Media and Communication Dissertation Topics

Media and Communication Dissertation Topics for UK Students

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes to review key concepts; 20-30 minutes for comprehensive topic exploration.

Key Takeaways

  • Dissertation topic selection requires balancing personal interest with academic rigor and industry relevance
  • UK media and communication dissertations must address contemporary challenges including digital transformation, algorithmic curation, and regulatory evolution
  • Choose topics that demonstrate critical thinking, access to necessary research resources, and potential to contribute new insights to your field
  • Current media landscape realities—AI-driven content, audience fragmentation, and streaming competition—should inform your topic selection
  • Feasible topics combine specific focus with sufficient academic literature and primary source availability

📚 How to Get Complete Project Materials

Getting your complete project material (Chapter 1-5, References, and all documentation) is simple and fast:

Option 1: Browse & Select
Review the topics from the list here, choose one that interests you, then contact us with your selected topic.

Option 2: Get Personalized Recommendations
Not sure which topic to choose? Message us with your area of interest and we'll recommend customized topics that match your goals and academic level.

 Pro Tip: We can also help you refine or customize any topic to perfectly align with your research interests!

📱 WhatsApp Us Now
Or call: +234 813 254 6417

Understanding the Importance of Dissertation Topic Selection

Selecting the right dissertation topic is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make during your university journey. For media and communication students in the UK, the challenge intensifies because your field intersects with rapidly evolving technologies, changing audience behaviours, and shifting regulatory landscapes. The topic you choose will shape months of research, analysis, and writing—making it essential to select something both academically rigorous and genuinely engaging to you.

Media and communication dissertation topics for UK students must reflect contemporary industry challenges, emerging platforms, and the professionalisation standards expected by UK universities. Whether you’re exploring journalism ethics in the digital age, analysing public relations strategies during crisis communication, examining advertising effectiveness across social media, or investigating the impact of new media platforms on traditional broadcasting, your dissertation topic should demonstrate critical thinking and contribute meaningful insights to your field.

This comprehensive guide provides 30 well-researched, current, and actionable media and communication dissertation topics specifically designed for UK students. These topics address journalism ethics, public relations innovation, advertising effectiveness, broadcast communication trends, and digital media transformation—all crucial areas within contemporary media studies. Each topic is framed to meet UK academic standards while remaining achievable within typical dissertation timeframes.

How to Choose the Right Media and Communication Dissertation Topic

Selecting your dissertation topic requires strategic thinking. Here are practical guidelines to help you make the best choice:

  • Relevance to Your Interests: Choose a topic that genuinely excites you; you’ll spend considerable time researching it, and passion sustains motivation through challenging phases.
  • Feasibility and Access: Ensure you can access necessary data, interview subjects, or archival materials; avoid topics requiring resources unavailable to you.
  • Academic Contribution: Select topics that address gaps in existing research rather than simply repeating what’s been thoroughly studied; this demonstrates critical engagement with your field.
  • Current Industry Alignment: Prioritise topics reflecting 2026 media landscape realities—digital transformation, audience fragmentation, AI-driven content, and regulatory changes.
  • Scope Management: Ensure your topic is specific enough to investigate deeply but broad enough to locate sufficient academic literature and primary sources.

Your dissertation represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to media and communication scholarship. Consider how your chosen topic connects to real-world media challenges faced by professionals in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and digital communications. Topics addressing contemporary issues—such as algorithmic curation, deepfakes, community radio sustainability, or influencer marketing authenticity—demonstrate awareness of current industry demands and position your research as professionally relevant.

Additionally, consider your career aspirations. If you’re targeting broadcast journalism positions, investigating podcast journalism standards or investigative reporting under pressure might align better with your goals. If pursuing public relations, examining crisis communication strategies or CSR narrative building offers direct professional application. This alignment between dissertation research and career direction strengthens your professional profile upon graduation.

30 Media and Communication Dissertation Topics for UK Students

Topics 1-5: Digital Curation, Crisis Communication, and Representation

1. The Impact of Algorithmic Curation on News Consumption Patterns and Media Literacy Among UK University Students

This research examines how social media algorithms shape what news students encounter, their understanding of media sources, and the effectiveness of digital literacy interventions in combating misinformation. This topic addresses critical contemporary challenges in journalism and audience engagement, exploring whether algorithmic systems serve public interest or primarily optimise for engagement metrics that may distort news consumption.

