Xin Zhao

Dr Xin Zhao

  • Principal Academic in Media and Communication
  • Weymouth House W423, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
UN SDGs:
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Biography

I received my PhD in Media from Bangor University in 2017, under the supervision of Professor Vian Bakir and Professor Andrew McStay. My research focuses on the role of media representations, media audience, and journalism practice in constructing and/or challenging social justice issues. My recent research is particularly dedicated to exploring how to address the racism issues against the East and Southeast Asian community via media and communication. I have published in top journals including Journalism, Journalism Studies, Journalism Practice, Digital Journalism, Health Communication, International Journal of Communication, Asian Journal of Communication, and Global Media and Communication.

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am also a UKCGE Recognised Associate Supervisor. I welcome PhD applications.

I am experienced in trans-national education. I have taught in two relevant programmes, including Swansea University-Heilongjiang University joint programme in media and communication, and Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College public relations and advertising programme.

Research

I am the Principal Investigator of the ongoing two-year project "Fight against racism towards the East and Southeast Asian community: Leveraging TikTok" (collaborators: Yunfei Li, Xiao Ma; advisors: Anna Feigenbaum, Özlem Demirkol Tønnesen). It is funded by the BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants.

I am also a co-investigator of the project titled "Racism, Digital Discrimination and Mental Health During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A case study of East and Southeast Asians (ESEA) communities in the UK," led by Dr. Yan Wu, funded by Morgan Advanced Studies Institute.

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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Industry, innovation and infrastructure

"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"

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Reduced inequalities

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

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Sustainable cities and communities

"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"

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Journal Articles

Chapters

  • Zhao, X. and Xiang, Y., 2022. Using disparagement humour to deal with health misinformation endorsers. In: McDougall, J. and Fowler-Watt, K., eds. The Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation. Palgrave Macmillan, 179-190.

Reports

PhD Students

  • Yasmin Alea Simanjuntak (first supervisor). The manosphere’s impact on gendered racism towards East and Southeast Asian women, (In progress)
  • Endah Saptorini (second supervisor), 2024. News-making crisis in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: An ethnography study on a television in Indonesia, (Completed)

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Media Diversity & Cross-Cultural Communication (unit leader)

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Consumer and Stakeholder Insights
  • Research Principles and Practice

Grants

  • PI, Fight Against Racism Towards the East and Southeast Asian Community: Leveraging TikTok (BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants, 01 Nov 2024). In Progress
  • PI, How Can Researchers Fight Against Racism Towards East and Southeast Asian Communities? (British Academy Development Fund, 09 Nov 2023). Completed
  • PI, Building Stakeholder Relationships with UK-Based East and Southeast Asian Community Organisations (British Academy Seed Funding Award, 20 Oct 2023). Completed
  • Co-I, Racism, Digital Discrimination and Mental Health During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A case study of East and Southeast Asians (ESEA) communities in the UK (Morgan Advanced Studies Institute, 01 Aug 2022). In Progress
  • Co-I (first phase), COJO for COVID-19 Recovery: Constructive Solutions-Focused Journalism as a Pandemic Exit Strategy for the UK's Local/Regional Communities (UKRI/AHRC, 01 Mar 2021). Completed
  • PI, Digital Media Use Among Chinese Public in the Context of COVID-19 Coronavirus Outbreak (Bournemouth University Quality-Related Research Funding, 01 Apr 2020). Completed
  • PI, China’s Global Identity and Corresponding Responsibility: An Investigation of Chinese and Western Media Representations (Guangdong Province 2019 Innovation and Enhancement Project, 01 Sep 2019). Completed
  • PI, Environmental Modernization or Justice? China’s Outbound Communication of China’s Involvement in Sustainable Environmental Development and Impact on Western Journalistic Discourses (United International College Research Grant, 01 Jan 2019). Completed

External Responsibilities

  • UKRI/ESRC New Investigator Grant, Peer Reviewer (Nov 2023)
  • Learned Society of Wales, Independent Assessor (Nov 2023)
  • British Academy Talent Development Awards, Peer Reviewer (Nov 2024)

Internal Responsibilities

  • Committee Member (Apr 2025-now), Bournemouth University Research Ethics Committee
  • Programme Leader (Jan 2021-Sep 2024), MA Media and Communication Programme
  • Convenor (Dec 2020-Jun 2022), Speaker Series of Science, Health and Data Communication Research Centre

