Dr Keighley Perkins

(she/her)

Overview

My research explores how political communication operates in high-stakes, ideologically charged environments — from mainstream journalism to radical online spaces. Sitting at the intersection of media studies, politics, cybercrime, and linguistics, I’m particularly interested in how political actors and institutions communicate with the public, and how these interactions shape trust, accountability, and democratic participation.

I am currently a Research Associate on the AHRC-funded project Enhancing the Impartiality of Political News, led by Professor Stephen Cushion and Dr Matt Walsh. The project critically examines how UK broadcasters interpret and implement due impartiality guidelines, and how audiences perceive impartiality in political news coverage. By analysing broadcast, online, and social media content, and engaging with diverse publics, the research contributes to ongoing debates about the role of journalism in democratic life.

Before joining Cardiff University, I worked at Swansea University on interdisciplinary projects examining online child sexual exploitation and abuse, and the identity construction of the radical right. These roles deepened my interest in how language is used to persuade, polarise, and protect in both mainstream and fringe contexts.

Across all my work, I’m committed to producing research that is both academically rigorous and socially relevant. I regularly engage in public scholarship through collaborative workshops, digital engagement, and partnerships with journalists and practitioners, with the aim of making research accessible, impactful, and publicly accountable.