2. Crisis Communication Strategies in the NHS During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis of Trust and Public Response

This dissertation investigates how the NHS communicated health information during COVID-19, analysing messaging effectiveness, public trust variations, and lessons for future health crisis communications. By examining real-world crisis communication from a major UK institution, this research offers insights into stakeholder management, media relations, and public information dissemination during extraordinary circumstances.

3. Representation and Diversity in British Television Drama: An Analysis of Character Portrayal, Casting Decisions, and Audience Reception

This research explores how UK television dramas represent diverse demographics, examining casting patterns, narrative inclusion, and audience responses to representation changes across major broadcasters. This topic connects media production practices with audience perceptions, investigating whether increased representation efforts genuinely translate into authentic storytelling and audience satisfaction.

4. The Role of Influencer Marketing in Fashion Brand Building: Effectiveness, Authenticity Concerns, and Regulatory Compliance in UK Markets

This dissertation analyses influencer marketing campaigns by UK fashion brands, evaluating engagement metrics, audience perceptions of authenticity, and adherence to advertising standards regulations. As influencer marketing increasingly shapes consumer behaviour, this research examines tensions between commercial effectiveness and regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and ethical marketing practices.

5. Podcasting as a Medium for Journalism: Editorial Standards, Audience Engagement, and Commercial Viability in the UK Media Landscape

This research examines how UK journalists use podcasts for storytelling, investigating editorial standards maintenance, audience building strategies, and sustainable business models for podcast journalism. As podcasting emerges as a significant journalism platform, this topic explores how traditional journalistic values translate to audio narratives and whether new distribution channels create viable business opportunities for news organisations.

Topics 6-10: Journalism, CSR, Hate Speech, and Broadcasting Regulation

6. Women’s Representation in UK Newsrooms: Barriers to Progression, Workplace Culture, and Strategies for Gender Equity in Editorial Leadership

This dissertation investigates gender disparities in British news organisations, analysing recruitment patterns, advancement obstacles, workplace dynamics, and successful diversity initiatives. This research addresses persistent inequality within journalism, examining systemic barriers to women’s career progression and evaluating strategies that UK news organisations employ to improve gender balance in editorial leadership positions.

7. The Effectiveness of Public Relations Campaigns in Building Corporate Social Responsibility Narratives Among FTSE 100 Companies

This research evaluates CSR communication strategies used by major UK corporations, examining messaging authenticity, stakeholder perception changes, and organisational credibility impacts. As corporate social responsibility increasingly influences brand perception and consumer choice, this research investigates whether CSR narratives represent genuine organisational commitment or function primarily as reputation management exercises.

8. Online Hate Speech and Content Moderation Policies: Platform Accountability, Free Speech Tensions, and Regulatory Implications in the UK

This dissertation analyses how social media platforms moderate hate speech, examining content policies, appeals processes, regulatory pressures, and tensions between free expression and safety. This research addresses critical contemporary challenges for digital communications, exploring the regulatory landscape, platform responsibility frameworks, and implications for online discourse quality and user protection.

9. The Evolution of British Broadcast Regulation: Ofcom’s Impact on Media Standards, Pluralism, and Public Service Broadcasting in the Streaming Age

This research examines how Ofcom adapts regulations for streaming services, analysing policy effectiveness, protection of public service broadcasting values, and regulatory challenges in convergent media. As media consumption shifts toward streaming platforms, this topic investigates how regulatory frameworks designed for traditional broadcasting apply to digital distribution, ensuring media pluralism and editorial standards protection.

10. Celebrity Endorsement Effectiveness in UK Advertising: Brand Alignment, Audience Perception, and Return on Investment Across Traditional and Digital Media

This dissertation evaluates how celebrity endorsements impact UK consumer behaviour across television, social media, and streaming, examining audience trust, brand fit, and measurable outcomes. This research investigates the economics of celebrity marketing, analysing whether endorsement investments generate proportional returns and identifying factors determining endorsement campaign success across diverse media channels.