Journal Reviewing/Refereeing

  • De Gruyter Handbook book proposal, Anonymous peer review, 10 Mar 2025
  • Journalism Studies, Anonymous peer review, 13 Jan 2025
  • International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, Anonymous peer review, 20 Oct 2022
  • Journalism Practice, Anonymous peer review, 04 Oct 2022
  • International Journal of Communication, Anonymous peer review, 16 May 2022
  • Journal of Intercultural Studies, Anonymous peer review, 17 Jan 2022
  • Journalism Studies, Anonymous peer review, 24 Mar 2021
  • The Cambridge book proposal, Anonymous peer review, 18 Mar 2021
  • Chinese Journal of Communication, Anonymous peer review, 18 Jan 2021
  • Psychological Reports, Anonymous peer review, 03 Dec 2020
  • Journal of Asian and African Studies, Anonymous peer review, 05 Oct 2020
  • Routledge Media and Journalism Studies book proposal, Anonymous peer review, 16 Aug 2020
  • The International Communication Gazette, Anonymous peer review, 13 Jul 2020

Conference Presentations

  • Zhao, X., Feigenbaum, A., & Demirkol Tönnesen, Ö. 74th International Communication Association annual conference, Disclosing endometriosis on TikTok: What can sharing experiences of medical gaslighting do?, 20 Jun 2024, Gold Coast
  • Zhao, X., Feigenbaum, A., and McDavitt, S. 73rd International Communication Association annual conference, “Thank you for your beautiful vulnerability”: Public responses to graphic medicine on Instagram during the Covid-19, 25 May 2023, Toronto
  • Zhao, X., Matthews, J., Jackson, D., Mellado, C., Abuali, Y., Thorsen, E., and Glück, A. 73rd International Communication Association annual conference, Patterns of journalistic role performance during public health crises: Covering the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, 25 May 2023, Toronto
  • Jackson, D., Abuali, Y., Matthews, J., Mellado, C., Nolan, D., Quinn, F., and Zhao, X. 73rd International Communication Association annual conference, Towards a model of sports journalistic role performance? Comparing the materialization of journalistic roles in 37 countries, 25 May 2023, Toronto
  • Zhao, X., Jackson, D., Nguyen, A. & Glück, A. The 2021 conference of The International Journal of Press/Politics, The Psychological Empowerment of Solutions Journalism: Perspectives from Pandemic News Users in the UK, 13 Sep 2021, Virtual
  • Saptorini, E., Zhao, X., & Jackson, D. 71st Annual International Communication Association Conference, Place, power and the pandemic: The disrupted material settings of television news making during COVID-19 in an Indonesian broadcaster, 27 May 2021, Online
  • Zhao, X., Guan, M., & Liang, X. Sixth International Conference of the International Journal of Press/Politics, Digital media use and collective action: Detailing the mediating role of injustice in the social identity model of collective action in China’s coronavirus pandemic mitigation, 21 Sep 2020, Loughborough University
  • Zhao, X. Fifth International Conference of the International Journal of Press/Politics, A Re-Examination of Media Representations of “Us” and “Them” Opposition through the Lens of National Responsibility in China-U.S. Trade Interactions, 15 Sep 2019, Loughborough University, UK
  • Zhao, X. & Guan, M. 69th Annual International Communication Association Conference, GIFTS: Securing a Job through Twesume: Examining Strategic Self-Promotion on Social Media, 24 May 2019, Washington DC, U.S.
  • Zhao, X. The English Language & Linguistics Group Colloquium: Discourse: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, Message of China-related economic responsibilities: China’s soft power projection through media institutions, 18 Nov 2016, University of Sussex, UK
  • Zhao, X. New Directions in Media Research Annual Postgraduate Conference, China’s political articulation of its economic responsibilities during the media ‘going-out’ project: A discursive approach, 03 Jun 2016, University of Leicester, UK
  • Zhao, X. Political Studies Association Media and Politics Group Annual Conference: Mediating Democracy, China’s soft power projection through its transnational media institutions: Conveying discourse of economic responsibilities during media ‘going-out’, 05 Nov 2015, University of Chester, UK
  • Zhao, X. New Directions in Media Research Annual Postgraduate Conference, A review on China’s soft power projection through its transnational media institutions: Conveying discourse of economic responsibilities in media ‘going-out’, 12 Jun 2015, University of Leicester, UK

Attended Training

  • Supervisory Development Training for Established Supervisors, 13 Mar 2025, Established Supervisors
  • Research Council Development Scheme, 06 Mar 2024

Honours

  • Recognised Associate Supervisor Award (UK Council for Graduate Education, 2023)

External Media and Press