Overview
I am a third year PhD researcher interested in the visual communication of climate change. My PhD research aims to investigate the production of climate change journalism, particularly in the world of digital news. I have worked closely with award-winning digital climate news organisation Carbon Brief and am grateful for their support in my reserach.
Following my First Class BA Geography degree from the University of Exeter, I was fortunate enough to receive South West Doctoral Training Partnership funding to continue research in this area through both an MRes and PhD.
My MRes research investigated the role of image banks (particularly Getty Images) in constructing a visual discourse of climate change in the media. In 2021, I published a paper on the visual changing visual discourse of climate change protests in 2019/20 building on this work.
You can hear me talking about this research on climate change protest in a recent BBC podcast.
I am delighted to be working with the excellent supervision team of Saffron O’Neill (University of Exeter), Catherine Butler (University of Exeter), and Lorraine Whitmarsh (University of Bath).
Broad research specialisms
Climate change communication, digital media, visual climate communication, social media
Qualifications
BA Geography – University of Exeter
MRes Sustainable Futures – University of Exeter
Links
Research
Research interests
Climate change communication, digital-born media, visual climate communication, social media
Research projects
I am currently working on several projects alongside my PhD work:
- A study on public responses to images of climate protest, inspired by my recent article on the media representations of climate protesters. This is a project I am running with Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh and the University of Bath, as well as Undergraduate Research Assistant Yu Shuang Gan
- Visual Reporting of Heatwaves: working with Associate Professor Saffron O'Neill to lead a group of European scholars to analyse visual coverage of the 2019 heatwave across Europe. More information on this project here.
- Analysed UK newspaper editorials between 2011-2021 for pro/anti climate action sentiment. This analysis was undertaken with and for Carbon Brief.
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Hayes S, Manktelow C (2023). Reconciling impact and participation: Reflections on collaborating with specialist organisations for PhD research.
AreaAbstract:
Reconciling impact and participation: Reflections on collaborating with specialist organisations for PhD research
AbstractRecent debates within Geography have discussed the benefits of collaborating with non‐academic partners in research (e.g. Campbell & Vanderhoven, 2016, Knowledge that matters: Realising the potential of Co‐production. Manchester, UK: N8 Research Partnership; Holt et al. 2019, Area, 51, 390). We discuss these debates in relation to two key concepts in Geography: Impact and Participation. In this article, we critically reflect on our own experiences as PhD researchers conducting collaborative research projects, discussing the outcomes, challenges and ‘expectations gaps’ of collaboration with non‐academic partners (Flinders et al. 2016, Evidence & Policy, 12, 261, p. 269). Our contribution lies in our reflections on collaboratively producing knowledge through being embedded in non‐academic expert organisations. Much of the debate in Geography has focused on collaboration with marginalised groups or vulnerable communities (e.g. Holt et al. 2019, 2019, Area, 51, 390), and we add to these debates with the experiences of collaborating with two expert organisations: a specialist climate journalism organisation (Carbon Brief); and a government organisation (Met Office). First, we discuss the varying forms of impact that were produced through conducting our research collaboratively, not only through improving the quality of our academic outputs through ‘ontological transformation’ (Barry et al. 2008, Economy and Society, 37, 20, p. 20), but also ‘real‐world’, actionable impacts for the collaborative partners. We relate both these experiences to ideas of impact which go beyond the REF Impact Agenda, specifically finding important the concept of ‘impact‐in‐process’ (Marzi, 2022, Area). Second, we discuss the ethical complexities and power dynamics involved with embedding a researcher in an expert organisation. We highlight the need for broader conceptions of ethnical research, drawing particularly from Campbell and Vanderhoven's ‘ethical state of mind’ (2016, p. 30). In sum, we argue that although PhD research which is produced collaboratively with expert organisations can produce practical benefits to both researcher and partner, there are important discussions around power dynamics and ethics which can prevent PhD research done in this way from fully realising the transformational potential of collaboration.
Abstract.
O'Neill S, Hayes S, Strauβ N, Doutreix M, Steentjes K, Ettinger J, Westwood N, Painter J (2022). Visual portrayals of fun in the sun in European news outlets misrepresent heatwave risks.
The Geographical Journal,
189(1), 90-103.
