Professor Panayiota Tsatsou
Panayiota Tsatsou is Professor of Media Diversity in the Department of English and Media at Birmingham City University and Academic Research Lead at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity. Her work explores media diversity, digital inclusion and the wider social and structural inequalities that shape people’s experiences of communication and digital technologies. Much of her research focuses on vulnerable and marginalised communities, and she has built a substantial body of scholarship on digital disadvantage, intersectionality and the implications of emerging technologies. Her publications include four books and a wide range of articles in journals such as New Media & Society, Information, Communication & Society, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Social Media + Society and Behaviour & Information Technology.
She has led and contributed to projects funded by the Nuffield Foundation, AHRC, the British Academy and other bodies, producing research that informs academic debate, professional practice and policy thinking. She has also authored major reports for the Sir Lenny Henry Centre, including evaluations of UK media diversity reporting and the BBC’s Creative Diversity Commitment.
Panayiota serves as an External Expert to the European Research Executive Agency (European Commission) and is a member of the ESRC Peer Review College and the UKRI Talent Peer Review College, reviewing research applications for UK and international funders. She has held several external examiner roles across UK and overseas institutions and has examined PhD theses internationally.
She is committed to fostering inclusive research cultures, supporting early career researchers and contributing evidence to policy and practice in digital inclusion and media diversity. Her work regularly feeds into advisory groups, consultations and collaborative initiatives with industry, civil society and international organisations.
Areas of Expertise
- Digital inclusion — digital disadvantage, intersectionality, and the experiences of vulnerable communities.
- Emerging technologies — social implications of AI and digital systems for inequality and participation.
- Media diversity — workforce diversity, representation, and structural inequalities in UK media.
- Media and digital policy — diversity commitments, regulatory frameworks, and public service media obligations.
- Qualitative and mixed methods research — digital ethnography, longitudinal studies, and social media analysis.
- Academic leadership — research strategy, mentoring, REF leadership, and inclusive research cultures.
- External examining — UG/PG external examining and international PhD examination.
Qualifications
- PhD Media and Communications, 2009 (LSE, UK)
- MSc Media and Communications, 2004 (LSE, UK)
- MA Political Science, 200 (University of Birmingham, UK)
- BA Hons Political Science and Public Administration, 1998 (University of Athens, Greece)
Memberships
Selected memberships:
- Co-Chair of the IAMCR Working Group Inclusive Communication and People with Disabilities (ICO). International Association for Media and Communication Research
- MIT Technology Review Global Panel. MIT Technology Review
- UNESCO Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy. UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab
- Internet Society - Affordable Internet Access SIG, UK England Chapter, Accessibility Standing Group
- MIT Technology Review Global Panel. MIT Technology Review
- International Communication Association (ICA)
- Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR)
- European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA)
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Talent Peer Review College
- ESRC Peer Review College
Teaching
Panayiota currently teaches PGT / Master students, and she leads the MED7366 Research in Practice.
Research
1. Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Youth & Digital Exclusion
As Co Investigator on a Nuffield Foundation–funded project (Research, Development and Analysis Fund – Welfare stream), Panayiota is examining how digital technologies shape experiences of exclusion and opportunity among Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) young people. The project explores the role of digital access, skills and practices in mitigating multiple forms of social and structural exclusion, and aims to generate evidence that can inform welfare policy, youth support services and digital inclusion interventions.
2. Digital Good & Vulnerable People’s Digital Inclusion
As Principal Investigator in this project, Panayiota is leading the initial testing of a social lab framework for researching vulnerable people’s digital good. The project investigates how the concept of the “digital good” can be used to understand people’s digital needs across different life domains, and how participatory, lab based methods can support more inclusive and context sensitive digital inclusion research. This work contributes to methodological innovation and the development of evidence based approaches to vulnerable people’s digital good.
3. Research at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity
As Academic Research Lead at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, Panayiota oversees the Centre’s research strategy, development and partnerships. Her role involves shaping the Centre’s research agenda, supporting project design and delivery, and ensuring that its work remains rigorous, socially grounded and relevant to industry, civil society and policy audiences. She contributes to the Centre’s impact activities, supervises research staff, and works closely with external partners to strengthen evidence on media representation, workforce diversity and structural inequalities in UK media.
Postgraduate Supervision
Panayiota has rich postgraduate research supervision and has more than 10 successful PhD completions.
Panayiota welcomes PhD applications in the following areas:
- Digital divides/inequalities
- Digital inclusion
- Vulnerable or marginalised communities and their digital experiences
- Intersectionality in the digital realm
- Internet studies
- Internet research
- Media diversity
Publications
Books
- 2022, Vulnerable People and Digital Inclusion: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan (Edited volume).
