Skip to:

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to accessibility
City, University of London
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
Search
Menu
Home
  • Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
        • Undergraduate
        • Apprenticeship
        • Information for teachers
        • Postgraduate taught
        • Postgraduate research
          • Preparing your application
            • Preparing your research proposal
          • All PhD research projects
        • Booking Short Courses
          • Business and Management Short Courses
          • Computing Short Courses
          • Creative Industry Short Courses
          • Creative Writing Short Courses
            • The Novel Studio published alumni
          • Law Short Courses
          • Languages Courses Online | Languages Courses in London
      • Prospectus
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
      • Visas
        • Student visas
          • Applying from outside the UK
          • Applying from within the UK
          • Applying for a dependant visa
          • Preparing your application
          • Working in the UK
        • Standard Visitor visas
          • How to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa
          • Non-visa nationals
        • ATAS certificates
        • Brexit and European nationals
      • Study abroad programmes
        • Study abroad programme
        • Partnership programme
      • Clearing
        • Applying through Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
        • Foundation programmes
        • Second-year students
        • Work experience
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
        • Payment methods
        • Fee schedules
        • Deposit refunds
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Clearing
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
        • Finding a place to live
        • Accommodation for families
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
        • Undergraduate online events
        • Postgraduate online events
        • Ask a student
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
        • Sport clubs
        • Non-competitive sport
        • Competitive sport
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
        • Your health and wellbeing
        • Learning support
        • Young, estranged students
        • Care leavers
        • Young adult carers
        • Personal tutoring programme
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
        • Micro-placements
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
        • Research ethics
          • Principles
          • Approval process
          • Approval outcomes and appeals
          • External ethics approvals
        • Ethics guidance and resources
          • Participant information and consent
          • Recruiting participants from City
          • Records management
          • Research conducted abroad
          • FAQ
        • Research integrity
          • Framework for good practice in research
          • Research misconduct
      • Research data
        • Managing active research data
        • Digital research data and Figshare
      • Researcher development
    • City Doctoral College
      • About us
      • Doctoral Training Resources
        • Researcher Development Programme (DRDP)
      • Student Journey
      • Scholarships and Funding
      • For Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
        • One-to-one startup advice
        • The Good Entrepreneur Festival
        • Startup Camp
        • Startup Seminars
        • Side Hustle
        • CitySpark Workshops
      • Launch your startup
        • Start-up visa
        • Launch Lab
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
        • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
        • What is the apprenticeship levy?
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
        • Become a mentor
        • Employer engagement events
        • Micro-Placements
        • Industry Led Projects
      • Information for placement partners
        • Speech and Language Therapy training
  • Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Alumni Events
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
        • City Alumni LinkedIn groups
        • MENA Alumni Board
        • US Alumni Board
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
        • WeChat social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy & Global Affairs
        • About the School
          • Athena Swan
        • Department of Economics
        • Department of International Politics
        • Department of Sociology and Criminology
          • Postgraduate Sociology at City
      • School of Communication & Creativity
        • About the School
          • Athena Swan
          • Creatives in Residence
        • Department of Journalism
          • James Cameron Memorial Lecture
            • Lectures
            • Special awards
            • Winners
        • Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries
          • English, Publishing and Creative Writing
          • Culture and the Creative Industries
          • Library and Information Science
          • Media and Communications
        • Department of Performing Arts
