Laura Ranca
Department of Social Sciences
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Leicestershire LE11 3TU
England
Email: L.A.Ranca[at]lboro.ac.uk
Nationality: Romanian
Start Date: October 2009
Status: Full time
Academic Biography:
- MA (2008) in “Public Policy” with majors in “Media, Communications and Information Policy” and “International Policy” – Department of Public Policy, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
- BA (2002) in “Political Science and Public Administration” – ‘Vasile Goldis’ West University, Arad and ‘Babes-Bolyai’ University, Cluj, Romania
Current Research:
PhD project title:
“Bridging Theory, Policy and Practice in Media Development. The Case of UN Agencies in Romania and Democratic Republic of the Congo”Project Brief:
It is a common practice among international media development assistance organisations and programs to promote standardized discourses and policy agendas addressing democratic models of media professionalism and journalistic practice in new and emerging democracies while altering their projects implementation process according to specific political, economic and social contexts. But to what extent do the outcomes meet the original media development discourse and official policy agendas of these organisations?
This PhD project investigates the links between theory, policy and current practice in international media development assistance by aiming to trace the continuity and/or gaps between these three levels. Emerging from a critical analysis of the theoretical and policy aspects of the field of international communication and development, the research draws on collection and analysis of empirical evidence from the planning, implementation and outcomes of work conducted or supported by specialised United Nations agencies engaged in assistance to media development in two different democratic transition contexts: Romania - in Central Eastern Europe and Democratic Republic of the Congo - in Central Africa.
Research Interests:
Media Development and Professionalisation
International Media Assistance
Media, Communication and Development
Media and Communications Policy
Journalism Practices
Media Performance
Media Pluralism
Funding Body:
Supervisors: Dr. Sabina Mihelj and Dr John Downey
Involvement in Department:
- Cultural and Media Analysis Group (CaMARG)
- Member of the Organizing Committee for the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network Conference 2012, to be hosted by the Department of Social Sciences, Loughborough University.
- Member of the PhD Club
Professional Activities (selected):
- June 2004 - April 2009: Researcher and Program Coordinator – Center for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS), Central European University (CEU), Budapest, Hungary.
- May - September 2009: Public Information Officer – United Nations Volunteers Programme, UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- August 2003 - June 2004: Project Manager – Human Rights Initiative (HRsI), Central European University (CEU), Budapest, Hungary.