The first ten topics span foundational media and communication areas—from algorithmic influence on news consumption through celebrity marketing effectiveness. These topics reflect diverse career paths within media industries, from journalism and broadcast regulation through public relations and advertising, enabling dissertation research aligned with your professional aspirations.

📚 How to Get Complete Project Materials

Getting your complete project material (Chapter 1-5, References, and all documentation) is simple and fast:

Option 1: Browse & Select
Review the topics from the list here, choose one that interests you, then contact us with your selected topic.

Option 2: Get Personalized Recommendations
Not sure which topic to choose? Message us with your area of interest and we'll recommend customized topics that match your goals and academic level.

 Pro Tip: We can also help you refine or customize any topic to perfectly align with your research interests!

📱 WhatsApp Us Now
Or call: +234 813 254 6417

Topics 11-15: Investigative Journalism, Immigration Framing, and Public Service Broadcasting

11. Investigative Journalism Under Pressure: Freedom of Information Laws, Legal Threats, and the Financial Sustainability of Investigative News in Britain

This research explores challenges facing UK investigative journalists, analysing FOI utilisation, legal intimidation impacts, funding models, and implications for accountability journalism. As investigative reporting becomes increasingly resource-intensive and legally contentious, this research examines sustainability challenges, funding innovations, and the future viability of investigative journalism within UK media landscapes.

12. The Framing of Immigration in British Media: Discourse Analysis of Newspaper Coverage, Political Influence, and Public Opinion Formation

This dissertation examines how UK newspapers frame immigration stories, analysing linguistic patterns, source selection, political alignment, and documented effects on public attitudes. This research investigates media’s role in shaping public discourse on controversial topics, examining whether framing choices reflect editorial bias and how media narratives influence public opinion formation and political agendas.

13. Audience Participation in User-Generated Content Campaigns: Engagement Metrics, Brand Loyalty Building, and Ethical Considerations in Promotional Campaigns

This research investigates how brands encourage user-generated content, measuring engagement quality, community building effects, ethical concerns about labour exploitation, and campaign ROI. As brands increasingly leverage audience creativity for marketing purposes, this research examines engagement authenticity, ethical implications of user-generated content harvesting, and community building impacts on brand loyalty.

14. The Impact of Deepfakes on Trust in Media: Audience Vulnerability, Detection Challenges, and Organisational Responses in the UK Media Sector

This dissertation examines public understanding of deepfake technology, analysing vulnerability to manipulated content, detection capabilities, media organisation responses, and trust implications. As deepfake technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, this research investigates audience awareness and vulnerability, media organisation strategies for protecting credibility, and regulatory approaches protecting media trust in digital environments.

15. Public Service Broadcasting in Crisis: Funding Pressures, Political Interference, and BBC Legitimacy in Contemporary UK Media Politics

This research explores challenges to the BBC’s role, examining funding debates, editorial independence concerns, audience perceptions, and implications for public service broadcasting sustainability. This topic investigates existential threats to public service broadcasting, analysing political pressures, funding sustainability, audience relevance, and the BBC’s future viability within converged media landscapes where streaming services challenge traditional broadcasting models.

Topics 11-15 engage more deeply with controversial and complex media issues—investigative journalism sustainability, political framing effects, deepfakes, and the future of public service broadcasting. These topics demonstrate sophisticated media analysis capacity and address critical challenges facing contemporary UK media professionals.

Topics 16-20: Sports Journalism, Streaming Advertising, and Local News Sustainability

16. Sports Journalism Ethics and Exclusivity: Broadcast Rights Negotiations, Access Restrictions, and Reporting Independence in UK Professional Sports

This dissertation analyses how broadcast rights agreements affect sports journalism, examining access limitations, editorial independence pressures, and ethical reporting frameworks. As broadcast rights consolidate among streaming services, this research investigates implications for sports journalists’ access, editorial independence, and sports fans’ media consumption options across UK professional sports.