        • The Centre for Language Studies
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health & Psychological Sciences
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Selection Process
          • Occupational Health Checks
          • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check (formerly CRB)
          • MSc Nursing - RPL
          • Reference request
        • Department of Health Services Research and Management
          • Health Services Management at City
        • Department of Language and Communication Science
        • Department of Midwifery and Radiography
          • Radiography undergraduate learning contract
          • Postgraduate Midwifery at City
          • Radiography at City
        • Department of Nursing
        • Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences
        • Department of Psychology
      • School of Science & Technology
        • About the School
          • Athena Swan
          • Aviation Management at City
          • Civil Engineering at City
          • Computer Science at City
          • Cyber Security MSc courses at City
          • Energy MSc courses at City
          • Library and Information Science at City
          • Maritime Management at City
          • Placements and internships
            • Placement and internship schemes
        • Department of Computer Science
        • Department of Mathematics
          • Potential PhD projects
        • Department of Engineering
      • The City Law School
        • Academic programmes
          • Undergraduate degree LLB
          • Graduate Entry Law GE LLB
          • Graduate Diploma in Law GDL
          • Master of Laws (LLM)
        • Professional programmes
        • Research and Scholarship
        • Athena Swan in The City Law School
        • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at The City Law School
        • Barrister training
          • Bar Training
          • Pupillage Advice Service
        • Solicitor training
          • Future Solicitor Advisory Service (FSAS)
          • The Solicitors' Qualifying Exam (SQE)
        • Law in real life (Law IRL)
          • Legal work placements
          • Court visits
          • Mock Trials
        • About The School
          • Prizes from The City Law School
          • Global Engagement
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Academic excellence
        • Rankings
        • Education
          • Flexible learning spaces
          • Active and collaborative learning
          • Term dates
        • Student statistics
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
        • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
        • Data and objectives
        • Staff networks
        • Digital Accessibility
      • Sustainable development
        • Get involved
        • Environmental Impact and Performance
      • Civic engagement
      • Social responsibility
        • Social responsibility in our outreach
        • Social responsibility in action
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
        • Audit and Risk Committee
        • Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee
        • Remuneration Committee
        • Strategy and Finance Committee
        • Development Committee
      • Senate
        • Board of Studies
        • Collaborative Provision Committee
        • Educational Quality Committee
        • Research and Enterprise Committee
        • Senate Research Ethics Committee
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
        • Financial Summary
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
        • Coronavirus accommodation information
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
  • Prospective students
    Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
      • Prospectus
      • Visas
      • Study abroad programmes
      • Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
      • Research data
      • Researcher development
    • City Doctoral College
      • About us
      • Doctoral Training Resources
      • Student Journey
      • Scholarships and Funding
      • For Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
      • Launch your startup
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
      • Information for placement partners
  • Alumni and supporters
    Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Alumni Events
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy & Global Affairs
      • School of Communication & Creativity
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health & Psychological Sciences
      • School of Science & Technology
      • The City Law School
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Academic excellence
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
      • Sustainable development
      • Civic engagement
      • Social responsibility
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
      • Senate
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
  1. Home
  2. …
  3. People
  4. Academics
  5. Professor Suzanne Franks
People
  • Academics
  • Research students
  • Students
  • Honorary graduates
  • Past students
  • Professional Services staff
  • International agents and representatives
  • Senior people
  • Extraordinary women

