About
I am a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow based at the Department of Communication and Media. My research investigates the role of journalism in processes of de-democratisation, with a focus on hybrid political systems and journalistic cultures. I am interested in how media capture and political instrumentalisation shape journalistic practices, influence public deliberation and strengthen illiberal norms. I analyse how and under what conditions journalists and news organisations either facilitate or resist democratic decline and the formation of illiberal public spheres. Both my research and teaching are informed by 18 years of professional experience as a journalist, including time as a reporter and editor in Brazil and as an international correspondent in Europe. I hold a PhD in Politics from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and an MA in Journalism and Communication from the University of Coimbra (Portugal). I am also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) in the UK. Please cite my work as 'Ferreira, R.R.' for consistency.