17. Audiovisual Advertising Effectiveness on Streaming Platforms: Viewer Behaviour Analysis, Ad Recall Metrics, and Challenges to Traditional Advertising Models

This research evaluates advertising on Netflix, Disney+, and Now TV, analysing viewer responses, attention metrics, commercial effectiveness, and platform policy impacts on advertising. As streaming platforms introduce advertising-supported tiers, this research investigates whether streaming advertising achieves comparable effectiveness to traditional television, analysing viewer tolerance and advertiser ROI implications.

18. The Professionalization of Social Media Management: Career Pathways, Skill Requirements, and Professional Standards in UK Digital Communications

This dissertation examines social media management as a profession, investigating required competencies, career progression routes, professional associations, and emerging industry standards. As social media management evolves from informal digital marketing into a recognised profession, this research explores professionalisation processes, skill requirements, career pathways, and professional credentialing development within UK digital communications sectors.

19. Mental Health Representation in UK Television Entertainment: Analysis of Portrayal Accuracy, Audience Impact, and Mental Health Organisation Collaborations

This research explores how mental health is depicted in British entertainment television, examining accuracy, stigma effects, audience responses, and collaborations with health organisations. This topic investigates media’s responsibility in mental health representation, examining whether television depictions increase stigma or support understanding, and analysing mental health organisations’ roles in improving media portrayal accuracy.

20. The Sustainability of Local Journalism in the Digital Age: Business Model Innovation, Community Engagement, and Regional News Viability in Post-Print Britain

This dissertation investigates local news sustainability, analysing digital subscriptions, membership models, community funding, and successful regional news initiatives across the UK. As traditional local news models collapse from print advertising decline, this research examines business model innovations sustaining local journalism, community engagement strategies, and regional news organisations thriving within digital media landscapes.

Topics 21-25: Political Communication, Brand Activism, and Community Radio

21. Political Communication and Social Media: Election Campaign Strategies, Microtargeting Effectiveness, and Electoral Integrity Concerns in British Politics

This research examines political campaigns’ social media use, analysing targeting precision, messaging strategies, voter behaviour impacts, and regulatory implications for electoral fairness. As political campaigns increasingly rely on social media targeting, this research investigates campaign effectiveness, voter manipulation risks, platform accountability, and electoral integrity protection within UK political contexts.

22. Brand Activism in Political Contexts: Corporate Political Communication, Audience Authenticity Judgments, and Commercial Impacts in Polarised UK Markets

This dissertation analyses how UK brands engage with political issues, examining audience responses, authenticity perceptions, polarisation effects, and commercial consequences. This research investigates contemporary brand activism phenomena, examining whether corporate political engagement represents genuine values commitment or opportunistic marketing, and analysing audience scepticism in polarised political environments.

23. Documentary Filmmaking as Social Advocacy: Narrative Techniques, Audience Persuasion, and Documentary Impact on Policy Development in Contemporary Britain

This research explores how documentaries advocate for social change, examining storytelling techniques, audience persuasion mechanisms, policy influence, and measurable social impacts. As documentary filmmaking increasingly combines entertainment with activism, this research investigates narrative persuasion techniques, audience emotional engagement, and documentaries’ capacity to influence policy and public behaviour.

24. The Future of Broadcasting Rights: Streaming Service Competition, Traditional Broadcasters’ Adaptation, and Content Strategy Evolution in UK Media Markets

This dissertation examines competitive pressures in broadcasting rights, analysing streaming services’ acquisition strategies, traditional broadcasters’ responses, content differentiation, and market consolidation. This research investigates fundamental shifts in broadcasting markets as streaming services challenge traditional broadcasters’ dominance, examining content acquisition strategies, market fragmentation, and implications for UK media diversity.

25. Community Radio as a Platform for Marginalized Voices: Accessibility, Audience Development, and Social Impact Assessment in UK Radio Broadcasting

This research investigates community radio’s role in serving underrepresented communities, examining station accessibility, listener engagement, and documented community benefits. This topic explores community media’s potential for amplifying marginalised voices, examining community radio’s social impact, listener diversity, and effectiveness in serving communities underrepresented by commercial and public service broadcasting.