Professor Suzanne Franks

Professor of Journalism

School of Communication & Creativity Department of Journalism

Contact details

  • +44 (0)20 7040 3314
  • suzanne.franks.1@city.ac.uk
  • @suzannehfranks

Address

Professor Suzanne Franks A131, College Building [A]
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
  • About
  • Research
  • Publications
  • Professional activities

About

Overview

Professor Suzanne Franks was head of the department of Journalism at City between 2016 and 2019 and since 2020 she has continued to teach and conduct research in the department.

She read PPE at Oxford and spent a year as a Kennedy Scholar in the Government Department at Harvard University. She worked briefly in Washington DC for a public interest group before taking up a traineeship at the BBC. She joined the Television Current Affairs department, producing programmes such as Newsnight, Watchdog, The Money Programme and Panorama. As a Senior Producer she edited election programmes, budget coverage and live special programmes such as the party conferences. She was also awarded a Nuffield Fellowship to study the development of satellite television in India.

In the 1990s she left the BBC to start an independent production company, Sevenday Productions, which amongst other activities was awarded the first outside contract for the televising of Parliament. She was based in Westminster, responsible for all the coverage from the Lords, Commons and committees until 2001. The company also developed a web business specialising in political coverage and was awarded the first webcasting contract from Downing Street. The business was sold in 2004 and Suzanne moved to the University of Westminster to join the BBC history project working on volume 6 (1974-87). As part of the project she completed an AHRC funded PhD in 2007 on foreign reporting, 'Famine, Politics Aid and the Media.'

