Dr Ahmed Topkev

Overview

I am employed as a Teacher at Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture (JOMEC). My teaching experience spans a spectrum of engaging undergraduate modules, including:

• Understanding Journalism
• Doing Media Research
• Media Scholarship
• Media and Democracy
• Branding and Identity
• Advertising and the Consumer Society
• History of Mass Communication and Culture

Additionally, I have contributed to postgraduate modules, such as (1) Politics of Global Communication, (2) Electoral Behaviour, Public Opinion, and the Media, and (3) Putting Research Into Practice.

In recognition of my dedication to academic excellence, I was awarded the title Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and became a Cardiff University Education Fellow in March 2023.

My academic journey has been shaped by my dedication to and pursuit of knowledge in the field of journalism studies. I successfully completed my PhD in Journalism Studies at JOMEC in May 2021, a significant milestone that laid the foundation for my ongoing research endeavours. You can see the abstract of my doctoral research [here].

My scholarly pursuits were further affirmed through a publishing contract with Palgrave Macmillan. This opportunity enabled me to transform my doctoral research into a book titled ‘A Democratic Approach to Religion News: Christianity and Islam in the British and Turkish Press,’ published in March 2024. More information about the book is available [here]. Reviews of the book have appeared in Newspaper Research Journal (2024, Sage Publishing) and Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (2025, Wiley).

My research interests encompass journalism studies, comparative journalism, and the interplay between democracy, news media, society, and religion, with a specific emphasis on religion in the news.

I am a member of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA), Religion News Association (RNA), and Sociology of Religion Study Group at the British Sociological Association (BSA SocRel). These affiliations underscore my dedication to continuous learning and engagement within my field.