Emily Rose Hay

Working Title of PhD: ‘Child homicide in the British press, c.1960-1984’

Year commenced PhD study: 2018 Institution/Organisation: University of Edinburgh

Funding Source: HCA Doctoral Scholarship Full or part-time: Full Time

PhD Supervisors: Professor Richard Sparks; Professor Louise Jackson

Synopsis of PhD:

My doctoral research examines representations of child homicide cases in the latter half of the twentieth century. It aims to broaden our understanding of different types of child homicide in the media, across local and national press. My analysis is based upon a survey of cases from Glasgow newspapers between 1960 and 1984 and a comparison with the London-based national press. I am particularly interested in how specific grievances and grief were communicated in the local press to the communities directly affected, and how circumstantial factors contribute to vastly different framings of crime in the news.

I am also very interested in the process of doing emotionally difficult and sensitive research. I am the co-founder and convenor of the Emotionally Demanding Histories Group, which aims to support researchers doing this type of work.