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Steven Barnett is Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, affiliated with the Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI). With over 35 years of experience in media policy analysis at national and international levels, he has advised UK government ministers, served on parliamentary committees, and provided evidence to the European Parliament. His expertise spans media policy, regulation, journalism theory, political communication, and press ethics.
Professor Barnett graduated from Pembroke College, Cambridge in Social and Political Science followed by an MSc at the London School of Economics. Before joining Westminster in 1994, he held positions including founder and director of the Henley Centre's Media Futures research programme (1990-94), Research Fellow at the Broadcasting Research Unit (1985-90), and senior researcher at Consumers Association (1980-85).
His research focuses on public service media, charitable funding models for journalism, media ownership and regulation, press regulation, and the future of the BBC. He has directed over thirty research projects globally, received AHRC grants in 2009-10 and 2014-15, and completed significant studies including two major projects on television coverage of international issues for the Third World and Environment Broadcasting Project (3WE).
Professor Barnett's publication record reveals consistent engagement with critical media issues including media plurality, public service broadcasting, journalism ethics, and media-democracy relationships. His work demonstrates a progression from historical analysis of television journalism to contemporary challenges of digital transformation and regulatory frameworks, with recurring themes around commercial pressures versus public interest in media systems.
- Founded the annual Charles Wheeler award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism
- Member of editorial and management boards of the British Journalism Review
- Served on awards judging panels for the Royal Television Society and Amnesty International
- Member of the advisory board of the Public Benefit Journalism Research Centre
- Board member of Hacked Off
Professor Barnett has successfully supervised 15 doctoral students to completion and currently mentors several PhD candidates. His research has been supported by significant grants including AHRC funding. He maintains strong connections with media practice as a former Observer columnist (2000-2004), frequent media commentator, and advisor to governmental and non-governmental organizations including the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications.
