This is a website for a research project conducted by Dr Diana Garrisi and Dr Jacob Johanssen (Communication and Media Research Institute, University of Westminster).

The aim of the project is to research how facial disfigurements are portrayed in the British press, as well as how individuals with facial disfigurements present themselves on social media. The project is made up of two elements: quantitative and qualitative content analysis of news coverage about facial disfigurement in the British press between 2010-2016 (tabloid and broadsheet newspapers), as well as qualitative interviews with individuals about their thoughts on the portrayal of facial disfigurements and their use of social media.

The project is funded by the University of Westminster Strategic Research Fund (The Quintin Hogg Trust).

The project is supported by the charity Changing Faces as a project partner. We are collaborating on a number of events and are also hosting activities at the University of Westminster's Harrow Campus as part of Face Equality Day, a day created by Changing Faces to celebrate facial diversity. More information about the day can be found here and here.

We talked about the project for Smoke Radio and you can listen to the show here.

About the Researchers

Dr Diana Garrisi (PhD) is a Research Associate at the Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster. Her research interests include: science communication; media and the body; journalism and media history

Dr Jacob Johanssen (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer (CAMRI), University of Westminster. His research interests include reality television, social media, and media and the body.