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 am the Programme Leader of MA Media and Communication. 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 East and Southeast Asian Communities 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 in the above areas.

Research

I am currently a co-investigator of the following research projects:

1. 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 (with Yan Wu, Matthew Wall, Nicholas Micallef, and Irene Reppa). The novelty of this research lies in its timely examination of, and intervention in, an under-researched area of discrimination through the lens of race, ethnicity, mental health, and digital technology.

2. Journalistic Role Performance Around the World (with Daniel Jackson, Jamie Matthews, Einar Thorsen, Antje Glück, and Yasser Abuali). We are the UK team for this cross-national, theory-driven endeavour to systematically analyse the state of journalistic cultures in the new media landscape across the world. For more information please refer to https://www.journalisticperformance.org.

3. Journalism Students Across the Globe (with Daniel Jackson and Einar Thorsen). We are the UK representatives for a global comparative study of the professional norms, values, and attitudes of journalism students. For more information please refer to http://www.jstudentsproject.org.

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"

more information

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

  • Endah Saptorini (second supervisor). News-making Crisis in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic: An Ethnography study on a Television in Indonesia, (In progress)
  • Wed Mohammed H Alfotawi (first supervisor). Understanding the role of social media to enhance information subsidies, fake news and misinformation for journalism in Saudi Arabia, (In progress)

Profile of Teaching PG

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

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Consumer and Stakeholder Insights
  • Research Principles and Practice (unit leader)

Grants

  • 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). In Progress
  • 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

Internal Responsibilities

  • Programme Leader (Jan 2021 onwards), MA Media and Communication Programme
  • Convenor (Dec 2020-Jun 2022), Speaker Series of Science, Health and Data Communication Research Centre

Conference Presentations

  • 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, 10 Mar 2022, Established Supervisors