Dr Lada Trifonova Price SFHEA
Senior Lecturer in Journalism
Summary
Since I began my career as a scholar and an educator in 2007, I have been on a mission to transform journalism research and education in relation to two of the most fundamental real-life challenges that journalists worldwide face today: improving safety and combating impunity. I believe I have a duty to my students and to society to actively lead in the global effort to provide knowledge exchange, protection for journalists and prevention of attacks against them.
About
As a former journalist, I have experienced first-hand the harsh reality of working as a journalist in a hostile environment that requires reporters to be aware of issues related to violence, attacks, threats and online harassment aimed at diminishing their right to freedom of expression. The starting point for my leadership in research and education is that keeping journalists safe starts in the classroom, not when they are already working in the field.
A key strand of my research and educational initiatives aims to contribute to progress on journalism safety and wellbeing, an integral part of sustainable journalism, while promoting ethically responsible journalism practice. My goal has always been to make education as robust and socially sustainable as possible and to foster a sense of standard in my area of study – journalism. I continuously strive to develop and maintain a style of teaching and learning that meets the distinct needs of my students while also exploring and experimenting with new methods of working with students and colleagues.
Most weeks during the semester you will find me teaching on several undergraduate and postgraduate modules, and supervising dissertations. My students have produced some truly outstanding research and I am dedicated to supporting and nurturing ethical, critical-thinking, employable journalists and media professionals who have the skills to build a career in the journalism industry at home and internationally.
Teaching
College of Social Sciences and Arts
I was recently awarded and currently working on two internal educational projects: Sheffield Hallam University (STEER) evaluation grant aimed at course development on all levels and journalism programmes and Sheffield Hallam University Teaching, Learning & Student Experience Enhancement Project grant aimed at enhancing student experiences.
Subject area:
Journalism and PR
Centre for Culture, Media and Society
Courses taught:
MA Multimedia Journalism
MA International Journalism
BA Multimedia Journalism
BA Sports Journalism
Modules taught:
Media, Power and Society
Ethics and Responsibility
Issues in Global Media
Photography for Journalists
Applied Project and Dissertation Supervision
Research
I am currently a co-investigator of BA Leverhulme small research grant, awarded in April 2021 for a project titled "Creating a safe space for journalists to speak about trauma: Examining the roles of journalism educators". The study aims to make a major contribution to literature on journalism and trauma which has established that journalists lack safe spaces to speak about trauma. Evidence shows that the prevalence of PTSD among journalists is higher than the general population and that they are engaging in avoidance responses (numbing out, avoiding reminders of the event, diminished interests) as coping strategies. The project aims to develop a new framework for building resilience to trauma among journalists and journalism students and produce guidelines for educational and professional practice on building resilience to trauma. The project is part of an international research group that I launched with my colleague Ola Ogunyemi from Lincoln University in November 2020 – Journalism Education and Trauma Research Group with members and research hubs in seven world regions.
The second strand of my research is focused on media and journalistic practice in Eastern European democracies. More specifically, I examine threats to press freedom, such as censorship and self- censorship, media corruption, ethical challenges to journalistic practice, and violence and intimidation against journalists. I am also researching more recent challenges and new forms of journalism during the coronavirus pandemic in countries with democratic deficits (Bulgaria) with a view of developing this into a large-scale comparative regional study. I recently presented my research at the Future of Journalism Conference 2021 at Cardiff University.
Link 1: https://jetreg.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/about-jetreg/
Link 2: https://sheffieldhallam.sharepoint.com/sites/3018/SitePages/Event-.aspx?from=DigestNotification&e=UPXnTdJ4vEag5NThbJSDyg&at=9&CT=1641400852369&OR=OWA-NT&CID=b7c36217-0a22-e85e-eec3-51f90adbf778
Link 3: https://sheffieldhallam.sharepoint.com/sites/3018/SitePages/Sheffield-Hallam-lecturer-awarded-BA.aspx
Collaborator and sponsors:
British Academy Leverhulme small grant
Publications
Journal articles
Trifonova Price, L., & Subryan, M. (2020). Deer in the headlights: Towards an understanding of how journalism students engage with complex academic research methods modules. The Media Education Research Journal, 9 (2), 53-73. https://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/merj/files/2021/03/MER_9.2_Subryan-Trifonova-Price.pdf
Trifonova Price, L. (2019). Media corruption and issues of journalistic and institutional integrity in post-communist countries: the case of Bulgaria. Communist and post-communist studies, 52 (1), 71-79. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.postcomstud.2019.02.005
Price, L. (2016). Media–state relations in emerging democracies. African Journalism Studies, 37 (2), 142-144. http://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2016.1182283
Price, L. (2015). Journalists' Perceptions of Nomenklatura Networks and Media Ownership in Post-Communist Bulgaria. Medijske Studije / Media Studies, 6 (11), 19-33.
Trifonova Price, L. (2015). Secrets, Lies, and Journalist-Spies: the contemporary moral dilemma for Bulgarian media professionals. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 20 (2), 185-203. http://doi.org/10.1177/1940161214555554
Trifonova Price, L. (2014). A free press: time for the EU to act. British Journalism Review, 25 (3), 50-54. http://doi.org/10.1177/0956474814550600
Conference papers
Trifonova Price, L. (2009). Media Models – how do they fit in the Bulgarian context? In Eleftherakis, G., Hannam, S., Kalyva, E., & Psychogios, A. (Eds.) Infusing Research and Knowledge in South-East Europe, (pp. 89-99).
