Emma Heywood

My research interests lie in the role of radio in fragile and conflict-affected zones, and I work closely with international media development agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs). I have conducted large-scale qualitative and quantitative research into the impact of radio on women’s empowerment in Francophone West Africa, particularly Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

This has led to large-scale impact including the creation of women-only listening groups in Niger, enabling women to receive and discuss life-changing information and pass it on to families and communities; changes in radio output to promote gender equality; creation of women journalist groups writing for women and about women; new methodologies to enable listeners in hard-to-reach communities to participate in the very research that is targeted at them.  

My research focuses on the role and impact of radio in conflict- and crisis-affected areas. I have been awarded several externally-funded research grants for projects examining perceptions and representations of women’s rights and empowerment in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso; the use of radio and social media to address misinformation about the pandemic among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Burkina Faso; radio’s impact on gender-based violence and its reporting in conflict areas.