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Author and TV producer joins University

Dr Suzanne Franks, a distinguished television producer, author, journalist and broadcaster, is joining the University of Kent.

Dr Franks is taking up a position as Director of Research with the University's Centre for Journalism - based at its Medway campus - and also with the Department of Politics and International Relations.

Part of her remit is to help develop the Centre for Journalism's portfolio of programmes and courses, particularly for postgraduate students, as well as lecturing and organising conferences and events.

Dr Franks spent the first decade of her career as a producer for BBC Television, working on programmes including Newsnight, Watchdog and Panorama. She also ran her own TV production company, Sevenday Productions, for more than 14 years, producing a series of news and political programmes and documentaries for major broadcasters including Sky News, Channel Four, ITV and BBC Radio Four.

Dr Franks's books include Dished: The Rise and Fall of BSB - nominated for a British Film Institute book prize - and Writing's On The Wall: A radical and social anthology, jointly written with former Labour MP Tony Benn.

A former student at both Oxford and Harvard universities, Dr Franks completed a PhD at the University of Westminster in 2007 on Famine, Politics, Aid and the Media. Her most recent research project, part-funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), has seen her helping to write an official history of the BBC.

The University of Kent's Journalism degree launches this month, with students being taught from a fully-equipped multimedia newsroom at Medway.

Professor Tim Luckhurst, Head of the Centre for Journalism, said his new team member would bring a wealth of expertise to the University. 'Suzanne Franks is a brilliant academic with a tremendous track record in journalism and as an author,' he said. 'Her appointment confirms the Centre for Journalism's ambition to be the best in Europe.'

Dr Franks said she was excited about her new role. 'The Centre for Journalism has a clear goal to provide the best possible hands-on training and academic teaching. By joining the team, I hope to play a part in giving our students the best possible starts in their careers,' she said.

Professor Hugh Miall, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, also welcomed the joint appointment. 'Students are aware of the central role of the media in contemporary politics and international relations. I am delighted that someone of the calibre of Suzanne Franks will be able to launch our prospective BA in Politics and the Media,' he said.

Dr Franks has also written numerous press articles and reviews for publications ranging from The Times and The Guardian to Cosmopolitan and the New Statesman, and has made regular live appearances on radio shows including the BBC's Woman's Hour and Start The Week.

The teaching team at the Centre for Journalism includes Ian Reeves, the former editor of journalists' trade title Press Gazette; award-winning television director Richard Pendry; and national newspaper columnist Sarah Lonsdale.

Contact: N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 12:05pm 10 September 2008