In 2008 she took up an appointment at the University of Kent - she was Director of Research in the newly established Centre for Journalism and also a Senior Lecturer in Political Communication in the School of Politics and International Relations.

Professor Franks was appointed to a chair in Journalism at City University London in 2012 and until 2016 she was director of the undergraduate programme. She also supervises PhD students and contributes to the research output in Journalism. She was PI in an EU Horizon 2020 consortium on improving the reporting of science and she led an impact case study on female expertise in news broadcasting. She received two GCRF grants linked to these projects, one investigating the role of women experts in Ghana and the other researching science journalism in South Africa.

In 2014 she was an Erasmus visiting scholar in the Journalism School, University of California, Berkeley and in 2015 she was a visiting fellow at the Reuter's Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford.
Suzanne has published widely in books and articles, on topics including gender, the history of the media and reporting international news.

Suzanne Franks' Academia.edu page.

Media appearances
- Regular live broadcasting experience, including appearances on: Channel 4 News, The Politics Show, CBC Radio, Al Jazeera Press Review, German Radio, BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour, Start the Week, Broadcasting House, Thinking Allowed, The Media Show, PM, Today, Feedback, Archive Hour and the Victoria Derbyshire Show.
- Participated in BBC World Service features programmes, Radio 5 discussions and regular local radio appearances.

Press articles
- Written articles and reviews in a range of publications, including: TES, Times Higher Education, The Guardian, Evening Standard, The Independent, Prospect, The Scotsman, Broadcast, New Statesman, The Observer, Daily Mail, Jewish Quarterly

- Also an occasional blogger including for NiemanLab, The New Statesman, BBC Academy, The Conversation.

Suzanne Franks' BBC Academy Blog

The Conversation

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Westminster, United Kingdom, 2007
  • MA Hons First Class in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Employment

  • External programme assessor, University of Essex, Nov 2022 – Jan 2023
  • Phd external examiner, University of Westminster, May – Jul 2021
  • External Phd examiner, University of Bournemouth, Dec 2020
  • External Phd examiner, Cardiff University, Sep 2020 – Sep 2021
  • External assessor, University of Cyprus, Nov 2019
  • External Assessor, University of Tartu, Oct 2018 – Oct 2019
  • External assessor, Tallinn University, Oct 2018
  • external examiner Phd, Goldsmiths, University of London, Mar 2017
  • external examiner PhD, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, Nov 2016
  • External Examiner Phd, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, Mar 2016
  • External Examiner Phd, Goldsmiths University of London, Feb 2015
  • External Assessor, Teesside University, Mar 2014
  • External Examiner Phd, University of the West of Scotland, Oct 2013
  • External Examiner, Unniversity of East Anglia, Jan 2011 – Jan 2014

Languages

French (can read, speak and understand spoken) and German (can read, speak and understand spoken).

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

Humanitarian Communication
Dissertation and Project Supervision

Research

Research interests

- Media and development
- The coverage of humanitarian disasters
- The relationship between media and aid
- Political communication
- The history of the BBC
- Women and the media

Research students

Merle Van Berkum

Attendance: Oct 2020 – present, full-time

Thesis title: Reporting Climate Change in the Global South

Role: 1st Supervisor

Leon Hawthorne

Attendance: Oct 2020 – present, full-time

Thesis title: ‘TALKING HEADS’ The aesthetics of anthropomorphic faces generated by artificial intelligence for the delivery of personalised news content.

Role: 1st Supervisor

Joanna Payton

Attendance: Sep 2020 – present

Thesis title: Creativity in Journalism education

Role: 1st Supervisor

Joshy Thumpakattu

Attendance: Oct 2017 – Apr 2021, full-time

Thesis title: BBC Online coverage of India

Role: 1st Supervisor

Katie Toms

Attendance: Feb 2016 – May 2020, full-time

Thesis title: Obscenity versus objectification: a study of the impact and significance of the Leveson inquiry and report on the visual representation of women in UK print media

Role: 1st Supervisor

Further information: http://www.city.ac.uk/arts-social-sciences/journalism/journalism-research-students/katie-toms/_nocache

