Professor Karen Fowler-Watt
- 01202 965129
- kfowler-watt at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
- http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2408-1530
- Professor of Journalism and Global Narratives
- Weymouth House W335, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
Biography
Publications Professional activities Grants
Overview
Dr Karen Fowler-Watt is Professor of Journalism and Global Narratives. Formerly Head of the School of Journalism, English and Communication (2007-2018), she is Director of the Centre for the Study of Conflict, Emotion and Social Justice (CESJ) and research theme lead for journalism education in the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice (CEMP).
As a senior BBC journalist, she worked in Radio 4 News and Current Affairs as an output editor on flagship news and current affairs programmes and documentary maker, as well as in the Middle East, Moscow, Europe, Northern Ireland and as bureau producer in the United States.
Awarded a Harkness Fellowship to study political theory in the School of Government and Politics at Harvard University, she is a Fellow of the Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change where she visits as faculty each year, working with international students on civic media projects and delivering talks and workshops. She has also partnered with Dutch non-profit online citizen journalism project Global Voices to integrate its work into a final year UG journalism unit and has engaged in consultancy for BBC Media Action on a project to build resilience to mis- and disinformation in Armenia...
Karen has extensive experience of strategic leadership and managing change in complex organisations. As a leader, she draws on her lived experience as a public service journalist, applies her published work on editorial leadership and her commitment to education, research and professional practice that can effect change and support social justice:
A trustee and board member of the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma (Europe) she retains close links with industry, organising the annual BBC Young Reporter event and a number of conferences at BU on reporting conflict, news values and hosting the NCTJ Journalism Skills Conference . She speaks on panels nationally and internationally debating journalism ethics, trauma and journalism education - in Leipzig at ECPMF, Beirut at MD Lab and at the biennial Media Education Summit, which she co-organised.
Recently commissioned to edit The Routledge Companion to Journalism Education, Karen is editor of Challenges and New Directions in Journalism Education (Routledge, 2023) - a book and podcasts produced as a collaboration with journalism colleagues, practitioners and alumni, and co-editor (with Julian McDougall) of The Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation (2022) and (with Stephen Jukes) of New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy (Routledge, 2020).
Research grants have supported several projects developing new participatory methodologies to work in Colombia with former child soldiers to build resilience and resistance to the risk of (re) recruitment into non-state armed groups (a potential impact case study for REF 2029); a safeguarding project for ITV; media literacy projects for DCMS and on trust and fake news and contract research for Thomson Reuters to create hostile environment training resources for journalists and freelancers working in the field.
Her research interests focus on building resilience in journalists and journalism through reimagining journalism education, reporting conflict, autobiographical journalism, trauma, ethics, storytelling and marginalised voices.
Karen supervises a number of doctoral students and is core tutor on the Doctor of Education Creative and Media at BU.
moreResearch
Re-imagining journalism and journalism education: Fowler-Watt, K., and Jukes, S., (2020) New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy. London: Routledge. Upcoming publication: Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation (co-edited with McDougall, J). Publications and conference papers on marginalised voices, trauma, autobiographical journalism and reporting conflict. Collaborative projects with Charles, M., on story listening and immersive approaches to storytelling, working with former child soldiers in Colombia.
Favourites
- Charles, M. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2022. The Tree of Love: Life Writing and ‘Seasons of Self’ by Former Child Soldiers in Colombia. Life Writing, 19 (3), 373-393.
- Jukes, S., Fowler-Watt, K. and Rees, G., 2022. Reporting the Covid-19 Pandemic: Trauma on Our Own Doorstep. Digital Journalism, 10 (6), 997-1014.
