Ann Luce

Professor Ann Luce

  • Deputy Dean
  • Weymouth House W424, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
UN SDGs:
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Biography

Dr. Ann Luce is a Professor of Journalism and Health Communication with nearly 10 years of investigative data journalism (covering health and science), business reporting (covering government and politics) and editorial writing experience in the United States. She was Technology Enhanced Learning Theme Leader in BU's Centre for Excellence in Learning, 2017-2019 and is a former Programme Leader of the BA in Communication and Media degree 2012-2015.

Ann has spent the last 15 years researching and writing about suicide and mental illness. One of her most notable pieces of journalism was investigating suicide rates in Florida, which eventually garnered support for the creation of the Office of Suicide Prevention and Drug Control in the State of Florida. Ann also won a "Responsible and Ethical Reporting of Suicide' award from then-Governor, Jeb Bush.

Ann works closely with the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and the World Health Organisation on creating guidelines, media campaigns and training for journalists around the world on ethical and responsible reporting of suicide...

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Research

My research mostly focuses around the responsible and ethical reporting of suicide, as well as the general area of suicide prevention.

I currently sit on the World Media Task Force for the prevention of suicide, and also sit on the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Steering Group for the Prevention of Suicide, the latter of which reports directly to Public Health England. I have created media reporting guidelines for journalists for the World Health Organisation and blogging guidelines for SAVE.org, the USA's largest mental health charity.

I have served as an expert panel member and worked closely with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, under the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Program to create #chatsafe, a young person's guide for communicating safely online about suicide.

In 2019, I will release my most recent edited book, "Ethical Reporting of Sensitive Topics" (Routledge), which creates a new framework for journalists to understand how and when they stigmatise mental health and suicide in their reporting, including on how best to interview those bereaved by suicide.

Earlier books, one on "Midwifery, Childbirth and Media" (2017, Palgrave) covers off clinical interventions during the labour process, while "The Bridgend Suicides: Suicide and the Media" (2016, Palgrave) creates a framework for understanding how journalists stigmatise the issue of suicide and what can be done to change the discourse.

Moving forward, I am working on a large-scale bid to look at how virtual worlds can support journalists and journalism students on how to ethically and responsibly report suicide...

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Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Good health and well-being

"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"

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Quality education

"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"

