Profile

Photo:

Vian Bakir

    • About Me:

      I live on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, so I get to walk up epic mountains and along deserted beaches in my free time.

    • Read more

      I love animals – especially small, furry cute ones – and hanging out with family and friends.

    • My pronouns are:

      she/her

    • My Work:

      I’m a Professor in Journalism and Political Communication at Bangor University in North Wales, so I teach Media, Journalism, Politics and Sociology students at university.

    • Read more

      I research and write about false information, journalism, trust, manipulation and AI.

    • My Typical Day:

      I wake up, have a cup of Lapsang Souchong tea in the garden, then start work. I either work from home, reading, researching and writing (e.g. books, academic papers, reports for various public bodies) and attending virtual meetings (eg with research students, or with public bodies that I advise such as media regulator Ofcom, or with teams I’m working with across the country on funded research projects. Or I travel to the university (a short cycle ride away) and I teach students face-to-face (in lectures and smaller seminars) and attend meetings on campus.

    • Read more

      I tend to work through from starting (around 8.30 am) to finishing (around 5pm or 6pm), with a half hour for lunch. I make sure I go for a long walk at the end of each day to unwind and take in the beautiful scenery where I live. Then I have dinner and usually watch something on TV.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      People need to know more about why false information spreads so easily on social media, as well as in emerging technologies such as ChatGPT, as well as how to identify this and stop this. I would spend the money doing something in that area – though quite what, I don’t know yet.

    Candidate CV questions (extra)

    • Education:

      My family traveled around abroad a lot for work so I went to lots of schools. In the UK, I started at North View infant school in Newcastle and ended at Colchester Sixth Form College in Colchester. My A-levels were Geography, Economics and Pure Maths with Statistics.

      I then went to Oxford University, where I studied BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics. In reality, I didn’t find my A-levels very useful specifically for my university course, but I picked things up from scratch at university.

      I then spent a year working as a researcher and a ghost writer to save some money. I used that to fund a Masters in Journalism at Cardiff University.

      This allowed me to then apply for a three-year funded PhD studentship at Hull University, where I did my PhD in the department of European Studies (looking at media agenda-building battles between environmental group Greenpeace and oil company Royal Dutch Shell). I also studied for a post-graduate teaching certificate.

      I then got full-time jobs as a lecturer, and have moved around various universities since.

    • Qualifications:

      10 O’Levels

      3 A-Levels

      2 S-Levels

      BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

      Masters in Journalism

      PhD

    • Work History:

      Cleaner in hospitals

      Apple picker

      Shop assistant in Post Office

      Researcher on various projects

      Graduate Teaching Assistant

      Lecturer in Broadcasting

      Lecturer in Media, Communication and Culture

      Senior Lecturer in Journalism

      Professor in Journalism & Political Communication

    • Current Job:

      Professor in Journalism & Political Communication

    • Employer:

      Bangor University

    • My Interview

      • What did you want to be after you left school?

        I wanted to either go into research or to do something practical that saves the planet from environmental destruction and warfare.

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        not really - I always enjoyed engaging with new ideas.

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        I don't know. Maybe something with animals or the envirionment.

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Many to choose from, but I would say I always go back to Leonard Cohen.

        What's your favourite food?

        grapefruit

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        To work less hard. For everyone and thing I love to have long and happy lives. To be more active outdoors.

        Tell us a joke.

        I ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon. I'll let you know.

Ask me a question!

Questions answered by Vian

View all Vian's answered questions

My Comments

  • No comments to display