Agnieszka Morris

Attendance: Oct 2012 – Jul 2016

Thesis title: BBC Polish Service during the Second World War

Role: 1st Supervisor

Further information: completed

Lisette Johnson

Attendance: Sep 2012 – Jun 2016, full-time

Thesis title: UGC and BBC Reporting of Syrian Conflict

Role: 1st Supervisor

Sunthai Constantini

Attendance: Mar 2011 – Jan 2015

Thesis title: The Political Communication of Hugo Chavez

Role: 1st Supervisor

Publications

Featured publications

  1. Franks, S. (2013). Reporting Disasters - Famine Aid Politics and the Media. C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84904-288-8.
  2. Franks, S. (2013). Women and Journalism. I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78076-585-3.

Publications by category

Books (5)

  • Bunce, M., Franks, S. and Paterson, C. (Eds.), (2016). Africa's Media Image in the 21st Century: From the 'Heart of Darkness' to 'Africa Rising'. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-96232-3.
  • Wolf, T. and Franks, S. (2002). Get out of my life. But first take me and Alex into town. A Parent's guide to the new teenager. London, New editions 2008, 2014, 2020: Profile Books. ISBN 1-86197-341-1.
  • Franks, S. (1999). Das Märchen von der Gleichheit. Deutscher Verlag Anstalt. ISBN 978-3-421-05312-1.
  • Franks, S. (1999). Having None of It. Granta Books. ISBN 978-1-86207-164-3.
  • Chippindale, P. and Franks, S. (1991). Dished! Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-71077-4.

Chapters (14)

  • Franks, S. and Toms, K. (2021). Representing women: Challenges for the UK media and beyond. The Routledge Companion to Journalism Ethics (pp. 227–234). ISBN 978-0-429-26270-8.
  • Franks, S. and Howell, L. (2019). Seeking women's expertise in the UK broadcast news media. In carter, C., steiner, L. and Allan, S. (Eds.), Journalism, Gender and Power (pp. 49–62). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-89536-2.
  • Franks, S. (2017). Reporting Humanitarian Narratives. The Routledge Companion To Media and Humanitarian Action (pp. 189–199). Routledge.
  • Bunce, M., Franks, S. and Paterson, C. (2017). A new Africa's Media Image? Introduction. AFRICA'S MEDIA IMAGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY: FROM THE HEART OF DARKNESS TO AFRICA RISING (pp. 1–13). ISBN 978-1-138-96232-3.
  • Bunce, M., Franks, S. and Paterson, C. (2016). Introduction: A New Africa’s Media Image? In Bunce, M., Franks, S. and Paterson, C. (Eds.), Africa's Media Image in the 21st Century: From the 'Heart of Darkness' to 'Africa Rising' (pp. 1–14). London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-96231-6.
  • Franks, S. (2015). From Pictures to Policy. How Does Humanitarian Reporting have an influence? In Cottle, S. and Cooper, G. (Eds.), Humanitarianism Communications and Change (pp. 153–166). Peter Lang. ISBN 978-1-4331-2526-3.
  • Franks, S. (2015). Women Finding Their Place at the BBC. In Mair, J., Tait, R. and Keeble, R. (Eds.), The BBC Today. Future Uncertain (pp. 244–253). Abramis. ISBN 978-1-84549-656-2.
  • Franks, S. (2014). Sweet Partings. Is the BBC in Crisis? Aramis.
  • Franks, S. (2011). Time to go beyond stale stereotypes. In Berger, G. (Ed.), Media in Africa. Twenty Years after the Windhoek Declaration Media Institute of Southern Africa.
  • Franks, S. (2011). What is 'foreign reporting'? At Home and Abroad - No longer 'here and not there' but everywhere. In pińska, A.S. (Ed.), News in Europe, Europe on News Logos. ISBN 978-3-8325-2703-7.
  • Franks, S. (2008). The BBC and Trust - Lessons from History. In Mair, J. (Ed.), Beyond Trust Abramis. ISBN 978-1-84549-341-7.
  • Franks, S. (2006). 'Lacking a Clear Narrative: Foreign Reporting after the Cold War. In Lloyd, J. and Seaton, J. (Eds.), What can be done? Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-3693-8.
  • Franks, S. (2000). Unsichtbare Arbeit: Der Geschlechter-Evergreen? In Engelmann, J. and Wiedemeyer, M. (Eds.), Kursbuch Arbeit ISBN 978-3-421-05427-2.
  • Franks, S. (2000). Re-thinking Work. In Rutherford, J. (Ed.), The art of life Lawrence And Wishart Ltd.

