Despina Chronaki

Department of Social Sciences 
Loughborough University 
Loughborough 
Leicestershire LE11 3TU 
England

Telephone:

Fax:+44 (0)1509 222930

Email: D.Chronaki@lboro.ac.uk

Nationality:

Start Date: Oct 2011

Status: Full-time.

Despina holds a bachelor’s degree in Media, Communication and Culture from Pantion University of Athens (Greece) and a Master’s degree in Political Communication and New Technologies from the faculty of Communication and Mass Media studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Since 2007 she is a member of the Greek team of the EU Kids Online Network, having taken part in both EU Kids Online I and EU Kids Online II projects, while she has also been involved in other projects relevant to her doctoral research as well:

1. GR Kids Go Online: Reasearch project partially funded by the General Secretariat of Youth, conducted by Dr. Liza Tsaliki Assistant Professor in Communication Studies and New Media, Faculty of Communication and Mass Media Studies
2. “Socialisation of Global Sexually Explicit Imagery: Challenges to Regulation and Research” (2008-2009) conducted by Pr. Katharine Sarikakis (University of Vienna) and Dr. Liza Tsaliki (Communication and Mass Media Studies Faculty, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece)

She has participated in several domestic and international conferences (ECREA, AoIR, ESA) as well as in research workshops in the field of media, communication and culture.
Her thesis is anticipated in June 2013.

Current Research:

“Young people’s nature of using sexual content”
My doctoral research focuses on young people’s accounts for experiences with sexual content. Drawing upon approaches deriving from porn studies, children and the media and sexuality studies I attempt to explore how young people used to think and account for sexual content when they were children and teenagers. My research was conducted with young adults 18-22 years old from Britain, Greece and Denmark asked to think retrospectively on their use, views about sexual content. They have also been asked to elaborate on a definition of sexual content and of their awareness of the public debate around pornography.

Research Interests:

Porn studies, children and the media, gender studies, audience reception, children and sexuality

Funding Body:

Greek State Scholarships (IKY), 2009-2012

Supervisors: Prof David Buckingham

Involvement in Department:  

Publications:

Chronaki, D. (2010), “Book review: Gilbert, N. (2009) (ed) From postgraduate to Social Scientist: A guide to key skills”, Educate~, 10(1): 38-39

1. Chronaki, D. (2010), “Book review: Atwood, F. (2010)(ed), Porn.com: Making sense of online pornography”, Communication Issues (Zitimata Epikinonias), 11: 124
2. Chronaki, D. (2010), “The Vatopedi monastery scandal: What does the media coverage of the scandal show about the contemporary social and political role of Greek Orthodox Church?”, Perspective, 4: 161-182
3. Chronaki, D. (2010), “The Vatopedi monastery scandal: What does the media coverage of the scandal show about the contemporary social and political role of Greek Orthodox Church?” in S. J. Miri (ed), Social Theory, Religion and Critical Discourses: Critical Theory in the Postmodern Globe, Saarbrücken: Lambert Academic Publishing

4. Chronaki, D. (2012), "Young explorers/smart users: young people's use of sexual content", in K. Sarikakis & L. Tsaliki (eds) The sex industry in the mass media and popular culture, Athens: Papazissis (forthcoming)

Other:

Member of the Greek Team of EU Kids Online Network (www.eukidsonline.net)

Links:

www.eukidsonline.net
www.eukidsgreece.gr
http://lboro.academia.edu/DespinaChronaki