- 2018, Social Inclusion and Usability of ICT-enabled Services. London: Routledge (Co-edited with J. Choudrie and S. Kurnia).
- 2014, Internet Studies: Past, Present and Future Directions. Surrey: Ashgate Publishing.
- 2011, Digital Divides in Europe: Culture, Politics and the Western-Southern Divide. Berlin: Peter Lang.
Journal articles
- Under review. Public Perceptions of the Causes of Minority Infections and Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK. Journal article, co-authored with L. McLaren, Y. Zhu.
- Under review. Does Media Portrayal of Disability Reflect Disabled People’s Leadership Roles in UK Television Industry? Journal article, co-authored with N.M. Emmanuel.
- Under review. Vulnerable people’s perceptions of digital technologies: A digital inclusion study from a digital good perspective. Journal article, co-authored with G. Polizzi and M. Brzeska.
- Under review. A social lab framework for decolonial research of vulnerable people’s digital inclusion. Journal article, co-authored with G. Polizzi.
- Under review. Digital Inequalities: A Critical Mapping of New Challenges from the Rise of Artificial Intelligence. Journal article, co-authored with G. Kefalidou.
- 2026. Vulnerable people’s digital good in four life domains: Insights and future recommendations. New Media & Society (co-authored with G. Polizzi and M. Brzeska). [online first] doi: 10.1177/14614448261416062
- 2025. Othering discourse online in the UK during a time of crisis: A case study of opinion expressed on Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information, Communication & Society (co-authored with Y. Zhu, S. Zhang and L. McLaren). doi: 10.1080/1369118X.2025.2587126
- 2024, Comparing location-specific and location-open social media data: methodological lessons from a study of blaming of minorities on Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Computational Social Science (co-authored with S. Zhang, L. McLaren and Y. Zhu).
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2024, Blaming minorities during public health crises: post-COVID-19 substantive and methodological reflections from the UK. [online first]. doi:/10.1080/01419870.2024.2342408 (co-authored with L. McLaren & Y. Zhu).
- 2022, Editor’s introduction to Special Issue: Vulnerable People’s Digital Inclusion in a Perplexed Milieu of Intersectional Vulnerabilities. New Media & Society 24(2): 271–8. doi:10.1177/14614448211063175.
- 2021, Vulnerable people’s digital inclusion: Insights into intersectionality. Information, Communication & Society [online first]. doi:10.1080/1369118X.2021.1873402
- 2021, Aging: The two faces of Janus in digital inclusion? International Journal of Communication 15(2021): 1309-29.
- 2021, Is digital inclusion fighting disability stigma? Opportunities, barriers, and recommendations, Disability & Society 36(5): 702-29. doi:10.1080/09687599.2020.1749563
- 2020, Digital inclusion of people with disabilities: A qualitative study of intra-disability diversity in the digital realm. Behaviour & Information Technology 39(9): 995-1010. doi:10.1080/0144929X.2019.1636136
- 2018, Emerging research communities of practice versus the popular vision of interdisciplinarity? Insights from digital research in the United Kingdom. Social Science Quarterly 99(5): 1733-49. doi:10.1111/ssqu.12531 (with Y. Zhao).
- 2018, Social media and informal organisation of citizen activism: Lessons from the use of Facebook in the Sunflower Movement. Social Media + Society 4(1). doi:10.1177/2056305117751384
- 2018, Literacy and training in digital research: researchers’ views in five social science and humanities disciplines. New Media & Society 20(3): 1240-59. doi:10.1177/1461444816688274
- 2017, ‘Travelling with the traveller’: an ethnographic framework for the study of migrants’ digital inclusion. JOMEC Journal 11: 4-22. doi:10.18573/10.18573/j.2017.10140 (with N. Boursinou).
- 2016, A ‘Two-level social capital analysis’ of the role of online communication in civic activism: lessons from the role of Facebook in the Sunflower Movement. Social Media + Society 2(4). doi:10.1177/2056305116671967 (with Y. Zhao).
- 2016, Can media and communication researchers turn the present challenges of research impact and interdisciplinarity into future opportunities? The International Communication Gazette 78(7): 650–6. doi:10.1177/1748048516655718
- 2016, Digital technologies in the research process: Lessons from the digital research community in the UK. Computers in Human Behaviour. 61(August 2016): 597–608. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.053.
- 2014, Responsibility to Report: the politics of British press reporting of the Darfur humanitarian crisis. Global Media and Communication 10(2): 193–219. doi:10.1177/1742766514540980 (with C. Armstrong).