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Reduced inequalities

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

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Journal Articles

Books

Chapters

Conferences

  • Thompson, A., Luce, A., Appleton, K., Partridge, H. and James, J., 2023. UK adults with type 1 diabetes utilise mainstream social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, alongside specialist healthcare professionals and charities, for information about their condition and for peer support. DIABETIC MEDICINE, 40.
  • Quinney, C., Luce, A. and Holley, D., 2019. From assessment of learning to assessment for learning; Leading assessment policy change supported by an Assessment & Feedback Toolkit. In: ALDinHE Learning Development Conference 15-17 July 2019 Exeter.
  • Luce, A. and Duncan, S., 2019. Suicide Reporting: We need to teach it better. In: World Journalism Education Congress 9-13 July 2019 Paris, France.
  • Luce, A., Jackson, D. and Thorsen, E., 2016. ADTV and The Big Issue: Journalism Education for Marginalised People. In: World Journalism Education Congress 13-17 July 2016 Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Luce, A., 2016. Social Media and Mobile Journalism Syndicate. In: World Journalism Education Congress 13-17 July 2016 Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Thorsen, E., Jackson, D. and Luce, A., 2016. "The people must have their voices”: Empowering marginalised groups through citizen journalism’. In: International Association for Media and Communications Research World Congress 10-13 July 2014 Hyderabad, India.
  • Luce, A., 2016. Trauma Reporting and Suicide. In: World Journalism Education Congress 13-17 July 2016 Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Luce, A., 2016. 'Everyone has something that might take them up to that edge’: Discourses and Narratives of Suicide in Fox’s GLEE’. In: Annual MeCCSA Conference 8-10 January 2016 Canterbury Christ University.
  • Luce, A., van Teijlingen, E. and Hundley, V., 2016. Fear in Childbirth: Is the media responsible? In: Interdisciplinary Research Week 23 March 2015 Bournemouth University.
  • Luce, A., Thorsen, E. and Jackson, D., 2016. ADTV and The Big Issue: journalism education for marginalised people. In: Annual MeCCSA Conference 6-8 January 2016 Canterbury Christ Church University.
  • Jackson, D., Thorsen, E. and Luce, A., 2014. Citizen journalism for empowerment: Moving in from the margins? In: ECREA Annual Conference 12-15 November 2014 Lisbon.
  • Luce, A., Cash, M., Hundley, V., Cheyne, H., van Teijlingen, E. and Angell, C., 2014. Representations of Childbirth in the Media: Does it matter how childbirth is portrayed? In: MeCCSA conference 8-10 January 2014 Bournemouth University.
  • Thorsen, E., Jackson, D. and Luce, A., 2014. Empowering disabled and older people through citizen journalism. In: Annual MeCCSA Conference 8-10 January 2014 Bournemouth University.
  • Luce, A. and Charles, M., 2014. Disrupting narratives with ‘digital extras’: Cross-platform documentary production and non-linear storytelling in “The Engineer”. In: MeCCSA Conference 8-10 January 2014 Bournemouth University.
  • Hundley, V., Luce, A., Cash, M., Van Teijlingen, E., Angell, C. and Cheyne, H., 2013. Does it matter how childbirth is portrayed in the media? In: Gold Perinatal Care Online Conference 26 November 2013-17 January 2014 Online.
  • Cash, M., Luce, A., Hundley, V., van Teijlingen, E., Angell, C. and Cheyne, H., 2013. The Portrayal of Childbirth in the Mass Media. In: Reimagining Birth International Symposium 2-3 July 2013 University College Dublin.
  • Luce, A., 2013. When Pranks Go Wrong: How did the British Media Report the suicide of Jacintha Saldanha? In: International Association of Suicide Prevention World Congress 24-27 September 2013 Oslo, Norway.
  • Luce, A., 2013. Reporting Suicide. In: MeCCSA Conference 8-11 January 2013 Derry, Northern Ireland.
  • Scourfield, J., Jones, P., Gunnell, D., Platt, S., Huxley, P., Lloyd, K., Luce, A. and Dennis, M., 2012. An initial Investigation of the Apparent Suicide Cluster in Bridgend 2007-2008. In: British Association for the study and prevention of child abuse and neglect 17 April 2012 Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • Luce, A., 2011. The Infantalisation and Stigmatisation of Suicide: Findings from the Bridgend Suicides. In: International Association of Suicide Prevention World Congress 13-17 September 2011 Beijing, China.
  • Luce, A., 2011. Reporting Suicide: How Social Networking Helps the Eager Journalist. In: International Association of Suicide Prevention World Congress 13-17 September 2011 Beijing, China.
  • Luce, A., 2009. Reporting Bridgend. In: MeCCSA PGN Conference 8-9 July 2009 Bangor University, Wales.
  • Luce, A., 2008. Yea though I was through the Valle of Death: The Tale of Bridgend. In: European Symposium on Suicide Prevention 27-30 August 2008 Glasgow, Scotland.
  • Luce, A., 2007. The Press as Perpetrators of Childhood Bullying and Suicide. In: SOCSI PGN Conference 27 February 2007 Cardiff University, Wales.

Reports

Internet Publications

Films

Posters

Others

PhD Students

  • Anna Marsh, 2023. Social Media use by Midwives - an untapped potential?, (Completed)
  • Matt Taylor. Religion and Spirituality in Social Work
  • Nabaraj Mudwari. The role of Nepalese Media in Health promotion: A critical perspective on Nepalese Media Discourse
  • Terri Coates. The Representation of Childbirth & Early Labour: A Multi-Modal Analysis of Media Discourses

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Digital Magazines 2012-2015
  • Journalism in Global Contexts 2012-2014

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Communication Skills 2011-2015
  • Major Multi-Media Projects 2011-present
  • Features and Online 1 2011-present
  • Writing for the Media 2012-2015
  • Dissertations 2011-present
  • News Theory and Ethics 2012-present
  • Media: Messages and Meanings 2013-2014
  • Media and Trauma 2015-present

