Muireann Prendergast

Dr. Muireann Prendergast is a Postdoctoral Researcher at South East Technological University, where she is affiliated with the School of Humanities and the Analysing Social Change Research Group. Her work is supported by projects funded by the European Union and the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She holds a PhD from the University of Limerick and has extensive experience in Latin American journalism.

Education:

• PhD in Sociolinguistics (2019), University of Limerick
• Masters in International Communications and Human Rights, University of London
• Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin

Research Interests: Dr. Prendergast’s research explores sociolinguistics, critical discourse analysis (CDA), and media analysis in Latin America. Her work focuses on political humor, media representations of socio-political inequalities, and the role of media in sustaining or challenging dominant memory discourses. She employs corpus tools and CDA to analyze print and digital media, particularly in Argentina, examining issues like dictatorship-era narratives, pandemic reporting, and gender-based violence.

Key Research Themes in Publications: Her recent articles highlight comparative studies of media discourse, such as abortion debates in Ireland and Argentina, pandemic framing of informal settlements, and the interplay between social media and print media in justice-related cases. These studies emphasize the role of media in shaping public perception and addressing social inequalities.

Grants and Collaborations: Dr. Prendergast’s research is supported by EU-funded projects and collaborations with the University of Buenos Aires. She actively mentors PhD students and has contributed to organizing academic events, including the Joint School Postgraduate Research Symposium (2022).

Labs and Teams: She is a core member of the Analysing Social Change Research Group, which investigates sociopolitical dynamics and media’s role in societal transformation.