- 2012, Tackling cyberbullying: Review of empirical evidence regarding successful responses by students, parents and schools. International Journal of Conflict and Violence 6(2): 283–93 (with S. Perren, L. Corcoran, H. Cowie, F. Dehue, D. Garcia, C. McGuckin, D. Smahel, A. Sevcikova. & T. Völlink).
- 2012, The Role of Social Culture in Internet Adoption in Greece: Unpacking “I Don't Want to Use the Internet” and Frequency of Use. The Information Society 28(3): 174–88. doi:10.1080/01972243.2012.670190
- 2011, Why Internet use? A quantitative examination of the role of everyday life and Internet policy and regulation. Technology in Society 33(1–2): 73–83. doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2011.03.016
- 2011, Digital divides revisited: What is new about divides and their research? Media, Culture & Society 33(2): 317–31. doi:10.1177/0163443710393865
- 2011, EU regulations on telecommunications: The role of subsidiarity and mediation. First Monday 16(1).
- 2010, Internet policy and regulation through a socio-cultural lens: A dialogue between society’s culture and decision-makers? Javnost-The Public 17(3): 23–38. doi:10.1080/13183222.2010.11009034
- 2010, Towards a Taxonomy for Regulatory Issues in a Digital Business Ecosystem in the EU. Journal of Information Technology 25(3): 288–307. doi:10.1057/jit.2009.22 (with S. Elaluf-Calderwood & J. Liebenau).
- 2010, The role of everyday life and resistance culture in non-adoption of the internet in Greece: A qualitative examination. Questions de communication 18(2010): 63–88.
- 2010, Child pornography on the internet and policy questions. The Greek case. Communication Issues Journal 6(11).
- 2009, Children and the Internet: A multinational research agenda. Guest Editors’ Introduction. Journal of Children and Media 3(4): 309–15. doi:10.1080/17482790903233317 (with S. Livingstone).
- 2009, E-commerce and online buying behavior: the rushed virtual consumers? A qualitative analysis of the Greek case. BLIK: Journal for audiovisual culture 2.2: 30–9.
- 2009, Reconceptualising Time and Space in the Era of Electronic Media and Communications. PLATFORM: Journal of media and communication 1: 11–32.
Book chapters
- 2022, Editor’s Introduction & Conclusion. In P. Tsatsou (Ed.) Vulnerable People and Digital Inclusion: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives? Palgrave Macmillan.
- 2018, Literacy and identity links forging digital inclusion? Critical reflections and signposts from a qualitative study. In J. Choudrie S. Kurnia and P. Tsatsou (Eds.) Social Inclusion and Usability of ICT-enabled Services (pp.335-58). London: Routledge (with G. Youngs and C. Watt).
- 2018, Introduction. In J. Choudrie S. Kurnia and P. Tsatsou (Eds.) Social Inclusion and Usability of ICT-enabled Services. London: Routledge (with J. Choudrie and S. Kurnia).
- 2018, Conclusion. In J. Choudrie S. Kurnia and P. Tsatsou (Eds.) Social Inclusion and Usability of ICT-enabled Services. London: Routledge (with J. Choudrie and S. Kurnia).
- 2013, Coping with cyberbullying: How can we prevent cyberbullying and how victims can cope with it? In P.K. Smith and G. Steffgen (Eds.) Cyberbullying Through the New Media: Findings from an International Network (pp. 121–35). East Sussex: Psychology Press (with C. McGuckin, S. Perren, L. Corcoran, H. Cowie, F. Dehue, A. Sevcikova & T. Völlink).
- 2013, Digital inclusion and connectivity of minority communities: the case of communities of disabled people. In J. Choudrie and C. Middleton. (Eds.) Management of Broadband Technology and Innovation: Policy, Deployment, and Use (pp. 122–41). London: Routledge (with G. Higgs, I. Stafford, R. Fry. & R. Berry).
- 2013, Digital inclusion: a case for micro perspective. In G. Youngs (Ed.) Digital World: Connectivity, Creativity and Rights (pp. 52–63). London: Routledge.
- 2011, Gender and sexuality in the Internet era. In K. Ross (Ed.) The Handbook of Gender, Sex and Media (pp. 516–34). Blackwell Publishing.
- 2011, Mobile phones like any other ICT? The case of Greece and its adoption of mobile phones from a socio-cultural perspective. In Y.K. Dwivedi (Ed.) Adoption, Usage, and Global Impact of Broadband Technologies: Diffusion, Practice and Policy (pp. 92–108). Hershey, USA: IGI Global.