- Fowler-Watt, K., Majin, G., Sunderland, M., Phillips, M., Brine, D., Bissell, A. and Murphy, J., 2020. Reflections on the Shifting Shape of Journalism Education in the Covid-19 pandemic. Digital Culture and Education.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. Global voices in journalism education. In: Jebril, N., Jukes, S., Takas, M. and Iordanidou', S., eds. Journalism, Society and Politics in the Digital Media Era. Intellect Books.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Charles, M., 2020. Seasons of Hope: intergenerational ‘storylistening’ among demobilised guerrilla in Colombia. Auto/Biography.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. The Auto/Biographical Journalist and Stories of Lived Experience. Life Writing, 17 (1), 59-74.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and McDougall, J., 2019. Media literacy versus fake news: fact checking and verification in the era of fake news and post-truth. Journalism Education, 8 (1), 60-69.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2019. New journalisms, new pedagogies. In: World Journalism Education Congress 9-11 July 2019 Paris.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2019. New journalisms, new pedagogies. In: Fowler-Watt, K. and Jukes, S., eds. New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy. Routledge.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Jukes, S., 2019. New journalisms, new challenges. In: Fowler- Watt, K. and Jukes, S., eds. New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy. Routledge.
- McDougall, J. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2019. Media Literacy versus Fake News: Critical Thinking, Resilience and Civic Engagement. In: World Journalism Education Congress 9-11 July 2019 Paris.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2018. Women War Correspondents: From the Frontline with Empathy. BSA Auto/Biography Yearbook.
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:
Quality education
"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"
Peace, justice and strong institutions
"Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels"
Partnership for the Goals
"Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development"
Journal Articles
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Charles, M., 2024. Sharing troubling autobiographies among former child soldiers in Colombia: The self, alternative imaginaries and post-traumatic growth. Children and Youth Services Review.
- Charles, M.H. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2023. ‘Storylistening’ as a methodology for peacebuilding among young survivors of conflict and their communities in Colombia. Methodological Innovations, 16 (1), 15-26.
- Charles, M. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2022. The Tree of Love: Life Writing and ‘Seasons of Self’ by Former Child Soldiers in Colombia. Life Writing, 19 (3), 373-393.
- Jukes, S., Fowler-Watt, K. and Rees, G., 2022. Reporting the Covid-19 Pandemic: Trauma on Our Own Doorstep. Digital Journalism, 10 (6), 997-1014.
- McDougall, J., Fowler-Watt, K. and Edwards, L., 2021. Media Literacy in the Time of Covid. Sociologia della Comunicazione.
- Jukes, S., Charles, M. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. Rethinking journalism practice through innovative approaches to post conflict reporting. Journalism Practice.
- Fowler-Watt, K., Majin, G., Sunderland, M., Phillips, M., Brine, D., Bissell, A. and Murphy, J., 2020. Reflections on the Shifting Shape of Journalism Education in the Covid-19 pandemic. Digital Culture and Education.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Charles, M., 2020. Seasons of Hope: intergenerational ‘storylistening’ among demobilised guerrilla in Colombia. Auto/Biography.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. The Auto/Biographical Journalist and Stories of Lived Experience. Life Writing, 17 (1), 59-74.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and McDougall, J., 2019. Media literacy versus fake news: fact checking and verification in the era of fake news and post-truth. Journalism Education, 8 (1), 60-69.
- McDougall, J., 2019. MEDIA LITERACY VERSUS FAKE NEWS: CRITICAL THINKING, RESILIENCE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. MEDIJSKE STUDIJE-MEDIA STUDIES, 10 (19), 29-45.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2018. Women War Correspondents: From the Frontline with Empathy. BSA Auto/Biography Yearbook.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2017. The Storytellers Tell Their Stories: using stories of lived experience in journalism education. Media Education Research Journal.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2016. Journalism New Challenges: a shop window for practitioner research. Media Education Research Journal.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2015. Professional Perspectives: placing lived experience at the heart of journalism education. Journalism Education.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2014. Epiphanies and the Autobiographical Journalist. BSA Auto/Biography Yearbook.
Books
- The Routledge Companion to Journalism Education. Routledge.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2023. Challenges and New Directions in Journalism Education. Routledge.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and McDougall, J., 2022. The Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2022. Democracy, Disruption and Civic Crisis (Diagnosis).
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Jukes, S., 2019. New Journalisms: rethinking practice theory and pedagogy. Routledge.