Conference paper/proceedings

  • Maiden, N., Zachos, K., Franks, S., Wells, R. and Stallard, S. (2020). Designing Digital Content to Support Science Journalism. NordiCHI '20: Shaping Experiences, Shaping Society.

Journal articles (36)

  • Joubert, M., van Zuydam, L. and Franks, S. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 on science journalists in South Africa: Investigating effects, challenges, quality concerns and training needs. Journal of African Media Studies, 15(1), pp. 111–129. doi:10.1386/jams_00095_1.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Franks, S., Joubert, M., Wells, R. and van Zuydam, L. (2022). Beyond Cheerleading: Navigating the Boundaries of Science Journalism in South Africa. Journalism Studies pp. 1–20. doi:10.1080/1461670x.2022.2141820.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Franks, S., Wells, R., Maiden, N. and Zachos, K. (2022). Using computational tools to support journalists’ creativity. Journalism, 23(9), pp. 1881–1899. doi:10.1177/14648849211010582.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Mannino, I., Bell, L., Costa, E., Di Rosa, M., Fornetti, A., Franks, S. … Zollo, F. (2021). Supporting quality in science communication: insights from the QUEST project. Journal of Science Communication, 20(03). doi:10.22323/2.20030207.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Davies, S.R., Franks, S., Roche, J., Schmidt, A.L., Wells, R. and Zollo, F. (2021). The landscape of European science communication. Journal of Science Communication, 20(03). doi:10.22323/2.20030201.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Olesk, A., Renser, B., Bell, L., Fornetti, A., Franks, S., Mannino, I. … Zollo, F. (2021). Quality indicators for science communication: results from a collaborative concept mapping exercise. Journal of Science Communication, 20(03). doi:10.22323/2.20030206.
  • Franks, S. (2018). ‘Please Send Us Your Money’: The BBC’s Evolving Relationship With Charitable Causes, Fundraising and Humanitarian Appeals. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, 38(4), pp. 863–879. doi:10.1080/01439685.2017.1412919.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Franks, S. and O'Neill, D. (2018). This sporting life. Why so few women sports writers. Journalism Education, 6(3), pp. 42–53.
  • Franks, S. (2017). We have seen his type before. British Journalism Review, 28(1), pp. 27–29. doi:10.1177/0956474817697584.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Franks, S. and O’Neill, D. (2016). Women reporting sport: Still a man’s game? Journalism, 17(4), pp. 474–492. doi:10.1177/1464884914561573.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Franks, S. (2016). Gender Imbalance on Sports Desks at UK Newspapers. Media Report to Women, 44(1), pp. 12–24.
  • Franks, S. (2014). Famines are not a simple story. British Journalism Review, 25(3), pp. 61–67.
  • Franks, S. (2013). Inserting Political Understanding into the Humanitarian Narrative. Sociological Della Comunicazione, 45.
  • Franks, S. (2012). BBC reporting in India in the 1970s and 1980s: globally connected media ahead of its time. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, 32(2).
  • Franks, S. (2012). Global media and the War on Terror: Why some wars matter. Journal of African Media Studies, 4(1). doi:10.1386/jams.4.1.5_7.
  • Franks, S. (2011). Attitudes to women in the BBC in the 1970s: Not so much a glass ceiling as one of reinforced concrete. Westminster Papers in Culture and Communication, 8(3).
  • Franks, S. (2010). The neglect of Africa and the power of aid. International Communication Gazette, 72(1), pp. 71–84. doi:10.1177/1748048509350339.
  • Franks, S. (2010). Why Bob Geldof has got it wrong. British Journalism Review, 21(2).
  • Franks, S. (2010). Globalising consciousness: The end of "foreign" reporting and no more foreign secrets. Ethical Space: the international journal of communication ethics, 7(4).
  • Franks, S. and Ribet, K. (2009). China-Africa media relations. Global Media and Communication, 5(1), pp. 129–136. doi:10.1177/1742766508101318.
  • Franks, S. and Seaton, J. (2009). Is Saving the World journalism's job? British Journalism Review, 20(2).
  • LE GRAND, J., WILSON, R., FRANKS, S., BURNS, A., MOORE, M. and BARNETT, S. (2008). Trustworthiness: the Commentators. The Political Quarterly, 79(3), pp. 314–323. doi:10.1111/j.1467-923x.2008.00934.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Franks, S. (2008). Aid Agencies - are we trusting too much? Political Quarterly, 79(3).
  • Franks, S. (2008). Getting into Bed with Charity. British Journalism Review, 19(3).
  • Riddell, P., O'Neill, O., Hutton, W., Franks, S., Moore, M., Purvis, S. … Tench, D. (2007). Tony Blair's 'media' speech: The commentators. POLITICAL QUARTERLY, 78(4), pp. 488–498. doi:10.1111/j.1467-923X.2007.00878.x.
  • Franks, S. (2007). The Media and the charitable impulse. Political Quarterly, 78(4).
  • Franks, S. (2007). India's Angst. It's access all areas. British Journalism Review, 18(2).
  • FRANKS, S. (2006). The CARMA Report: Western Media Coverage of Humanitarian Disasters. The Political Quarterly, 77(2), pp. 281–284. doi:10.1111/j.1467-923x.2006.00771.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  • Franks, S. (2006). Western Media Coverage of Humanitarian Disasters. Political Quarterly, 77(2).
  • Franks, S. (2006). How Famine Captured the Headlines. Media History, 12.
  • Franks, S. (2005). Our Common Interest. Reporting of the Commission for Africa. Political Quarterly, 76(3).
  • Franks, S. (2005). Reporting Africa: Problems and Perspectives. Westminster Papers in Culture and Communication, Special Issue.
  • Franks, S. (2005). The Neglect of Africa. British Journalism Review, 16.
  • Franks, S. (2004). The World on the Box: International Issues in News and Factual Programmes. Political Quarterly, 75.
  • Franks, S. (1995). Televising Parliament: Five Years on. Parliamentary Affairs: devoted to all aspects of parliamentary democracy, 48.
  • Franks, S. (1987). The lost tribe of Manipur. Jewish Quarterly Review, 34(3), pp. 32–34. doi:10.1080/0449010X.1987.10703771.