- 2010, The role of social culture in evaluation of Internet policies. The case of everyday and resistant culture in Greece. In E. Adomi (Ed.) Handbook of Research on Information Communication Technology Policy: Trends, Issues and Advancements (pp. 631–51). Hershey, USA: IGI Global.
- 2010, Digital Divides in Greece: the role of culture and regulation. Implications for the European Information Society. In L. Fortunati, J. Vincent, J. Gebhardt, A. Petrovcic & O. Vershinskaya (Eds.) Interacting with Broadband Society (pp. 207–25). Berlin: Peter Lang.
- 2009, Digital divides and children in Europe. In S. Livingstone & L. Haddon (Eds.) Kids Online (pp. 107-19). London: Policy Press (with P. Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt. & M-F. Murru).
- 2008, Digital divides and the role of policy and regulation in Greece: a qualitative study. In Avgerou, C. Smith, M.L. and P.v.d. Besselaar (Eds.) Social Dimensions of Information and Communication Technology Policy (pp. 141–60). NY: Springer.
- 2007, Theoretical and Methodological Foundations for a Knowledge Base of Regulatory Issues: Trust in Digital Business Ecosystems. In F. Nachira, P. Dini, A. Nicolai, M. Le Louarn and L. Rivera Lèon (Eds.) Digital Ecosystems Book (pp. 98–105). European Union Research Programme FP6 (with S. Elaluf-Calderwood).
Research reports
- 2025, Authentic Portrayal in UK Media: Insights from Expert Panels on Race, Disability, and Class. Panel Report. Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, Birmingham City University, UK. Available at: https://bcuassets.blob.core.windows.net/docs/checkedlhc-research-report26ppjuly25v4-133981672717990067.pdf (co-authored with S. Bristol-Abbott & N.M. Emmanuel).
- 2025, UK Media Diversity Reporting 2021-2024: An Evaluation Report. Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, Birmingham City University, UK. Available at: https://bcuassets.blob.core.windows.net/docs/lhc-research-reporta-w2web-133917904364052681.pdf (co-authored with N.M. Emmanuel).
- 2024, BBC Creative Diversity Commitment: A report on the impact of the BBC’s £112 million Creative Diversity Commitment (co-authored with Nina Robinson, Joanna Abeyie and Aurora Herrera). Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, Birmingham City University.
- 2015, The Role of Digital Technologies in Social Research in the UK: An Emerging Digital Research Community. Final Report. Working Papers of the Communities & Culture Network+ Vol. 5 (April 2015).
- 2014, ‘Discovering Digital Me’: Forging Links between Digital Identity, Digital Literacy and Digital Economy. Final Report. University of Brighton, UK (co-authored with G. Youngs & C. Watt).
- 2012, Coping with Cyberbullying: A Systematic Literature Review. Final Report of the COST IS 0801 Working Group 5 (co-authored with S. Perren, L. Corcoran, H. Cowie, F. Dehue, D. Garcia, C. McGuckin, D. Smahel, A. Sevcikova & T. Völlink).
- 2011, ICT use and connectivity of minority communities in Wales. Final Report. Swansea University, Wales, UK (co-authored with G. Higgs, I. Stafford, R. Fry & R. Berry).
- 2011, ICT use and connectivity of minority communities in Wales. Discussion Paper. Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), UK (co-authored with G. Higgs, I. Stafford, R. Fry & R. Berry).
- 2011, ICT use and connectivity of minority communities in Wales. Literature Review. Swansea University, Wales, UK (co-authored with G. Higgs, I. Stafford, R. Fry & R. Berry).
- 2010, Policy note on ‘Methods of Public Consultation’, Welsh Labour Commission on Local Democracy and Local Government.
- 2007, Community Currencies at the boundary between the gift & exchange economies: the ground for business models in Digital Business Ecosystems. Report D6.5, Opaals Project (Contract n° IST-034744). London: London School of Economics and Political Science, Media and Communications Department.
- 2006, Locational Issues for the Implementation of the Knowledge Base of Regulatory Issues, Report D32.4, Digital Business Ecosystem Project (Contract n° 507953). London: London School of Economics and Political Science, Media and Communications Department (co-authored with G. Gow & S. Elaluf-Carderwood).
Media Work
Panayiota has presented commentaries in media outlets and research-informed analyses on non-academic platforms such as:
Work With Industry
Panayiota has provided consultancy services to businesses, organisations and expert networks such as Wikistrat Inc., GlobalWonks, Network Plus, and UkSkill Digital.