- Journalism: New Challenges. Poole, England: CJCR: Centre for Journalism & Communication Research, Bournemouth University.
- Journalism: New Challenges. Centre for Journalism & Communication Research.
Chapters
- Fowler-Watt, K., McDougall, J. and Murphy, J., 2024. The hidden threat: Journalism and resilience in the age of "information disorder". Journalism as the Fourth Emergency Service Trauma and Resilience. 67-77.
- Moeller, S. and Jukes, S., 2022. Images, Fakery and Verification. Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation. 297-314.
- Majin, G., 2022. The Unhealed Wound: Official and Unofficial Journalisms, Misinformation and Tribal Truth. Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation. 233-247.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and McDougall, J., 2022. Media Literacy (Response). Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation. 315-317.
- McDougall, J. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2022. Media Literacy in the Infodemic. Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation. 371-380.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2022. Journalism (Response). Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation. 229-231.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2021. Immersive storytelling. Transformative Media Pedagogies. 100-108.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. The auto/biographical journalist and stories of lived experience. In: Dix, H., ed. Career Construction Theory and Life Writing: Narrative and Autobiographical Thinking Across the Professions. Routledge.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. Global voices in journalism education. In: Jebril, N., Jukes, S., Takas, M. and Iordanidou', S., eds. Journalism, Society and Politics in the Digital Media Era. Intellect Books.
- Jukes, S., 2019. Journalists in Search of Identity. In: Jukes, S. and Fowler-Watt, K., eds. New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy. London: Routledge.. Routledge.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2019. New journalisms, new pedagogies. In: Fowler-Watt, K. and Jukes, S., eds. New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy. Routledge.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Jukes, S., 2019. New journalisms, new challenges. In: Fowler- Watt, K. and Jukes, S., eds. New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy. Routledge.
- Mihailidis, P. and Gerodimos, R., 2019. Civic Intentionality and the Transformative Potential of Journalism Pedagogies. In: Jukes, S. and Fowler-Watt, K., eds. New Journalisms: Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy. London: Routledge.
- Nguyen, A., 2013. Online news audiences: the challenges of web metrics. In: Allan, S. and Fowler-Watt, K., eds. Journalism: New Challenges. Poole, England: CJCR: Centre for Journalism & Communication Research, Bournemouth University, 146-161.
- Luce, A., 2013. Moral Panics: Reconsidering Journalism's Responsibilities. In: Fowler-Watt, K. and Allan, S., eds. Journalism: New Challenges. Poole, England: CJCR: Centre for Journalism & Communication Research, Bournemouth University, 393-409.
- Thompson, S., 2013. The Future of Newspapers in a Digital Age. In: Fowler-Watt, K. and Allan, S., eds. Journalism: New Challenges. Poole, England: Centre for Journalism and Communications Research, Bournemouth University, 19-34.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Wilson, A., 2013. Editorial Leadership in the Newsroom. Journalism:New Challenges. CJCR.
Conferences
- Fowler-Watt, K., Jukes, S. and Rees, G., 2021. Reporting the Pandemic: Trauma on our own Doorstep. In: FMC Humanities and Social Science Research seminar series 24 February 2021 Bournemouth University.
- Jukes, S., Charles, M. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2021. Rethinking Journalism Practice Through Innovative Approaches to Post Conflict Reporting. Journalism Practice, 15 (6), 767-784.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. Collective Reflections on the shifting shape of journalism education in the Covid-19 pandemic. In: Association of Journalism Education virtual summer conference 19 June 2020 Online.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2019. New journalisms, new pedagogies. In: World Journalism Education Congress 9-11 July 2019 Paris.
- McDougall, J. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2019. Media Literacy versus Fake News: Critical Thinking, Resilience and Civic Engagement. In: World Journalism Education Congress 9-11 July 2019 Paris.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2019. Global voices in journalism education. , 28-44.
- Fowler-Watt, K. and Jukes, S., 2017. Cross cultural student journalism exchange - Covering the 2016 U.S. conventions and election. In: Media Education Summit 2017 15-17 June 2017 Segovia, Spain.
