By Olesya Romashko and Sarah Binnie
Against a backdrop of uncertain press freedoms and shifting cultural landscapes, Swansea University’s Taliesin theatre played host to the 5th Annual Media Symposium on 9th May 2025. This day was marked by lively debate, sharp critique, and an undercurrent of guarded optimism about the role of media in a democratic society.
Photo: Welcome speech from Dr. Joanna Rydzewska
This jubilee year gathered an eclectic array of academics and PhD students, each examining the contradictions and challenges at the heart of contemporary media. The programme, deftly chaired by Sarah Binnie and Olesya Romashko, ranged from the news censorship and adaptability of journalism to the gendered design of children’s video games.
Olesya Romashko opened proceedings with a searching look at the paradoxes of journalism in transitional democracies. Her presentation, ‘News Censorship and Democratic Transformation: The Paradox of Journalism Freedom and Continued Control’, cut close to the bone. ‘All freedoms have their limits,’ Romashko cited Camus and asked, ‘how a journalist, faced with the suppression of that freedom, can remain free.’
Photo: Where is the border between freedom and control? – asked O.Romashko
Olesya, as an organiser and participant, was asked if she sees the interconnection between academic research and participation in the Annual Media Symposium. She said:
‘My motto from my childhood ‘To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield’. This can be applicable to both. We need to keep striving to achieve goals during our academic journey , especially when we face challenges or setbacks. We need to be proactive to overcome obstacles, and as a true researcher we have to seek meaning through new experience and reflection to construct new knowledge. Applying my research to myself, I can say – don’t censor yourself and you will reach more!’
Olesya Romasho, WGSSS, first-year PhD Student
If Romashko’s presentation was an exercise in censorship, journalism and democracy, then Sarah Binnie’s was an immersion into the complexities of the digital landscape. Her talk, ‘Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement in YouTube Video Essays’, analysed the murky, sometimes lawless environment of online content creation. Her presentation highlighted YouTube’s potential to foster media literacy in non-academic contexts, connecting traditional and digital forms of inquiry.
Photo: Sarah talks about the prevalence of discussion of plagiarism in YouTube videos
Sarah was a first-time organiser and presenter of the Annual Media Symposium. She was asked about her feelings and advice to early-stage researchers who are going to participate in the next Media Symposium. She said:
‘I really enjoyed organising the Symposium. My advice to other early-stage researchers is to really take advantage of opportunities wherever you can, and also make the most of working with the people around you to complement each other’s strengths!’
Sarah Binnie, WGSSS, first-year PhD Student
The international stage was represented by Nuha Makrash’s ‘Driving Progress or Parking Regression?: British News Media Narratives of Saudi Arabia’s Social Milestones’ Makrash’s sharp analysis revealed how British media represented key moments in Saudi Arabia’s social reforms (2011–2023), including women’s right to vote, the end of the driving ban, and the Newcastle United acquisition. It explores how these were framed—either as real change or image management—and their impact on public perception.
Photo: Nuha presents her supervisors
We reached out to Nuha to ask her about the meaning of participation in the Media Symposium:
‘The Symposium offers a valuable space to share ideas, receive constructive feedback, and engage with diverse academic perspectives. It gave me inspiration, confidence in my research direction, and meaningful connections with fellow scholars.’
Nuha Makrash, PhD Student
Before lunch, Lucy Lloyd’s presentation, ‘Defining Pink Games: The Comparable Analysis of the Design, Experience and Visual Representations in Boys’ and Girls’ Games’, emphasised that video games marketed to female players are often referred to as ‘pink games’, but there was no clear definition of what this meant. When compared to video games marketed to male players, ‘pink games’ lack complex mechanics, encourage low-risk play, and consist of aesthetics that encourage the player to be beauty orientated whilst managing relationships and emotions. Representing girlhood in this way can marginalise play experiences and reinforce gender stereotypes from a young age. The understanding of what a ‘pink game’ is offers so much opportunity to create more fulfilling video game experiences for female players moving forward!
Photo: Defining Pink Games by Lucy Lloyd
Lucy, why was it important to participate in the Symposium; what does it offer you and the audience?
‘Participating in the Symposium is an invaluable experience. You’ll gain deeper insight into the research shaping our community and leave feeling more inspired about the direction of your own research. The Symposium offers a great opportunity to engage with other postgraduates and the faculty team in a supportive and welcoming environment, fuelled by interest and passion.’
Lucy Lloyd
The afternoon resumed with Wyl Jones’s talk, ‘How UK Sports Journalism Reports the Others: Splitting the T from LGB?’ Jones challenged the room to consider better understanding how UK newspaper media reports on minority groups in sport, namely gay male footballers and transgender athletes.
Photo: Data findings from Wyl
We asked Wyl about the most rewarding aspect of his PhD research as he reaches the latter stages.
‘Firstly, I would say it is rewarding when you collect your data and feel like you have gathered new knowledge which you can share with others. Secondly, getting the opportunity to present this work at various Symposiums is also rewarding.’
Wyl, what advice would you give to your previous self that you think can help future presenters?
‘I would say to practice your presentation multiple times before the actual Symposium so it doesn’t feel like you are presenting it for the first time.’
Billie Matthews’ presentation, ‘Women’s Healthcare in Wales: The Role of Social Media and Surveillance Capitalism in Public Attitudes towards the NHS’ followed. Matthews drew a direct line to explore how social media exploits gaps in women’s healthcare to drive user behaviour for profit. The goal is to support arguments for better regulation of behavioural influence on social media platforms, with a focus on improving healthcare outcomes for women in Wales and raising public awareness of how social platforms operate.
Photo: Social Media and Women’s Healthcare in Wales presented by Billie
Billie, who or what motivated you to choose this particular research area?’
‘Media studies has always been my passion, and with my father encouraging my interest in politics from a young age, I’ve long been fascinated by the intersection of media and politics. After studying media and consumer psychology, working in marketing, and seeing how behind-the-scenes strategies influence real-world behaviour, I started researching the power dynamics of surveillance capitalism. As an advocate for healthcare equality, I was particularly interested in how these forces intersect with social media and contribute to healthcare inequality—especially for women, who often bear the brunt of public healthcare issues.’
The day closed with Dr. Yan Wu’s keynote address, ‘Sustaining the Research Journey Through a Belief in Action Research’, which provided an opportunity for reflection upon the role of academic research in society. Sharing experiences of collaborative research beyond academia, Dr. Wu offered a critical assessment of academic citizenship in an uncertain time, encouraging PhD students to see themselves not merely as trainees but as emerging scholars with the agency and responsibility to shape inclusive, action-oriented research cultures.
Photo: Dr.Yan Wu, delivering her speech
At the end of this Symposium, Dr. Joanna Rydzewska, Postgraduate Research Lead of the Media and Communication Department, handed out the Certificates to presenters. Despite this year’s Media Symposium closing its doors, the conversations spilled into the hall, the café, and, inevitably, onto social media feeds. We, as organisers and participants, want to say bye to the 5th Annual Media Symposium and welcome to the 6th Annual Media Symposium next year to all.
