Sharon Coen

Dr Sharon Coen is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford's School of Health & Society, where she has been working since January 2012. She leads the UK's only MSc in Media Psychology program, attracting students from over 25 countries across six continents. Her academic journey includes a Laurea Degree in Work and Organisational Psychology from Universita' degli Studi di Padova (Italy) and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Sussex (UK).

Dr Coen's research focuses primarily on media communication, journalism, and new media and their role in shaping people's engagement with political and social issues. She has a particular interest in applying media psychology to address climate change and promote related action. Her work spans several key areas including political communication, social media dynamics, climate change communication (especially regarding young people), emotions in journalism, and learning from news media.

Her recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate active scholarship in diverse media psychology topics, from analyzing dark fandoms and parasocial relationships to examining climate communication and political rhetoric. These works reflect her interdisciplinary approach that connects psychology with media studies, political science, and environmental communication. Dr Coen's research output shows consistent productivity with 42 documented research outputs spanning from 2010 to 2025.

As an educator, Dr Coen serves as Program Leader for the MSc Media Psychology and teaches multiple courses at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels. She actively supervises PhD students in specialized areas including Emotions in Journalism, Learning from the News, Media and Intergroup Relations, and Psychology and Climate Change.

Dr Coen's work aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action, reducing inequality, promoting well-being, and building inclusive societies. Her research on climate change communication represents a significant contribution to understanding how psychological approaches can promote action to address the climate emergency.