in social movements and media activism.