Report

  • Davies, S.R., Franks, S., Jensen, A.M., Mannino, I., Schmidt, A.L., Wells, R. … Zollo, F. Project QUEST: D1.1: Summary report: European Science Communication today..

Professional activities

Events/conferences (33)

  1. Future of Journalism Conference Cardiff. Cardiff University (2019). Panel Member.
    Paper: Use of AI in Reporting Science
    Author: Franks S
    Co-authors: Wells R
  2. World Conference on Journalism Education. Paris (2019). Panel Member.
  3. York Festival of Ideas. York University (2019). Panel Member.
    Paper: Discussion on Fake News
  4. AEJMC. (Conference) Washington DC (2018). Panel Member. Invited speaker.
    Paper: Online Safety of Female Journalists
    Author: Franks S
  5. World Food Programme symposium on the use of images in reporting hunger and famine. World Food Programme Rome (2017).
  6. Web Summit. Lisbon (2017). Panel Member. Invited speaker.
    Paper: Tech, Media and Politics. Will the Circle be Broken
  7. The Moral Economy of Famine. (Workshop) University College London (2016).
    Paper: Reporting the F..... Word. Aid and the Media
  8. ECREA 2016. Prague (2016).
    Description: Panel on Africa's image in the International Media
  9. IAMCR 2016. Leicester (2016).
    Description: Panel and event on launch of 'Africa's Media Image in the Twenty First Century'
  10. ICA 2016. Fukuoka, Japan (2016).
    Description: Paper on the history and evolution of charitable appeals by the BBC.
    " Please send us your money."
    Panel on Africa's Media Image in the 21st Century.
  11. Everyday Humanitarianism. LSE (2016).
    Description: Plenary panel on Celebrity Humanitarianism
  12. Reporting the Refugee Crisis. Frontline Club (2015).
    Description: Participated in Panel debate on the refugee crisis for the launch of the 2016 Orwell Prize
  13. Humanitarianism and the Media 1900 - 2015. St Anthony's College Oxford (2015).
    Description: Presented paper on Public Service Broadcasting and Humanitarian Crises
  14. ICA San Juan 2015. San Juan, Puerto Rico (2015).
    Description: Presented a paper on 'Women Reporting Sport, Still a Man's Game?'
  15. Twenty Five Years After. Prague (NYU Campus) (2014).
    Description: Presented paper on Changing Narratives in reporting developing world after the end of the Cold War.
  16. ECREA conference Lisbon 2014. Lisbon (2014).
    Description: Panel presentation on women and media across Europe
  17. Is the BBC in Crisis? Media Society - Adam Street Club (2014).
    Description: Book launch and panel discussion
  18. Stumbling Over Humanity. Kings Place (2014).
    Description: Public Talk
  19. Reporting Africa Impartiality Seminar. (2013).
    Description: Presentation to BBC Trust.
  20. Reporting Food Insecurity in the Horn of Africa. (2013).
    Description: Presentation to Chatham House Seminar.
  21. The Internet and The Making of the Modern Self - Presentation on Online Abuse. Frontline Club London (2013).
    Description: Event to Launch Orwell Prize 2014.
  22. ICA Annual Conference London 2013. London (2013).
    Description: Presented paper to panel on Afro-Pessimism.
  23. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism seminar series. Oxford University (2012).
    Description: Presented paper on Women and Journalism.
  24. African Studies Association Conference. University of Leeds (2012).
    Description: Presented paper on Reporting Famine.
  25. China Africa Network. Oxford University (2012).
    Description: Presentation on Chinese media interventions in Africa
  26. Humanitarian Reporting. Missing out on the Politics? Brno, Czech Republic (2012).
    Description: Media and Politics Section of Political Studies Association, November 2012
  27. Axess programme on Journalism and Democracy. Oxford (2011).
    Description: Panels on media and development and media ownership.
  28. Axess programme on Journalism and Democracy. Stockholm (2010).
    Description: Panels on media and development and media ownership.
  29. Global Media and the War on Terror Conference. Westminster University (2010).
    Description: Presented paper on coverage of Africa.
  30. Political Studies Association, Media and Politics Conference on Trust. Strathclyde University (2009).
  31. The Crisis in Journalism Conference. Coventry University (2009).
  32. Conference on Foreign News on TV: Proximity and Distance. Adam Miciewicz University, Poznan (2009).
  33. International Association of Media History, biennial conference. Aberystwyth University (2009).

Keynote lectures/speeches (5)

  1. Making News and Shaping Reviews. Riding the rollercoaster of the Digital Revolution. Sunway University, Kuala Lumpa (2020). Jeffrey Cheah Distinguished Lecture series.
  2. Global Humanitarian and Media Culture. University of Sussex (2015). Keynote lecture to conference on Humanitarianism and Media Culture.
  3. Media and Cultural Studies, Where are we now? Bournemouth University (2014). Keynote address to MECCSA annual conference
  4. From Pictures to Policy. Reporting Famine and Other Disasters. City University London (2013). Inaugural Professorial Lecture
  5. Beyond Humanitarian Narratives. Bologna (2013). Keynote speaker to Symposium at Bologna University.

Media appearances (11)

  1. Feedback Radio 4. Interview on the reporting of the Extinction Rebellion protests about climate change
  2. BBC 1 News at Ten. Interviewed about Conservative Leadership Debates and 'controversies about members of the public' who are selected to ask questions
  3. Victoria Derbyshire Show. DIscussion on media coverage of Meghan Markle and royals
  4. Discussion on Fake News. Today Programme discussion on Fake News
  5. Al Jazeera the Listening Post. Contributor to Item on Murdoch bid for takeover of Sky
  6. Al Jazeera Press Review. International Womens Day Press Review
  7. BBC Radio 4 Women's Hour. Discussion on BBC gender pay revelations
  8. The Media Show Radio 4. Interview and discussion hosted by Steve Hewlett about women in news and current affairs, arising from House of Lords enquiry.
  9. The Female Pioneers. Women on Air. 5 part series for Radio 4 on the emergence of female voices on Radio, both as presenters and contributors, starting with the early days of the BBC in the 1920s.
  10. The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4. Discussion on new exhibition on Propaganda at the British Library
  11. BBC World News. Interviewed about dismissal of female editors of New York Times and Le Monde

