Research Professor in Media & Politics
My journalistic career has included senior editorial positions at the BBC, ITN, Channel Four and Sky News. I am an Independent Editorial Adviser to the BBC and a frequent contributor to radio and television networks in the UK and abroad.
My research interests include politics and the media, political journalism, television newsand current affairs, media impacts on policy making,media and child protection, political journalism in Africa and media ethics and regulation.
I welcome approaches from research students interested in these and related areas.
Other References
@ivorgaber
Qualifications
- MA - University of Sussex
- BA in History & Politics
Teaching Expertise
- Professional Doctorate in Journalism, Media, Cinema & Television
- M.A. in Mass Communications
Publications
I have co-authored three books and numerous articles on political communications, and has served as a media consultant to a variety of organisations, governments and international bodies. My most recent publications include:
Books
- Live from Africa: a handbook for African Radio Journalists,2008
- Culture Wars: the media and the British Left (with J. Curran and J. Petley) 2006
- Westminster Tales: the 21st century crisis in political journalism 2001
- Research Reports
- From Callaghan to Credit Crunch: Changing Trends in British Television News 1975-2009 for Leverhulme Trust 2012
- "British Television News Coverage of the War in Lebanon" for Britain- Israel Communications and Research Centre 2009
- "Mapping Ethnic Minority Media in London", for Office of the Mayor of London 2008
- "Regulatory Bodies and the Freedom of Information Act" for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 2008
- "Driven to Distraction: the media and the introduction of congestion charging in London" for the Greater London Authority 2006
- "Making an Impact:the local promotion of electoral issues" for the Electoral Commission 2001
- "Callaghan to Kosovo: changing trends in British TV News 1975/1999" for the BBC and ITN 2000
Journal Articles
- "Rupert and the 'three card trope' – what you see ain't necessarily what you get" in Media Culture and Society (forthcoming)
- "The Lobby in transition: what the MPs' expenses scandal revealed about the changing relationship between politicians and the Westminster Lobby in Media History(forthcoming)
- "The 'hollowed-out election' or where did all the policy go?' Journal of Political Marketing (forthcoming)
- "Three cheers for Subjectivity: or the crumbling of the seven pillars of journalistic wisdom" International Journal of Communications Law and Ethics 2009 Vol. 14 No 5
- "Death of the Lobby: the impact of the MPs Expenses Scandal on Political Journalism" British Politics 2009 Vol. 4 No. 4
- 'Is the BBC biased? The Corporation and the Coverage of the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War' Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism Vol. 10, No 2 2009
- "Exploring the paradox of liberal democracy: more political communications equals less public trust" Political Quarterly Vol. 80 No. 1 2009
- 'Too much of a good thing: the 'problem' of political communications in a mass media democracy' Journal of Public Affairs Vol. 7, Issue 3, 2007
- 'Dislocated and Distracted': Media, Parties and the Voters in the 2005 General Election Campaign British Politics 2006 Vol. 1 No 3
- 'A New Era in Government Communications? Phillis & Beyond' Journal of Public Affairs Vol. 3 No 2. 2004
- 'Alastair Campbell, exit stage left: a new chapter in political communications just another spin Soundings Issue 25 Winter 2003
- "The Control Freaks: How New Labour Gets its Own Way" Party Politics Vol.2 No1 2002
- "Practising What We Preach: the relationship between media theory and practice in higher education" Journal of Media Practice Vol. I No 1 Jan. 2000
- "Government by Spin: an analysis of the process" Media, Culture and Society Vol.22 No 4 2000
Book Chapters
- "Moment of truth: what 'hackgate'tells us about the changing relations between the media and politics" in The phone hacking scandal: journalism on trial, eds Keeble R. L &Mair J Bury St.Edmunds Abramis (2012)
- "The Future of Political Journalism" in Gunn S (ed.) "So You Want to be a Political Journalist" London Biteback books 2011
- "The Transformation of Campaign reporting the 2010 General Election, evolution or revolution" in Political Communication in Britain eds. Wring D Mortimore R and Atkinson S Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan 2011
- "Getting it right: UK Television News Coverage of the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war', in Marsden L and Savigny H (eds.) Media, Religion and Conflict, Farnham Ashgate Publishing 2009
- "Panorama: investigative TV?"in de Burgh (ed) Investigative Journalism Taylor & Francis, 2008
- "The Autistic Campaign: the parties, the media and the voters"in The Marketing of Political Parties: political marketing at the 2005 General Election Manchester University Press, 2006
- 'Out damn plot - the Evening Standard and the London Congestion Charge' in 'Making the Local News' Taylor and Francis 2006
- "'NGOs and the International Media in W. De Jong (ed.) Global Activism, Global Media Pluto Press 2004
- "Lies, damn lies & spin" in A. Chadwick A & R. Heffernan R The New Labour Reader. Polity Press, 2003
- "A History of the Concept of Public Service Broadcasting" in Culture or Anarchy: the future of public service broadcasting' Social Market Foundation 2002
- "Covering Parliament" in A Briggs & P Copley Media Studies Handbook Longman 2001
- "The Greening of the Public, Politics and the Press, 1985-1999'" in J. Smith The Daily Globe: Environmental change, the public and the media Earthscan 2001
Current & Recent Appointments
- Independent Editorial Adviser, BBC Trust
- Chair, judging panel One World Media Awards 2012
- UK Representative on UNESCO's International Programme for Development Communication
- Council Member, Academy of Social Science
- Academician of the Academy of Social Science
- Advisory Council Hansard Society for Parliamentary Government
- Member, International Advisory Board, Centre for the Study of Global Media & Democracy
- Jury member Royal Television Society Television News Awards 2009 and 2010
- Vice Chair, Communications Sector, UK UNESCO National Commission
- Member, UK Delegation to the UNESCO General Conference Paris 2001, 2003 and 2007
- Member, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Freedom of Expression Panel
Recent activities
- Tunisia - Devised and ran political reporting workshops for Tunisian journalists 2012
- Nigeria – Devised and ran workshops across Nigeria for political journalists and established and ran the Nigerian Election News Report 2011
- Burkina Faso –Devised and ran workshops for political journalists in Burkina Faso in preparation for Presidential elections. 2010
- Nigeria - Ran series of workshops to prepare journalists' training intervention programme for 2011 elections. 2010
- India – In run-up to Indian General Election, toured universities in Delhi and Mumbai, speaking on 'New Trends in Political campaigning'. 2009
- Georgia – Organised and ran series of workshops for Georgian journalists in the run-up to parliamentary elections. 2008
- India – Organised and ran workshops in television journalism for postgraduate students 2007
- Serbia – Keynote address given to Council of Europe conference on 'Right to Privacy and Freedom of expression in Belgrade for Serbian journalists, lawyers and politicians. 2007
- Uganda - Consultant Editor and Trainer for the Ugandan Radio Network - a national news agency for Ugandan FM radio stations set up to enhance democratic capability in advance of 2007 Presidential Election. 2006
- China - Organised and ran of workshops for senior Chinese Government press officers in understanding Western concepts of freedom of information and independent journalism. 2006
- Turkey – International expert drafting communications strategy for EU rural development programme in Anatolia aimed at farmers and farm labourers. 2006
Contact Details
T: +44 (0)1234 400 400
E: ivor.gaber@beds.ac.uk
