Can you tell us about your new book, Agenda setting and political campaigning in referendums ?
My book is based on my PhD study where I investigated the key interplayers’, namely news media, political campaigners, influence on agenda-setting and public opinion of Cypriots during the 2004 Reunification Referendum.
Why your interest in this topic?
The reason why I was interested in this subject is partly because I am a British Turkish Cypriot with a great deal of interest in politics, in particular about where I grew up: North Cyprus. I was born and raised in Cyprus with the ongoing Cyprus Issue and ‘love & hate’ relationships between the two ethnic communities on the island. In addition, arguably, more importantly, as the subject matter was new and no previous academic research has been conducted from the perspective of political campaign communication on the referendum campaign.
What is your area of academic interest and which courses were you involved in?
Political Marketing, Political Communication, in particular Framing and Priming effects, and Integrated Marketing Communications: in particular Advertising & Public Relations focus. However, currently due to high interest in my supervised UG and PG students’ dissertations, I have developed an interest in Branding.
Could you please tell us a bit about the courses that you are involved in?
After I graduated from Eastern Mediterranean University’s Communication, Faculty of Advertising & PR department, I came to London to do an MA in PR and Public Communications at University of Westminster, Media and Communication Department. After this course, I won open competition PhD full scholarships at Middlesex University, where I completed successfully MSc in Business and Management Research. Thereafter, I returned to the Westminster Communication department to study my PhD and managed to complete this course within 3 years.
What was your first job? What did you learn from it?
Like many students, I started gaining experience via internship programmes. I worked for Turkey’s biggest commercial television channels ATV and Channel D. Thereafter, I have had a PR experience at one of the North Cyprus Hotel. However, my first time job was completely irrelevant to my studies. I was working full-time at Elise-Evolink Telecommunications Ltd, when I was carrying out my Master degree. After this company, I moved to the brother company of Honeytel Telecommunications Ltd., which were B2B businesses, where they recruited me to consult them on marketing, particularly data base marketing, event management organisations, etc. I learnt how to work within a corporate culture, all about time management, working within a group and individually and how important it is to deliver the tasks timely.
What did you do in your career before coming to Westminster Business School?
My first teaching job in London/UK started at Middlesex University in Marketing department in 2006. Thereafter, I have had many teaching experiences at different educational institutions before coming to Westminster Business School.
What advice would you give to the students during their studies and after graduation so that they make the right decisions for their career?
Study the subject that you “love” and make sure that you will identify the subject area as early as possible. It is highly crucial and beneficial to gain as much knowledge as possible about their subject field and follow the trends in the relevant industry. However, never limit your knowledge with a specific interest area, general knowledge and following the news around the world is highly important as we are living in a global world.
If you were asked to give one piece of advice to students who are considering going into Post Graduate study what would that be?
Learn to ‘question’ and ‘be critical’ about the academic publications. Try to ‘understand’ and ‘interpret’ them accordingly.
How do you relax out of work? What are your interests/leisure activities?
I try to go to the gym regularly where I can combine many activities that I like, such as swimming, yoga and Pilates. In addition, I was a professional folk dancer, so I like dancing, particularly Latin dances. What is more, I am a member of Royal Festival Hall Gallery and Royal School of Art, as I like visiting art exhibitions.
Who are your business influences?
I cannot say that I have one particularly, but in many fields, whether art, education, science, research, etc., there are people who inspire me from a different perspective.
What inspires you?
Challenges.
“ Agenda setting and political campaigning in referendums”
The aim of this study is to provide a comparative analysis by exploring the dynamics amongst political campaigners and news media in the agenda-setting process in the referendum that was proposed by the United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan to reunify the island after 50 years of division. In this study, the dynamics between the political campaigners, politicians and the news media over the agenda-setting process have been explored and also further investigation of to what extent cultural and political factors influenced the political campaign design and the agenda-setting power of the political actors. Additionally, the influence of media systems – in particular print media in Cyprus in the agenda-setting process has been examined. So, this study not only contributes to the comparative studies, where there is a dearth of research scope, but it also contributes particularly to the literature of agenda-setting research within the context of referendum elections, an area in which scholarly research is also neglected. Perhaps, most importantly, this study will also create a body of knowledge for likely future referendum studies in Cyprus, particularly on reunification. by Dr.Unvan Atas
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