Topics 26-30: Transparency, Immersive Media, Crisis Communication, and Native Advertising

26. The Role of Transparency in Building Trust: Media Ownership Disclosure, Editorial Independence Standards, and Audience Perceptions of News Organisations

This dissertation analyses how media organisations communicate ownership structures and editorial policies, examining transparency’s impact on audience trust and credibility perceptions. As media consolidation and corporate ownership raise editorial independence concerns, this research investigates whether ownership transparency communicates editorial independence and whether audience awareness of media ownership influences news consumption and credibility judgments.

27. Interactive Storytelling and Immersive Media: Virtual Reality Documentary Experiences, Audience Engagement, and Narrative Innovation in UK Media Production

This research explores emerging storytelling formats, examining VR’s audience impact, engagement mechanisms, production challenges, and narrative possibilities compared to traditional media. As virtual reality documentary technology matures, this research investigates immersive storytelling’s emotional impact, audience engagement depth, production feasibility for news organisations, and narrative innovation potential within UK media sectors.

28. Corporate Communication During Organisational Crisis: Crisis Narratives, Stakeholder Management, and Reputation Recovery Strategies in UK Business Communications

This dissertation analyses corporate crisis communication case studies, examining narrative strategies, stakeholder response management, media coverage patterns, and reputation recovery effectiveness. This research investigates how UK corporations manage communication during crises, examining crisis narrative construction, stakeholder engagement strategies, and factors determining reputation recovery success following public controversies.

29. Disability Representation and Accessibility in British Broadcasting: Inclusion Standards, Employment Barriers, and Audience Reception of Disability Representation

This research examines disability portrayal in UK broadcasts, analysing representation accuracy, production accessibility barriers, employment discrimination, and audience perception impacts. This topic investigates media accessibility and representation equity, examining whether broadcasting genuinely includes disabled people in content decisions and employment, and analysing audience responses to disability representation changes.

30. The Regulation of Sponsored Content and Native Advertising: Disclosure Requirements, Consumer Deception Risks, and Regulatory Effectiveness in Digital Media Markets

This dissertation investigates sponsored content regulation, examining disclosure compliance, consumer recognition challenges, regulatory enforcement, and platform responsibility in advertising transparency. As native advertising blurs editorial and promotional content boundaries, this research examines regulatory frameworks protecting consumer interests, disclosure effectiveness, and platform accountability for advertising transparency within digital media markets.

Topics 26-30 address emerging media challenges and opportunities—from transparency’s role in building media trust through immersive storytelling innovation and disability representation inclusion. These concluding topics explore cutting-edge media and communication issues, positioning your research at the forefront of contemporary media scholarship.

📚 How to Get Complete Project Materials

Getting your complete project material (Chapter 1-5, References, and all documentation) is simple and fast:

Option 1: Browse & Select
Review the topics from the list here, choose one that interests you, then contact us with your selected topic.

Option 2: Get Personalized Recommendations
Not sure which topic to choose? Message us with your area of interest and we'll recommend customized topics that match your goals and academic level.

 Pro Tip: We can also help you refine or customize any topic to perfectly align with your research interests!

📱 WhatsApp Us Now
Or call: +234 813 254 6417

Strategic Guidance for Topic Selection and Research Development

Assessing Research Feasibility and Access

Before finalising your dissertation topic, carefully assess whether you can realistically conduct the proposed research within your timeframe and resource constraints. Some topics require primary data collection through interviews, surveys, or content analysis—activities requiring time and access to research participants. For example, investigating investigative journalism’s financial sustainability might require confidential interviews with news editors reluctant to discuss commercial challenges. Conversely, analysing immigration framing in newspapers requires only publicly available archival materials and discourse analysis software, making it more feasible for individual researchers with limited resources.

Consider data access explicitly. If your topic requires proprietary audience data from streaming platforms, obtain clarity about data access possibilities before committing to your topic. University research committees often assist with access to research participants, archival materials, and industry contacts—leverage these resources when negotiating access for dissertation research. Similarly, investigate available academic literature thoroughly; topics with sparse scholarly engagement may offer novelty but simultaneously present challenges locating peer-reviewed sources for your literature review.

Positioning Your Academic Contribution

Strong dissertation topics address ident

MESSAGE US

Need quick, reliable writing support? Message us Now and we’ll match you with a professional writer who gets results!
or email your files to [email protected]
Scroll to Top