Book chapters
Trifonova Price, L. (2022). Between a rock and a hard place: continued struggle of media and journalism in Bulgaria’s media system. In Iordanidou, S., & Dagoula, C. (Eds.) 6+1 Proposals for journalism. Safeguarding the field in the digital era. (pp. 90-104). Bristol: Intellect: https://www.intellectbooks.com/61-proposals-for-journalism
Trifonova Price, L. (2021). Ethical Codes in Post-communist Countries: The Case of Bulgaria and Romania. In Price, L., Sanders, K., & Wyatt, W.N. (Eds.) Routledge Companion to Journalism Ethics. Routledge
Price, L.T., Sanders, K., & Wyatt, W.N. (2021). Introduction. In The Routledge Companion to Journalism Ethics. (pp. 1-5).
Trifonova Price, L. (2021). The post communist “hybrid” tabloid – between the serious and the “yellow”. In Conboy, M., & Eldridge II, S.A. (Eds.) The Global Tabloid. Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/Global-Tabloid-Culture-and-Technology/Conboy-II/p/book/9780367336264
Hanney, R. (2020). Making Projects Real in a Higher Education Context. In Morley, D.A., & Jamil, M.D.G. (Eds.) Applied Pedagogies in Higher Education – real world learning and innovation across the curriculum. (pp. 163-185). Palgrave Macmillan: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46951-1_8
Trifonova Price, L. (2019). Post-communist Media and the Impact of Democratization in Bulgaria and Romania. In Polonska, E., & Beckett, C. (Eds.) Public Service Broadcasting and Media Systems in Troubled European Democracies. Palgrave Macmillan: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030027094
Trifonova Price, L. (2018). "Bear in mind...and do not bite the hand that feeds You”. Institutionalized Self-Censorship and Its Impact on Journalistic Practice in Post communist Countries—the Case of Bulgaria. In Freedman, E., Goodman, R.S., & Steyn, E. (Eds.) Critical Perspectives on Journalistic Beliefs and Actions. Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315161099
Books
Price, L.T., Sanders, K., & Wyatt, W.N. (2021). The routledge companion to journalism ethics. http://doi.org/10.4324/9780429262708
Price, L.T., Sanders, K., & Wyatt, W.N. (2021). The routledge companion to journalism ethics. http://doi.org/10.4324/9780429262708
Reports
Harrison, J., Pukallus, S., & Trifonova Price, L. (2014). The non-reporting of and the public’s interest in crimes against journalists and the issue of impunity. Centre for Freedom of the Media. http://www.cfom.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/SHEFFIELD-FINAL-Focus-Group-31oct14-4.pdf
Presentations
Trifonova Price, L., & Antonova, V. (2021). Challenges and Opportunities for Journalism During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Lessons from Bulgaria. Presented at: Future of Journalism Conference, Cardiff University
Trifonova Price, L., Ogunyemi, O., Healey, J., Jukes, S., Orner, R., Saady, A., & Beighley, P. (2021). Trauma in International Journalism. Presented at: Journalism Research and Education Section, Nairobi, Kenya
Trifonova Price, L., & Ogunyemi, O. (2021). Trauma in International Journalism: Toward an Educational Agenda. Presented at: Creating Knowledge Conference, Sheffield Hallam University
Trifonova Price, L. (2018). Building reflexive practitioners: Engaging journalism students with teaching of research methods. Presented at: Association of Journalism Educators’ (AJE) summer conference, Canterbury Christ Church University
Trifonova Price, L. (2017). A free press is no match for corruption: how corruption poisoned the Bulgarian post-communist press. Presented at: Second International Journal of Press/Politics conference, Oxford University
Trifonova Price, L. (2017). Journalism in Danger: Engaging Students Outside the Classroom. Presented at: Association of Journalism Educators’ (AJE) winter conference, Westminster University
Trifonova Price, L. (2016). Extending the Journalism Classroom through Technology Enhanced Learning. Presented at: Faculty of Social Science Teaching Excellence Conference “Promoting Teaching Excellence –TEF and Beyond, Sheffield University
Trifonova, P., & Sreedharan, C. (2015). The HONY Model: Extending The Journalism Classroom Using Social Media. Presented at: Social Media for Learning in Higher Education Conference 'Finding our social identity', Sheffield Hallam University
Posters
Trifonova Price, L. (2020). Threats to journalism safety and freedom of expression in Bulgaria. Presented at: World Press Freedom Day Conference, The Hague but virtual presentations
Trifonova Price, L. (2020). Threats to journalism safety and freedom of expression in Bulgaria. Presented at: World Press Freedom Day Conference, The Hague but virtual presentation
Other activities
I am a joint convenor of the Journalism Education and Trauma Research Group (JETREG) and a member of the JETREG steering committee.
Member of the executive committee of the Association of Journalism Educators (AJE), UK.
Theme lead of the Digital Culture and Critical Media Practice research group at the Centre for Culture, Media and Society.
Internationalisation lead in the Media, Arts and Communications Department.
Project lead for partnership between Journalism and PR subject group and the BBC’s 50:50 Equality Initiative.
I am Co-Director of Education at the Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) and a member of the Journalism Safety Research Network (JSRN), a global community of researchers focused on journalism safety.
I am a peer reviewer for a number of world-leading journalism, media and communication academic journals.
Postgraduate supervision
Helen Johnston, working title of thesis: The Discursive Construction of ‘News’: An Analysis of Professional Journalism Discourse.