There has been a surge of interest in the costs of Brexit since Britain voted to leave the EU on 23 June, 2016. Some have raised concerns about its effects on Britain’s political influence in Europe, on the economy, jobs and free movement. While others have raised concerns about its effects on the personal wellbeing of diaspora journalists in the UK. For example, a survey by The Guardian (UK) newspaper found that ‘European embassies in Britain have logged dozens of incidents of suspected hate crime and abuse against their citizens since the vote to leave the EU’. However, we have little understanding of its effects on both EU and non-EU diaspora journalists in performing their professional roles.

Therefore, this workshop aims to explore the direct and indirect effects of Brexit on diaspora journalists regarding three thematic areas, that is, professional identity (including the peculiarity of being a diaspora journalist), professional practice (access, ethics, objectivity, etc) and personal wellbeing (physical, psychological and emotional). The workshop brings together diaspora journalists, scholars and policymakers to deliberate on these themes and other related themes. The outcome will be a practice guide and a research agenda.

The University of Lincoln is well suited to host this workshop because it is located near Boston, regarded as the Brexit capital of the UK with three quarters of the people voting to leave the UK. And the School of English and Journalism is home to the Media of Diaspora Research Group (MDRG https://mediaofdiaspora.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/ ) which researches on the intersection between journalism and diaspora.

Organisers: Dr Ola Ogunyemi, convener of MDRG; Prof Jason Whittaker, Head of School of English and Journalism.

Date: 30^th Nov., 2016.

Venue: University of Lincoln in MC1020.

Time: 13.00hrs – 17.00hrs. Nibbles from 13hrs to 14hrs. Workshop from 14hrs to 17hrs.

Guest speakers:

Prof Mike Baynham, University of Leeds (confirmed)

Neil Smyth, Assistant Director, Academic Engagement, University Library (confirmed)

Amy Farrell, Research Officer, University of Lincoln (confirmed)

Karl McCartney JP, MP for Lincoln (TBC)

 

To register your interest to attend, please email oogunyemi@lincoln.ac.uk