Online articles (9)

  1. Guardian Development network blog on reporting of Famine. (2014). Guardian Article in paper and online on 30th anniversary of BBC reporting of Ethiopian Famine
  2. Guardian Development Network. (2014). Guardian Article on use of the hashtag #bringbackourgirls and its impact
  3. Life Before and After Facebook. (2015). Guardian
  4. Women Hit the Headlines in Sport. Why aren't there more writing about it? (2016). Guardian
  5. Why are there (almost) no women in sports journalism? (2015). European Journalism Observatory
  6. Touching Every Aspect of Life
    Review of Media Education Manifesto.
    (2019). Times Higher Education
  7. Apostles of Certainty - book review. (2019). Times Higher Education
  8. Review of Democracy without Journalism. (2020). Times Higher
  9. Objectively Engaged Journalism: An Ethic. (2020). Times Higher Education

Radio programmes (2)

  1. BBC RAdio 4 PM programme. Radio 4 Interview on media reporting of knife crime
  2. Archive Hour. BBC Radio 4 Britain and Biafra - 50 years on

Television programmes (6)

  1. Newsnight. BBC 2 Television Future of BBC in the light of DG Tony Hall decision to leave
  2. Al Jazeera Press Review. Al Jazeera Arabic Interviewed for the Press Review slot on the news channel
  3. Press review. Al Jazeerah REview of international press and interview on the proposed takeover by Trinity Mirror group of Express titles
  4. Today Programme. BBC Radio 4 Discussion about avoiding the news and whether that is desirable
  5. BBC Breakfast News and BBC News. BBC 1 Interviewed on the changing consumption of news - on the occasion of the 20th annivesrary of BBC Online and BBC News 24
  6. BBC Newswatch. BBC1 / BBC News Channel Interview in studio on the issues raised by broadcast appeals for humanitarian crises, arising out of the Disasters Emergency Appeal for the Ebola crisis in West Africa

Other (10)

  1. External evaluator University of Cyprus, University of Cyprus (Nov 2019).
  2. Chair of juries for RTS Journalism Awards, Royal Television Society (Jan 2018 – present).
  3. World Food Programme symposium on the use of imagery in representation of food insecurity
    Rome December 2017.
  4. Competition and Markets Authority consultation on the proposed takeover of Sky by Fox - gave evidence to the session on media plurality
    October 2017.
  5. Brexit and the Media Conference October 10 2019
    Panel on lessons to be learned...

    Organsied by UK in a Changing Europe.
  6. Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE
    Talk at Conference about Online Safety of Female Journalists -
    https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/safety-female-journalists-online


    Vienna February 12th 2019.
  7. Guest Lecture at Tampere University, November 2013..
  8. Guest lecture at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, December 2013..
  9. 21 October 2014
    Gave evidence to House of Lords Communications select Committee enquiry into Women in News and Current Affairs Broadcasting..
  10. Phd Examiner Goldsmiths University of London October 2018.

Help us to improve this page

City, University of London

The University of business, practice and the professions

  • Library Services
  • Moodle
  • Email
  • Staff directory
  • Term dates
  • Book a room
  • Schools and departments

Back to top

Contact us

Make an enquiry

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Weibo
  • Youku
  • WeChat
Social media directory

Find us

City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

Campus map

Our global campuses

  • London
  • Dubai

Awards and accreditations

  • Athena SWAN: Bronze Award
  • Stonewall: LGBTQ+ Inclusive employer - Silver Award 2023 logo
  • UKRI Research England logo

Useful links

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • City Store
  • Support City
  • Work for City
  • City Magazine
  • 中文

© 2023 City, University of London

University of London