Hilary Stepien

Hilary Stepien is a Senior Lecturer in Public Relations in the Communication and Journalism department in the Faculty of Media and Communication. She teaches on a variety of degrees including Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing Communications at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Hilary gained professional communication experience in public affairs, issues management and strategic communication while working in Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Transportation for the Government of Ontario in Toronto, Canada.

Health communication, particularly where there is a social dimension, is Hilary's chief area of interest in terms of both teaching and research. For example, she is particularly interested in communication around health conditions that are stigmatised and/or taboo. At present, Hilary’s research focuses on public relations discourses around vaccines in the context of competing “truth claims” in varying media ecologies throughout time (since vaccination's inception as a medical practice).