Glenda Cooper

Dr Glenda Cooper is Reader in Journalism Studies and Head of the Department of Journalism at City St George's, University of London, where she leads a team of 25 staff, 50 visiting lecturers, and over 500 students from 53 countries. She holds a PhD in Journalism from City and an MA in English Language and Literature from Oxford, and has played a pivotal role in elevating the BA Journalism programme to 1st place nationally in the Guardian and Complete University Guide (2023), as well as 1st for Graduate Prospects (Sunday Times 2022).

• Education:
• MA in Academic Practice, City, University of London (2022)
• PhD in Journalism, City, University of London
• MA in Creative Writing, City, University of London
• BA (Hons) English Language and Literature, St Hilda's College, University of Oxford
• PG Diploma in Newspaper Journalism, City University of London

Glenda's research focuses on crisis and humanitarian reporting, journalism ethics, live journalism, and the intersection of media and politics, particularly through the legacy of Alistair Cooke’s Letter from America. She has led major funded projects with the British Academy, ESRC, Google Digital News Initiative, and HEIF. Her current research explores AI’s impact on journalism through the DMINR project and innovative storytelling formats via the News on Stage initiative and the Contemporary Narratives Lab.

Her recent publications span topics such as AI in newsrooms, humanitarian scandals (#AidToo), refugee representation, and digital narrative innovation. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining journalism studies with media technology, ethics, performance, and political communication. The articles indicate a growing focus on digital transformation, ethical challenges in sourcing, and the evolving role of journalists in public discourse.

• Scientific Awards and Recognition:
  • Laurence Stern Fellow at the Post (2001)
  • Guardian Research Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford (2006–2007)
  • AURORA Role Model for Future Women Leaders in Academia (2018)

Glenda has supervised PhD students on topics ranging from political communication in Istanbul to the manosphere's influence on journalism. She has been instrumental in curriculum development, notably designing a core ethics module for final-year journalism students. She also serves as Reviews Editor for Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, UK Director of the European Journalism Observatory, and Board Member of The Conversation UK. She co-founded and co-presented the Knowhow podcast, bridging academia and media.

She co-directs the Contemporary Narratives Lab and co-founded the News on Stage project, which merges journalism with theatre through live events such as News Cabaret and News on the Street. Her play Aid Memoir, based on her PhD research, was performed at the Pleasance Theatre and featured in the ESRC Festival of Social Science.