Dr Kathryn McDonald

Kathryn is based in the Media Production department and also works as Work Load Lead for the Office of the Vice Chancellor.

Kathryn's research, practice & teaching is centred around participatory media, broadcast talk, audio production and media history. She is co-editor of "The Bloomsbury Handbook of Radio", which was published in 2023. Kathryn is currently researching three areas: prison radio, sustainability and suicide.

Before completing her PhD, Kathryn previously worked as a radio producer in independent production (documentaries, live events, awards, festivals, specialist music shows). She continues to consult on podcasts pitches and audio projects in the industry.

Kathryn lectures across the undergraduate and postgraduate framework. She has been Programme Leader on the BA Radio course and External Examiner at the University of Salford, as well as Level 4 Leader on the Media Production degree. She is Staff Wellbeing Lead for the Faculty of Media & Communications and was Chair of the BBC Centenary Committee Steering Group.

Kathryn is a member of the Centre for Emotions and Social Justice (CESJ) and the Media History Group. She is a supervisor on PhD projects and welcomes applications from prospective post graduate students. Her own doctoral research focused on the radio interview. Her paper on the early years of BBC Radio programme 'Desert Island Discs' was published in the Radio Journal.