MPhil/PhD Studentship - From News to Synthetic Reality: Audience Trust, Geopolitical Narratives and Generative AI in the Global Mediascape

Investing in excellence: studentship opportunities

The University of Derby has an opportunity for a full-time postgraduate research studentship in the Creative Industries area of research in the College of Health and Humanities (HH).

The successful applicant will receive a maintenance stipend (based on the minimum stipend defined by UKRI, currently £21,805 for the academic year 2026/27) and home MPhil/PhD tuition fees (£5,238 - subject to amendment) only up to the target submission date.

The intended intake period is January 2027.

International applicants may need to defer to March 2027 to allow sufficient time for CAS issuance and visa processing.

Please note: If your application is successful and you are assessed as international for fees purposes, you will need to pay the difference between the home fees and the international fees.

The successful applicant will be expected to complete their MPhil/PhD within 3 years on the MPhil/PhD route, contribute to the College REF submission and get involved in the wider research activities of the College.

Applicants will become part of a friendly and welcoming team and will be supported and managed by their supervisors.

The vacancy details are as follows:

Project description

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming how people access, interpret and share information about international events. AI-powered search engines, chatbots and content generation tools are increasingly shaping public understanding of wars, elections, migration, diplomacy and global crises. Yet little is known about how audiences evaluate and trust information generated, curated, or amplified by AI.

This PhD project explores how audiences engage with GenAI-mediated geopolitical information across contemporary digital media environments. Drawing on journalism studies, audience research, digital media studies and critical approaches to GenAI, the research will examine how trust, credibility and authority are negotiated within an information ecosystem in which human and AI-generated content increasingly coexist.

The project adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining discourse analysis, audience research and digital media methods. It will investigate how AI shapes geopolitical narratives, how audiences interpret them, and how media organisations, educators and policymakers can respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by GenAI-mediated communication.

The project is particularly relevant to debates around media trust, digital literacy, information disorder, responsible AI and the future of journalism in a changing global mediascape.

Purpose/objectives 

The project aims to advance understanding of how GenAI influences the production, circulation and reception of geopolitical information and how audiences navigate increasingly complex digital information environments.

Objectives:

• Examine how GenAI reshapes the production, circulation and consumption of geopolitical news and information across digital platforms, focusing on audience perceptions of credibility, trust and authority.
• Investigate how audiences from different social, cultural and geopolitical contexts evaluate AI-generated and human-generated geopolitical content, identifying the factors that shape trust, scepticism, media literacy and civic engagement.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations for journalism practice, media literacy initiatives and AI governance that support informed public engagement with AI-mediated geopolitical information and strengthen resilience to information disorder.

The project offers opportunities to work with qualitative, quantitative and digital research methods while engaging with current debates concerning AI, journalism, media power and global communication.

Potential project impact 

This research will contribute to understanding one of the most significant challenges facing contemporary societies: how citizens make sense of information in an increasingly AI-mediated world.

Potential Impact

• Support media literacy and public policy initiatives aimed at strengthening trust, critical engagement and resilience to misinformation and information disorder.
• Inform journalism practice and media organisations by providing evidence on how audiences engage with AI-generated content and geopolitical narratives
• Contribute to debates on responsible AI, digital governance and democratic participation through policy engagement, public dissemination and stakeholder collaboration.

The findings will be relevant to journalists, educators, policymakers, technology developers and civil society organisations seeking to promote trustworthy communication and responsible uses of GenAI. The project also offers strong opportunities for publication, international collaboration and future research funding in the fields of AI, media and society.

To apply

Please review our entry requirements before submitting your application and check out the 'Getting Started' section below.

Completed applications should be submitted via our online application system. It is important that you quote the funding reference: QR_HH_REALITY_2627

Apply online

Closing dates for applications: Sunday 8 November 2026.

Interviews: Friday 20 November 2026 to Thursday 26 November 2026.

If you have not been invited for an interview by the interview date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

For other enquiries which are subject-specific please contact:

Dr Maria Urbina Montana - M.UrbinaMontana@derby.ac.uk

Dr Beth Wood - B.Wood@derby.ac.uk

Getting started

Before you begin your application, make sure you have the following:

Studentship funding reference code

It is important that you quote the funding reference: QR_HH_REALITY_2627 in your application, at the top of your personal statement.

Required Documents

Before submitting your application, please ensure you upload all required documents to enable us to assess your application fully. References may be provided at a later stage.

Personal statement

A 500-word personal statement outlining your suitability for the studentship project. This is a mandatory requirement and you must upload it into your application. You should include your reasons for applying for the studentship, your experience in the field, how you feel you would benefit from studying and relevant information about your previous studies.

Your CV

A CV outlining your academic and professional experience.

Qualifications

Your qualification details including grades and dates taken. You will have the opportunity to upload scanned copies of your qualification certificates and transcripts in the application. If you have no formal qualifications, you can also state this in your application.

Photo ID

A scanned copy of your photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. This will help us verify your application to study with us.

Academic references

Two signed academic references. This is optional at application stage but highly encouraged. If successful in your application, two academic references will be a mandatory requirement of admission. The references should be in written format, signed and dated from either a supervisor or tutor from your most recent studies.

For international applicants

The University of Derby has a network of international agents and representatives in different regions. For postgraduate research degree applications, depending on your country of origin, you may need to apply through an agent. You can contact any of our agents and apply to study with us through them.

Some agents may charge for provision of services so please check this directly with the agent. Please be aware that, if you apply directly to the University without going through an agent, we may contact you and you will be required to re-apply through an agent or representative before your application can be considered.