Gender, Communication & Violence Prevention Research Workshops

EVENT 01

PUBLIC RESEARCH SEMINAR

Towards the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence through the Social Impact of Journalism

ABOUT THE EVENT

This interdisciplinary research seminar will bring together scholars in communication, gender studies, sociology, media studies, journalism, and related disciplines to explore the role of evidence-based narratives in preventing gender-based violence and promoting egalitarian social relations. This event will hold On-site at 1pm and is intended for Researchers & Interested Professionals.

The seminar will provide a platform for presenting ongoing research and discussing recent theoretical and empirical developments related to gender, media narratives, and social transformation. Particular attention will be given to how communication practices, media representations, and digital environments shape social attitudes towards relationships, attraction, and gender equality.

The event will also introduce the concept of SafeNarratives, developed within research led by Cristina Pulido, which emphasises the role of scientific evidence in fostering narratives that promote relationships free from violence.

Researchers from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and City, University of London will share current research and engage in an open discussion focused on future interdisciplinary and international collaboration.

About the speakers

Dr. Carolina Matos

Dr. Carolina Matos is a Reader in Media and Sociology and Research Lead at the Department of Media, Culture and the Creative Industries, City St. George’s, University of London, and has over twenty years experience teaching and researching in UK HE.

Her research is in the area of health and international communications, media and democracy, NGOs advocacy communications, gender, development and global health. She investigates the role that communications can have for social change, and how it can be used to tackle some of the world’s global challenges.

Matos is chair of the Gender and Communications section of IAMCR and also of ECREA’s Women’s Network and collaborates with researchers from across the world, from the UK to Europe, US, India, Bangladesh and Latin America, including various women and health NGOs, such as Media 21 Foundation (Europe) and BBC Media Action (UK and India).

Matos is the author of various books, journal articles in top journals, book chapters among others. She is the single-authored of four manuscripts, including the award-winning Media and politics in Latin America: globalization, democracy and identity (IB Tauris), winner of the Premio Jabuti 1st category communications (2014), Globalization, gender politics and the media (Lexington Books, 2016) and Gender, communications and reproductive health in international development (McGill Queen’s University Press, 2023).

Dr. Cristina Pulido

Dr. Cristina Pulido is an Associate Professor at the Department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), where she also serves as Director of the Department.

She is a member of the Research Group on Communication and Education and collaborates with the UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy for Quality Journalism. She is currently the main researcher of SafeNarratives Research.

Her research focuses on the social impact of journalism, media and information literacy, disinformation, digital gender violence, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in communication.

Her work particularly examines how journalism grounded in scientific evidence and inclusive narratives can contribute to digital violence prevention, a democratic public sphere free of violence and resilience.

Pulido currently leads and participates in several national and international research projects related to quality journalism, media literacy, AI, and social impact. Among them is the SafeNarratives project, which explores how the inclusion of journalistic narratives that present scientific evidence of social impact helps prevent gender violence.

Dr. Beatriz Villarejo

Dr. Beatriz Villarejo is a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Her research focuses on gender, communication, social transformation, and the social impact of research. She led the research project JourScience: Scientific Evidence on Gender in Journalism and Communication, funded through a José Castillejo grant, which enabled her to conduct research at Cardiff University’s.

Her work has also included an extensive analysis of the integration of scientific sources into journalistic narratives on gender. More broadly, her research explores how communication practices and evidence-based narratives can contribute to equality, violence prevention, and interdisciplinary international collaboration.

She has participated in a range of initiatives linking academic research, public engagement, and social impact.

EVENT 02

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION WORKSHOP 2

Developing International Research Collaboration on Gender and Communication

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

This collaborative workshop will focus on developing international research initiatives to address gender equality, communication, and the prevention of digital violence worldwide. This event will hold On-site / Online Hybrid at 3pm and is intended for Researchers & Interested Professionals.

Participants will work together to identify key societal challenges and explore opportunities for collaborative research within European frameworks such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.

The workshop will include collaborative sessions designed to:

• Identify shared research priorities
• Define potential research questions
• Explore methodologies and collaborative structures
• Develop preliminary ideas for future international projects

The session will conclude with presentations of proposed project ideas and a collective discussion on next steps for strengthening international collaboration.

PARTICIPANTS

This workshop is intended for:

• Researchers
• PhD candidates
• Professionals interested in gender, communication, and international research collaboration

Participation is based on registration and expression of interest.

Join us in advancing international dialogue and collaborative research on gender equality, communication, and violence prevention.