Dave Porter
Senior lecturer in journalism / Dept Employability Lead (LIC)
My profile
Biography
A print journalist by training, I spent more than 20 years working in provincial newspapers in and around Greater Manchester before going freelance and moving into teaching.
I am currently undertaking a PhD which looks into how immigrant and refugee commuties in the UK use communtyand citizen journalism to present a different version of themselves than that offered by the mainstream media. The PhD arose out of my work with the Somali community in Moss Side, Manchester helping them produce a bilingual newspaper.
Words of wisdom
Always trust your instincts regarding a story. Never be afraid to push the boundaries as long as you act ethically as a journalist.
Academic and professional qualifications
8 graduated from Manchester Polytechnic in 1988 with a first class honours degree in social science.
I undertook a Diploma in Newspaper Journalism (NCTJ) at Lancashire Polytechnic in 1988 before moving into a career as a journalist. I gained my NCE (National Certificate Examination) in journalism in 1991.
I am a fellow of the HEA and specialise in teaching media law.
I am currently undertaking a PhD by Practice looking at how immigrant communities, such as the Somali community, face challenges in accessing the media
Other academic service (administration and management)
I am joint programme leader for the BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism programme at Man Met, as well as being the employabilty lead for the programme.
External examiner roles
I mark and moderate media law exams for the NCTJ
Government and industry links
Sasca News - the bilingual newspaper established for the Somali community in Manchester and which I helped to set up - was nominated for an MMU Research and Knowledge Exchange award in 2015.
I was presented with a ‘Sasca Hero’ award by members of the Somali community for help in setting up Sasca News.
During my time as an editor within MEN Media papers I worked on received numerous awards, including Best Free local Newspaper.
Membership of professional associations
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Interests and expertise
I have a special interest in media law and am currently a member of the NCTJ media law board
Projects
I have been engaged in a knowledge exchange project with the Somali community in Manchester for the past five years.
The project involves the creation of a bilingual newspaper called Sasca News together with members of the Somali Adult Social Care Agency (SASCA).
The paper is produced on average twice-a-year and is distributed by hand to members of the Somali community in the neighbourhood, with 1,000 copies being printed in each edition.
The paper is written by members of Sasca, which has editorial control over content, and editorial support in designing and printing the paper is provided by myself.
Teaching
Why do I teach?
To help train the next generation of journalists to be ethical, imaginative, tenacious, resourceful members of the 4th estate - and have fun along the way
How I’ll teach you
All my teaching is underpinned by my own experience as a journalist and my aim is to bring each subject alive and motivate students through use of examples from real life
Why study…
Journalism is an exciting career and these are exciting times for those wanting to pursue a reporting role in multimedia journalism. The MPs’ expenses scandal, hackgate, the Leveson inquiry, the demise of the PCC, the rise (and rise) of social media and citizen journalism have all shaped our role as repoters in a way which would not have seemed possible just five years ago.
To be at the centre of this maelstorm of chance and contribute to it is an exciting prospect
Postgraduate teaching
Media Law
Journalism Professional Practice
Dissertation supervision
Subject areas
Mutlimedia Journalism
Supervision
Supervision of MA Multimedia Journalism student dissertations
Research outputs
In the summer of 2019, I co-authored a book on online law called Online and Social Media Law.
I have also had articles published in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/profiles/dave-porter-385949
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Porter, D., Thom, C. (2019) Online and Social Media Law. Amazon.
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Journal articles
Porter, D. (2022) 'How a marginalised Somali community used pro-am journalism to transform lives and build community identity.' Journalism Education, 11(1) pp. 24-32.
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Non-peer reviewed articles / reviews
Porter, D. (2019) Brexit whispers: when eavesdropping on private conversations by a journalist is ethically justified.
Porter, D. (2018) The problem with journalists employed by the state to report politics.
Porter, D. (2018) This bilingual Somali newspaper is beating the media at its own game.