CIMS-member Maxine De Wulf Helskens successfully defends her PhD

On May 9, CIMS-member Maxine De Wulf Helskens successfully defended her doctoral dissertation titled Press Play: Journalists in Fiction – On Fiction as Metajournalistic Discourse and the Sensemaking Practices Thereof by (non)-Specialized Audiences at the Department of Communication Sciences of Ghent University.

In a captivating presentation, she explored how journalists are portrayed in fictional media and examined how these representations influence public perceptions of journalism as a profession. Her defense was met with high praise, particularly for her engaging delivery and thoughtful responses to the jury's questions.

Having earned her PhD, Maxine will continue her academic journey as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department for Communication Sciences in the coming years.

Curious to read more? You can access the full dissertation here.