Karen Ross
Doing research that has an impact on people’s lives
The advantages of participatory research and using film as research output
Karen is a Professor in Gender and Media and Director of Research at the School of Arts and Cultures at Â鶹´«Ã½. Her research is about news presentation, politicians’ self-representation on social media, representation of older women in fact-based media, and community focused projects with women. Karen told me that the idea of working with older women in her community in Â鶹´«Ã½ started from recognising herself as an older woman and wanting to do something which was more participatory and has a real impact on people and her local community.
Currently, Karen is working on a number of projects, including a menopause project with local women in Â鶹´«Ã½, which encompasses an animation film that will be used for training health practitioners and to raise awareness. To develop the film as well as a workshop for this project, Karen worked with the animator Sheryl Jenkins and a colleague abroad. She told me that this project provides a platform for a diversity of voices, including Geordie women and their experience of menopause.
Film is something Karen has used much throughout her career. She thinks that, as a research output, it is a very powerful medium, as it engages people much more than a conference paper.
Watch the video to hear more about Karen’s experience as a researcher, her motivation to research older women, and to meet her dog Frieda, who made sure her voice (and squeaky toy) was given a platform as well.
Check out Karen’s website, , or her staff profile to read more about her research and projects.