- Jukes, S. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2017. The Need for Trauma Awareness in Journalism Education. In: Media Education Summit 4-5 November 2016 Rome.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2017. Telling the Stories of Others. In: Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change: Voices Against Extremism 16 July-5 August 2017 Salzburg, Austria.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2017. Reporting marginalised voices as a route to self –reflection in journalism education. In: Media Education Summit 4-5 November 2016 Rome.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2016. The Storytellers Tell Their Stories: using stories of lived experience in journalism education. In: Media Education Summit 20-21 November 2015 Boston, MA. Media Education Research Journal.
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2014. Epiphanies and the Autobiographical Journalist. In: BSA Christmas Conference December 2013 British Library, London.
Reports
- McDougall, J., Feigenbaum, A., Fowler-Watt, K., Gerodimos, R., Buckingham, D., Bulger, M. and Mihailidis, P., 2019. Media Literacy v Fake News. CEMP.
Scholarly Editions
- Fowler-Watt, 2016. Journalism Education. Association of Journalism Education.
Theses
- Fowler-Watt, K., 2014. The Storytellers Tell Their Stories:The Journalist as Educator. PhD Thesis. University of Southampton.
Others
- Jukes, S. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. Fergal Keane: hopes that BBC reporter’s courage will help remove stigma of PTSD in journalists. The Conversation. Published online.
- Jukes, S. and Fowler-Watt, K., 2020. Fergal Keane: hopes that BBC reporter’s courage will help remove stigma of PTSD in journalists. The Conversation. Published online.
PhD Students
- Isabel Forrest. What is the value and the challenges of promoting networking as part of an industry-oriented undergraduate media production programme?, (In progress)
- Thomas Mitchell. Effective deployment and inclusion of digital learning tools to increase progression rates for learners with Spina Bifida into STEM Undergraduate programmes., (In progress)
- Aaron Takhar. How are behvavioural management software's impacting on student-teacher relationships in Secondary schools, (In progress)
- Andrew Bissell. The Experience of Becoming: A Hermeneutic Study of Journalism Education, (Completed)
- Jo Royle. Journalism entrepreneurship and higher education, (Completed)
- Nicole Blanchett - Neheli, 2019. News by numbers: How analytics are changing journalism
- Emanuele Bussa. Role of stringers in reporting the Syrian conflict
- Isabel Forrest. In what ways does the role of the placement prepare students on media production courses for their professional lives
- Louise Cottrell. The value of making: A study exploring students’ experiences of producing video work
- Rebecca Pride. Intimate scenography: exploring the drama of the costume fitting as a micro-performance
Profile of Teaching PG
- MA Multimedia Journalism - Documentary Journalism
- Doctor of Education in Creative Media Practice
Profile of Teaching UG
- Professional Perspectives and Global Voices
- Dissertations
- Journalism Ethics and News Theory
- Multimedia Major Projects
Invited Lectures
-
Virtual, 13 Oct 2022 more
Invited talk for SHDC and CEMP research centres for MAMC students: Imagining alternative futures: 'storylistening' in participatory arts as a route to peacebuilding. -
Imagining alternative futures:, Salzburg, Austria, 26 Jul 2022 more
Imagining alternative futures: The Tree of Love and 'storylistening' in participatory arts: Invited plenary talk and workshop at Salzburg Academy for Media and Global change 2022 -
The Evolution of Journalism Education, Carleton University, Ottawa, 23 Oct 2020 more
Invited panel speaker for virtual conference: Journalism in the Time of Crisis: at the intersection of Journalism and the Pandemic hosted by Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication, Ottawa -
STAYING STRONG AND KEEPING SAFE AS A JOURNALIST, Harlow, Essex, 29 Nov 2018 more
NCTJ Journalism Skills conference -
Trauma awareness and Journalism Educaton, Leipzig, Germany, 05 Oct 2017 more
