About

I was appointed as a Research Professor in Journalism in the School of Humanities and Journalism in September 2020. Before that, I was Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Political Communication at the University of Sheffield. My role at Derby is mainly concerned with research, both supporting research within the School and wider University as well as maintaining my own research areas and interests.

Broadly, my research centres around the intersection of politics, media and democratic engagement, with a particular current focus on media freedom, audiences and media ethics. My work has been published widely and I have won over £685k in competitive grant funding. I was the Principal Investigator on the AHRC-funded 'Defining Freedom of the Press' research project.

Research interests

My research interests spans journalism studies, political communication and media history and was the Principal investigator in the AHRC-funded project Defining Freedom of the Press which examines press ethics and regulation in Europe and the UK.

I am currently working with Professor Julie Firmstone (https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media/staff/267/professor-julie-firmstone) on a funded project entitled Engaging the Public in Regulating for ethical journalism (https://lssi.leeds.ac.uk/dr-julie-firmstone/) which is an impact focussed project which builds on the recent AHRC study.

I am also currently working on a monograph on freedom of expression. The first examines the relationship between freedom of expression and British radicalism since the 17th century, the second is a comprehensive exploration of contemporary scholarship on freedom of expression and censorship (with Julian Petley, Brunel). 

I am also happy to supervise prospective PhD candidates in the following areas:

• Free speech, censorship and press freedom
• Political participation, democratic theory and praxis
• Political, ethical and regulatory implications of digital media
• Transformations within political communication
• Participatory research
• Journalism Education

Recent publications

• Steel, J. & Petley, J. (eds.) (2024) Routledge Companion to Freedom of Expression and Censorship, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
• Steel, J. (2024) ‘Cancel Culture and the ‘War on Woke’ Steel, J. & Petley, J. (eds.) Routledge Companion to Freedom of Expression and Censorship, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
• Fox, C., Saunders, J., Steel, J., Firmstone, J., Elliott-Harvey, C., Conboy, M., Mulderrig, J. (2023) 'What is the purpose of a code of ethics for the press?', Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics, 20 (1), pp.27-44
• Firmstone, J, Steel, J, Conboy, M. Elliott-Harvey, C. Fox, C, Mulderrig, J, Saunders, J, Wragg, P. (2022) "Trust and ethics in local journalism: a distinctive orientation towards responsible journalism and ethical practices" in J. Lynch and C. Rice (eds.) Responsible Journalism in Conflicted Societies: Trust and Public Service across New and Old Divides, London, Routledge
• Steel, J. Conboy, M. Firmstone, J. Fox, C. Mulderrig, J. Elliott-Harvey, C. Saunders J. and Wragg, P. (2020) Submission of Evidence to the House ofmittee on Communication and Digital: The Future of Journalism (FOJ0032)

Membership of professional bodies

• International Communication Association
• Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association
• Institute of Communication Ethics
• AHE

Professional interests

My work spans political communication, media history and journalism studies. I am particularly interested in exploring historical and contemporary debates concerning democratic rights and their praxis, specifically those contestations around media freedom, free of expression and censorship. 

In addition to my current work on journalism ethics, I have recently published on topics including Advocacy Journalism, Digital Media and Journalism Education, Class and the Regional Press, and Letters to the Editor. With my co-editor Professor Julian Petley, I have recently published The Routledge Companion to Freedom of Expression and Censorship. I am also working on a monograph for Routledge entitled British Radicalism and Free Speech. 

I hold editorial board membership of the journals Media History; Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies; and Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics. I am a regular reviewer for leading media and communication journals including the European Journal of Communication; International Journal of Press Politics; Journalism Studies; Digital Journalism; Journalism Practice; Media History; Journal of Media and Communication Studies; Journal of Applied Media Studies; Historical Research; Digital Journalism; Cambridge Journal of Education; International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics.

I also regularly review book proposals for leading publishers including Routledge Taylor and Francis; Palgrave; Sage; and Zed Books.

Qualifications

• BA. Hons. Politics, PhD
• FHAE

Recent conferences

• ‘Understanding public expectations of journalism and the role of regulation in improving trust in journalism,’ with Julie Firmstone, Political Studies Association, Media and Politics Specialist Group Conference, University of Liverpool, November 2022
• ‘Developing a methodology for understanding public attitudes towards standards of ethics in journalism,’ with Julie Firmstone, International Communication Association Conference, Paris, France, May 2022
• ‘Defining freedom of the press in the 21 century: Interdisciplinary approaches and comparative perspectives’. Journalism 2020 conference, Vienna. Paper accepted
• ‘Defining freedom of the press in the 21 century: Interdisciplinary approaches and comparative perspectives,’ International Communication Association Conference, Brisbane Australia, May 2020 (remote)
• ‘Stakeholder Workshops as a Method for Developing a Grounded Media Ethics’, MECCSA Conference, University of Brighton, January 2020
• ‘Journalists’ perception of press freedom in practice: Perspectives from the front-line’, Political Studies Association, Media and Politics Specialist Group Conference, University of Leeds, December 2019
• Defining ‘Freedom of the Press’: A Cross-National Analysis of Press Council Codes of Ethics. Future of Journalism Conference, University of Cardiff, September 2019
• ‘Defining freedom of the press: Understanding the approaches to freedom of the press in five European countries’, Special Panel on Human Dignity Beyond Boundaries: Revisiting Global Journalism Ethics, IAMCR Conference, Madrid, Spain, July 2019
• ‘Non-elite voices and media regulation’, Norms for the new public sphere, AHRC funded workshop, Somerset House, London (invited) April 2019
• ‘Defining freedom of the press: a cross-national examination of press ethics and regulation in 13 European countries’, PSA Media and Politics Specialist Group, University of Nottingham, November 2018

Experience in industry

I have been, and continue to be involved in wider community industry and engagement with links to a range of external partners including Independent Monitor for the Press (IMPRESS), Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO); National Union of Journalists (NUJ); Ethical Journalism Network (EJN); European Federation of Journalists; Amnesty International; IPPR; Article 19; Index on Censorship; Tell MAMA; Trans Media Watch; Cancer Research UK; London Chamber of Commerce; Policy Exchange; Migrant Voice; Project Censored as well as having established contacts within Westminster and Whitehall.

International experience

In addition to conducting and directing research activities overseas, I have worked on a wide range of international projects and collaborations including book and writing projects, funding bids and research proposals, international panel convening and conference presentations.

Teaching responsibilities

I currently teach on the MRes in Social Science and Humanities and the MA in Journalism. I have held programme and module leadership roles in the past. 

Additional interests and activities

Walking, cycling, climbing, swimming and music (not all at the same time!).