Dr Kathryn McDonald

Kathryn's research, practice & teaching is centred around participatory media, broadcast talk, media ethics, community engagement, radio production and broadcasting history.

Kathryn is co-editor of The Bloomsbury Handbook of Radio, to be published at the start of 2023. She is currently researching two areas: how radio can be used articulate the experience of motherhood inside prisons; and how and why suicidal listeners might call into radio stations.

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.

She lectures across the undergraduate and postgraduate framework and is Level 4 Coordinator on the BA Media Production degree. She was Programme Leader on the BA Radio course and is External Examiner at the University of Salford. Kathryn is the Wellbeing Coordinator for the Department of Media Production, and is Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity representative for the BA Media Production programme. She is Staff Wellbeing Lead for the Faculty of Media & Communications and Chair of the BBC Centenary Committee Steering Group,

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