Invited Lectures

  • Trauma Reporting and Suicide, Auckland, New Zealand, 16 Jul 2016 more
  • Social media and Mobile Journalism Syndicate, Auckland, New Zealand, 13 Jul 2016 more
  • Suicide Reporting and Research in the UK, Jacksonville, Florida, 30 Mar 2016 more
  • Fear in Midwifery: Is the Media to blame?, Cafe Boscanova, Bournemouth, 04 May 2015 more
  • Fear in Childbirth: Is the media responsible?, Bournemouth University, 23 Mar 2015 more
  • When Pranks Go Wrong, Oslo, Norway, 23 Sep 2013 more
  • The Infantalisation and Stigmatisation of Suicide, Beijing, China, 10 Sep 2011 more
  • Bullycide: A Pressing Issue, Vienna, Austria, 08 Sep 2007 more

Grants

  • Journalism Students' Perspectives on Reporting Suicide (Hunter Institute for Mental Health, Australia, 01 Aug 2016). Awarded
  • Assessing the Media Representation Impact of Midwifery (Centre for Excellence in Learning, 01 Sep 2015). Awarded
  • How do midwives engage with social media? (Centre for Excellence in Learning, 01 Sep 2014). Awarded
  • Empowering disabled and older people through citizen journalism (Fusion Funding, Bournemouth University, 01 Jan 2013). Awarded
  • Childbirth Literature Database (JRG, Bournemouth University, 01 Jan 2013). Awarded
  • Bridgend Suicides Database (JRG, Bournemouth University, 01 Jan 2012). Awarded
  • The Bridgend Suicides: How the Story Unfolded (British Academy, 01 Jan 2011). Awarded
  • Reducing Suicide Rates in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government, 01 Jan 2010). Awarded

External Responsibilities

  • University of Chester, External Examiner (2013)
  • Government of Norway, Consultant (2013)
  • Suicidology Online, Contributing Book Editor (2012-)
  • Welsh National Assembley, Consultant (2008-2013)
  • International Association of Suicide Prevention, Member of the Media Task Force (2008-), http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/resource_media.pdf; Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals
  • Journalism Studies, Book Reviews Editor (2007-2013)
  • Coventry University, External Examiner
  • Bournemouth and Poole College, External Examiner
  • MeCCSA, Chair of MeCCSA Disability Network, http://www.meccsa.org.uk/

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • Fear in childbirth: Is the media responsible? (03 Nov 2015)

Conference Presentations

  • 32nd ICM (international Confederation of Midwives) Virtual Congress, Changing the narrative around childbirth: whose responsibility is it?’, 02 Jun 2021, Bali, Indonesia Online
  • IASP 2019 Congress, Journalism Students Perspectives on the Reporting of Suicide in the UK and Ireland, 17 Sep 2019, Derry, Londonderry
  • International Confederation of Midwives 31st Triennial Congress, Changing the narrative around birth: midwives’ views of working with the media, 18 Jun 2017, Toronto, Canada

Qualifications

  • PGCE in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Bournemouth University, 2013)
  • PhD Supervisor Training in Supervisor Training (Bournemouth University, 2013)
  • PhD in Journalism Studies (Cardiff University, 2010)
  • BSc in Communications, emphasis in Print Journalism (University of North Florida, 2003)

Honours

  • Vice Chancellor Award, nominated, Collaborative Award, Access Dorset (Bournemouth University, 2014)
  • Vice Chancellor Award, nominated, Collaborative Award, Study Exchange Lead for FMC (Bournemouth University, 2014)
  • You're Brilliant Award, nominated and voted by students (Bournemouth University Students Union, 2014)
  • BU NewsLab Radio News Day Category (Advisor to US2012) (Broadcast Journalism Training Council, 2013)
  • Runner Up for Factual Programming (Advisor to US2012) (National Student Television Association, 2013)
  • Vice Chancellor Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education Practice (Bournemouth University, 2013)
  • Winner of Live Programming (Advisor to US2012) (National Student Television Association, 2013)
  • Winner, People's Choice Award (New Media Writing Prize, 2013)
  • Nominated for Vice Chancellor Award by Associate Dean, Karen Fowler-Watt (Bournemouth University, 2012)
  • You're Brilliant Award, nominated and voted by students (Bournemouth University Students Union, 2012)

Memberships