Abstract:
Visual portrayals of fun in the sun in European news outlets misrepresent heatwave risks
AbstractThe ways in which news media communicate about heatwaves can influence how society conceptualises and addresses heatwave risks. We examined visual news coverage of the 2019 heatwaves in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, using content and visual critical discourse analyses. Many visuals were positively valenced (in contrast to article texts), framing heatwaves as ‘fun in the sun’. The most prevalent type of images in all countries were photographs of people having fun in or by water. When images did depict the danger of heat extremes, people were largely absent. We conclude that this visual framing of heatwaves is problematic: first, by displacing concerns of vulnerability, it marginalises the experiences of those vulnerable to heatwaves; and second, it excludes opportunities for imagining a more resilient future. We conclude with suggestions to diversify the visual discourse on climate change and heatwaves in the news media.
Abstract.
Hayes S, O'Neill S (2021). The Greta effect: Visualising climate protest in UK media and the Getty images collections. Global Environmental Change, 71, 102392-102392.
Publications by year
2023
Hayes S, Manktelow C (2023). Reconciling impact and participation: Reflections on collaborating with specialist organisations for PhD research.
AreaAbstract:
Reconciling impact and participation: Reflections on collaborating with specialist organisations for PhD research
AbstractRecent debates within Geography have discussed the benefits of collaborating with non‐academic partners in research (e.g. Campbell & Vanderhoven, 2016, Knowledge that matters: Realising the potential of Co‐production. Manchester, UK: N8 Research Partnership; Holt et al. 2019, Area, 51, 390). We discuss these debates in relation to two key concepts in Geography: Impact and Participation. In this article, we critically reflect on our own experiences as PhD researchers conducting collaborative research projects, discussing the outcomes, challenges and ‘expectations gaps’ of collaboration with non‐academic partners (Flinders et al. 2016, Evidence & Policy, 12, 261, p. 269). Our contribution lies in our reflections on collaboratively producing knowledge through being embedded in non‐academic expert organisations. Much of the debate in Geography has focused on collaboration with marginalised groups or vulnerable communities (e.g. Holt et al. 2019, 2019, Area, 51, 390), and we add to these debates with the experiences of collaborating with two expert organisations: a specialist climate journalism organisation (Carbon Brief); and a government organisation (Met Office). First, we discuss the varying forms of impact that were produced through conducting our research collaboratively, not only through improving the quality of our academic outputs through ‘ontological transformation’ (Barry et al. 2008, Economy and Society, 37, 20, p. 20), but also ‘real‐world’, actionable impacts for the collaborative partners. We relate both these experiences to ideas of impact which go beyond the REF Impact Agenda, specifically finding important the concept of ‘impact‐in‐process’ (Marzi, 2022, Area). Second, we discuss the ethical complexities and power dynamics involved with embedding a researcher in an expert organisation. We highlight the need for broader conceptions of ethnical research, drawing particularly from Campbell and Vanderhoven's ‘ethical state of mind’ (2016, p. 30). In sum, we argue that although PhD research which is produced collaboratively with expert organisations can produce practical benefits to both researcher and partner, there are important discussions around power dynamics and ethics which can prevent PhD research done in this way from fully realising the transformational potential of collaboration.
Abstract.
2022
O'Neill S, Hayes S, Strauβ N, Doutreix M, Steentjes K, Ettinger J, Westwood N, Painter J (2022). Visual portrayals of fun in the sun in European news outlets misrepresent heatwave risks.
The Geographical Journal,
189(1), 90-103.
Abstract:
Visual portrayals of fun in the sun in European news outlets misrepresent heatwave risks
AbstractThe ways in which news media communicate about heatwaves can influence how society conceptualises and addresses heatwave risks. We examined visual news coverage of the 2019 heatwaves in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, using content and visual critical discourse analyses. Many visuals were positively valenced (in contrast to article texts), framing heatwaves as ‘fun in the sun’. The most prevalent type of images in all countries were photographs of people having fun in or by water. When images did depict the danger of heat extremes, people were largely absent. We conclude that this visual framing of heatwaves is problematic: first, by displacing concerns of vulnerability, it marginalises the experiences of those vulnerable to heatwaves; and second, it excludes opportunities for imagining a more resilient future. We conclude with suggestions to diversify the visual discourse on climate change and heatwaves in the news media.
Abstract.
2021
Hayes S, O'Neill S (2021). The Greta effect: Visualising climate protest in UK media and the Getty images collections. Global Environmental Change, 71, 102392-102392.
Sylvia_Hayes Details from cache as at 2023-09-26 20:26:51
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