Stephen Cushion Stephen Cushion is a lecturer at the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University, UK. He is the Deputy Director of theMA in Journalism, Media and Communications and Political Communications programmes.

Stephen’s research addresses many overlapping areas in journalism, political communication and media studies. He is currently writing a book provisionally titled The Democratic Value of News: Why public service journalism matters around the world (2012, Palgrave MacMilan) and has co-edited The Rise of 24-Hour News Television: Global Perspectives (with Justin Lewis 2010, Peter Lang), published widely in leading international, peer reviewed journals – Javnost: The Public, Journalism Studies, Journalism Practice, Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, Journal of Youth Studies, Representation: The Journal of Representative Democracy, Journal of Public Affairs, Cyfrwng: Media Wales Journal, Media & Jornalismo and Nordic Journal of Youth Research: Young – and produced book chapters in Journalism After September 11 (2002 and 2011, Routledge), Political Communications: The General Election Campaign of 2005 (2007, Palgrave MacMilan) and Local Journalism and Local Media: Making the Local News (2006, Routledge).

Stephen has carried out quantitative and qualitative research for organisations such as the BBC, Electoral Commission, Nuffield Foundation, BBC Trust and The department for Communities and Local Government leading to the production of a number of industry related publications that have contributed to debates about journalism practice and policy making.