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Interviewed by ZDF on role of social media in Belfast riots Interview on ZDFheute Nachricten, 10 June Yesterday I was interviewed by German public service broadcaster ZDF about the racist violence in Northern Ireland over the past few days. Anti-immigration protests and related violence have taken…

Social Media and the Belfast Riots: Articles in Sunday Post, Yle (Finland) and Times of Malta I have three new articles out on the role of social media in the violent disorder seen in Northern Ireland last week. On Friday I was interviewed by Derek Healey for an article in The Sunday Post. We…

Interview on ZDFheute Nachricten, 10 June Yesterday I was interviewed by German public service broadcaster ZDF about the racist violence in Northern Ireland over the past few days. Anti-immigration protests and related violence have taken place in Belfast and several other towns in the region, sparked by a knife attack by a Sudanese man on Monday night. I commented on the role of far-right agitators and online platforms in the coordination of the protests. Thanks to Joe Evans for the interview. You can view the segment below (from 09:56 onwards).

Participant in a panel on AI, misinformation and Scottish election On Wednesday I was an invited contributor to a panel organised by The Ferret. Entitled AI, misinformation and the Scottish election, the focus was on how best to respond to mis-and disinformation in Scotland. Ali Brian (The…

Cost of living crisis book launch- 24 June Book launch event, 24 June 2026 The launch event for Bad News on the Cost of Living Crisis will be held in a few weeks' time. It will be jointly sponsored by the Glasgow University Media Group and Red Pepper Magazine. Please see below for details on the…

Interviewed for Kid Reporters Knowledge Exchange Programme Representing CoSS at Kid Reporters Knowledge Exchange event In March 2026 I represented the College of Social Sciences in the kid Reporters Knowledge Exchange programme. This collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Hillhead…

Social Media and the Belfast Riots: Articles in The Conversation, New Statesman and The Times I have three new articles out on the role of social media in the violent disorder seen in Northern Ireland this week. On Wednesday I wrote for the Conversation UK on how social media had been used by…

On Wednesday I was an invited contributor to a panel organised by The Ferret. Entitled AI, misinformation and the Scottish election, the focus was on how best to respond to mis-and disinformation in Scotland. Ali Brian (The Ferret), Digdem Soyaltin Colella (University of Aberdeen) and I discussed a variety of topics, including how bad actors use AI-images to pollute political discourse online, the vectors of misinformation in contemporary Scotland, and how we can rebuild trust in democratic institutions.

Book launch event, 24 June 2026 The launch event for Bad News on the Cost of Living Crisis will be held in a few weeks' time. It will be jointly sponsored by the Glasgow University Media Group and Red Pepper Magazine. Please see below for details on the speakers and venue. Details on how to register can be found here: …

Representing CoSS at Kid Reporters Knowledge Exchange event In March 2026 I represented the College of Social Sciences in the kid Reporters Knowledge Exchange programme. This collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Hillhead Primary School brought 90 school children to campus to learn more about the media, digital storytelling, and the University’s research. My contribution revolved around how to stay safe online.

Bad news on the cost of living crisis published I am a contributor to a Glasgow University Media Group book published last week. Bad news on the cost of living crisis explores media representations and audience responses to the COLC in the United Kingdom over the past few years. The blurb of the…

Interviewed about public reaction to Nicola Sturgeon appearance on Kuenssberg show Memes posted in aftermath of Nicola Sturgeon interview on Laura Kuenssberg show Yesterday I was interviewed by Steph Brawn (The National). We discussed the public reaction to former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's…

Such a fantastic project! We were pleased to be represented by @pauljreilly.bsky.social, who bravely took on questions about social media, staying safe online - and what kind of cat he'd be 🐱 Well done to the team at @uofgeducation.bsky.social and @uofgsocsci.bsky.social who made this happen.

Invited public lecture on social media and peacebuilding at University of Copenhagen Invited lecture at University of Copenhagen Yesterday I delivered a SEMINAR at the University of Copenhagen. Entitled 'Digital contention in divided societies: how online platforms hinder peacebuilding', I gave an…

Memes posted in aftermath of Nicola Sturgeon interview on Laura Kuenssberg show Yesterday I was interviewed by Steph Brawn (The National). We discussed the public reaction to former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's interview on the BBC Laura Kuenssberg show. Many online commenters have questioned her claims that she was completely unaware of estranged husband Peter Murrell's embezzlement of SNP party funds.

I am a contributor to a Glasgow University Media Group book published last week. Bad news on the cost of living crisis explores media representations and audience responses to the COLC in the United Kingdom over the past few years. The blurb of the book is below: In this book, the Glasgow University Media Group bring their innovative and forensic three-dimensional methodological approach to understanding the role of media in shaping Britain’s cost of living crisis.

Invited lecture at University of Copenhagen Yesterday I delivered a SEMINAR at the University of Copenhagen. Entitled 'Digital contention in divided societies: how online platforms hinder peacebuilding', I gave an overview of the type of intergroup contact facilitated by social media to date. Drawing on key findings from my book Digital Contention in a Divided Society, I argued that online platforms are not shared spaces in which positive peace is likely to emerge.

I have three new articles out on the role of social media in the violent disorder seen in Northern Ireland last week. On Friday I was interviewed by Derek Healey for an article in The Sunday Post. We discussed whether further racist violence was likely over the summer, and the role of social media in fuelling this violence. I suggested that there was a playbook where far-right agitators like Tommy Robinson use their online presence to whip up tensions around immigration.

What happened when we invited 90 school kids onto campus to interview our academics? Learning, fun…and just a touch of chaos 🤪 Watch the full video: gla.ac/4d8BM2x

I have three new articles out on the role of social media in the violent disorder seen in Northern Ireland this week. On Wednesday I wrote for the Conversation UK on how social media had been used by far-right agitators like Tommy Robinson to incite violence in Belfast and other towns. I argued that while more could be done to prevent online hate and misinformation, the toxic discourse around immigration was a bigger problem.