European Centre for the Protection of Media freedom (ECPMF 17) -
Reimagining journalism education: restoring conne, Beirut, 14 Aug 2017 more
MDLAB17 at Lebanese American University, Beirut -
Telling the Stories of Others, Salzburg Austria, 26 Jul 2017 more
Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change -
Journalists and the stories of others, Salzburg, Austria, 19 Jul 2016 more
Salzburg Media Academy for Global Change
Grants
- Evaluating Media Literacy with a Theory of Change (DCMS, 01 Nov 2022). Awarded
- Mi Camino (My Path): Strengthening resilience among teenagers at risk of recruitment by armed groups in Colombia (Global Challenges Research Fund, 16 May 2022). Completed
- Post-Contributor Lived Experience (Independent Television Service, 12 Apr 2021). Awarded
- Media Literacy versus Fake News: Critical Thinking, Resilience and Civic Engagement (US Embassy, 01 Jan 2019). Completed
- Children of the Revolution:: Animating their lives to promote reconciliation (HEFCE: Global Challenges Research Fund, 01 Jul 2018). Awarded
- E-Voices: Redressing Marginality (Arts and Humanities Research Council, 01 Jan 2018). Awarded
- Hostile environment training for journalists: a mobile learning platform for the international news agency Reuters (HEIF, 01 Jan 2014). Awarded
External Responsibilities
- Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma (Europe), Trustee and Board Member (2023-)
- University Centre Peterborough, External Examiner BA (Hons) Journalism (2022-2026)
- Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma (Europe), Trustee and Board member (2022-)
- York St John University, External Examiner (2021-2025)
- Goldsmith's University, London, External Examiner (2020-)
- Cardiff University, External Examiner (2019-2023)
- Ofcom, Member, Ofcom Media Literacy Network (2019-)
- Media for Change, Member, Board of Advisors (2019-)
- Press Gazette British Journalism Awards, Judge (2018-)
- Royal Television Society Awards, Judge (2017)
- University of Essex, External Examiner (2016-2020)
- University of Central Lancashire, External Examiner (2015-)
- Broadcast Journalism Training Council, Board member (2007-), http://www.bjtc.org/
- Broadcast Journalism Training Council, Council Member
- One World Media, Member
- Ofcom, Member, Media Literacy Network
Internal Responsibilities
- Academic Advisor BAMMJ L 6, Communication and Journalism
- Lead IPPM - one of 2 appointed by Vice Chancellor, IPPM
Journal Reviewing/Refereeing
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 07 Dec 2020
- Media Practice and Education, 02 Jan 2019
- Journalism Practice, 01 Jan 2017
- Journal of Media Practice, 01 Jan 2015
- Media Education Research Journal, 01 Jan 2013
Public Engagement & Outreach Activities
- External Examiner (21 Jan 2020)
- External Examiner (01 Jan 2020)
- Editorial Board member (01 Oct 2019)
- HE Careers Forum
- Education project
- Member, Board of Advisors Media4Change
- Judge
Conference Presentations
- MDLAB17, Reimagining journalism education: restoring connectivity and rebuilding trust, 07 Aug 2017, Beirut
- Media Education Summit 2017, Cross cultural student journalism exchange (covering the U.S. election), 15 Jun 2017, Segovia, Spain
Consultancy Activities
- MA International Journalism and Hostile Environment Training, external reviewer. University of Ulster
- Ofcom Panel of Experts: The State of Public Service Broadcasting, Presentation. Ofcom
Attended Training
- Supervisory Development Training for Established Supervisors., 01 Jun 2019
- Strategic Academic Leadership, 01 Jan 2016
Qualifications
- Doctor of Education in Journalism Education (University of Southampton, 2013)
- MA in History (University of Cambridge, 1988)
Memberships
- British Sociological Association Auto/Biography Study Group, Member (2013-),
- Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), Member,
- Association of Journalism Education (AJE), Member,
- BERA, Member,
- Broadcast Journalism Training Council, Board Member,
- Higher Education Academy (Advance HE), Senior Fellow,
- MeCCSA, Member,
- National Council for Training of Journalists, Member,
- Salzburg Academy for Media and Global Change, Fellow,