English, Media and Creative Arts

Miss Fiona McGarry

BA., MA., PG Dip

Biography

I am a practice-based researcher and teacher in the area of journalism and audio story-telling. I am a journalist, radio documentary maker and podcaster, with an interest in social justice, crime and environmental journalism. A former Senior Producer with Newstalk, I have worked as a TV researcher with BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ in Cork. I am a recipient of funding awards from Coimisiún na Meán and the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. I am also a recipient of the Ake Blomstrom Award from the Prix Europa; the Law Society's Justice Media Award and a Headline Award for reporting on mental health issues. My research interests include documentary and podcasting, ethics and legitimation in streamed True Crime content, digital participation, and the dissemination of misinformation through podcasting. I am a graduate of the University of Galway, The Technological University of Dublin (TUD) and the University of Limerick.

Research Interests

Practice-based research in audio documentary and podcasting forms.
Research in documentary and podcast studies.
Research on misinformation transmission via podcasting.
Research in participatory digital cultures and True Crime.
Practice-based research on pedagogy in practice-based disciplines such as journalism and audio production.
Practice-based research on learning technologies.

Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2003)	'Place and Plasticity: A Comparative Study of Place as Theme and Setting in 'The English Patient'' McGarry, Fiona (2003) 'Place and Plasticity: A Comparative Study of Place as Theme and Setting in 'The English Patient''. Film and Film Culture, 2 (2):79-84 [Details]
	(2002)	'Book Review - 'American Domesticity - From How-To Manual to Hollywood Melodrama' by Kathleen Anne McHugh, Oxford University Press, 1999' McGarry, Fiona (2002) 'Book Review - 'American Domesticity - From How-To Manual to Hollywood Melodrama' by Kathleen Anne McHugh, Oxford University Press, 1999'. Film and Film Culture, 1 (1):131-134 [Details]

Other Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2024)	'What is Audio Documentary?' McGarry, Fiona (2024) 'What is Audio Documentary?' Sound Fields, 1 (1) . [Details]
	(2015)	'Media Mergers - Assessing Moves to Protect Press Freedom' McGarry, Fiona (2015) 'Media Mergers - Assessing Moves to Protect Press Freedom' Public Affairs Ireland, . [Details]

Conference Contributions

	Year	Publication
	(2023)	University of Galway, School of English and Creative Arts (SCEA) Research Symposium, McGarry, Fiona (2023) 'Revisiting the Scene of the Crime: Documenting trauma in Murder at the Cottage (2021) and The Search for Justice for Sophie (2021)'. [Oral Presentation], University of Galway, School of English and Creative Arts (SCEA) Research Symposium, University of Galway , 24-MAY-23 - 25-MAY-23. [Details]
	(2022)	Losing Your Home - The Impact of Defective Concrete Blocks In Ireland Conference, McGarry, Fiona (2022) 'Documenting Clare's Pyrite Problem - The Primacy of Human Interest Sources'. [Invited Oral Presentation], Losing Your Home - The Impact of Defective Concrete Blocks In Ireland Conference, The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)/Online , 30-MAY-22 - 31-MAY-22. [Details]
	(2022)	'Thinking Out Loud¿ NUIG School of English and Creative Arts Inaugural Research Symposium, McGarry, Fiona (2022) 'True Crime Podcasting - The Case for Creative Audio Journalism'. [Oral Presentation], 'Thinking Out Loud¿ NUIG School of English and Creative Arts Inaugural Research Symposium, University of Galway , 19-MAY-22 - 19-MAY-22. [Details]
	(2022)	Seventh International Conference on Communication and Media Studies, McGarry, Fiona (2022) Committee Member Conference on Communication and Media Studies. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Seventh International Conference on Communication and Media Studies, University of Galway , 25-AUG-22 - 26-AUG-22. [Details]
	(2022)	Seventh International Conference on Communication and Media Studies, McGarry, Fiona (2022) 'Tell me no Lies' - Podcasting and Medical Misinformation. [Oral Presentation], Seventh International Conference on Communication and Media Studies, University of Galway , 25-AUG-22 - 26-AUG-22. [Details]
	(2022)	'Digital Education: from sideshow to centre-stage' - The EdTech Winter Conference of the Irish Learning and Technology Association (ILTA), McGarry, Fiona (2022) 'Remote Radio - Preparing Students for New Industry Norms'. [Oral Presentation], 'Digital Education: from sideshow to centre-stage' - The EdTech Winter Conference of the Irish Learning and Technology Association (ILTA), Online , 13-JAN-22 - 13-JAN-22. [Details]
	(2021)	'Shaping Education Post Pandemic: Pockets of Innovation for Building Back Better' - The EdTech Conference 2021, McGarry, Fiona (2021) `Taking Peer-Supported Writing Groups Online. Removing Barriers, Building Bonds'. [Oral Presentation], 'Shaping Education Post Pandemic: Pockets of Innovation for Building Back Better' - The EdTech Conference 2021, Online , 27-MAY-21 - 28-MAY-21. [Details]
	(2021)	'Paradigm Shift: Reflection, Resilience and Renewal in Digital Education' - The EdTech Winter Conference of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA), McGarry, Fiona (2021) 'Digital media and the student experience of `the new normal' in practical learning'. [Oral Presentation], 'Paradigm Shift: Reflection, Resilience and Renewal in Digital Education' - The EdTech Winter Conference of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA), Online , 14-JAN-21 - 15-JAN-21. [Details]

Audiovisual material

	Year	Publication
	(2022)	Searching for Sandra. McGarry, Fiona (2022) Searching for Sandra. Online: Midwest Radio Audiovisual material [Details]
	(2019)	Hidden Victims of Crime. McGarry, Fiona (2019) Hidden Victims of Crime. Clare, Ireland: Clare FM Audiovisual material [Details]
	(2018)	Keeping Kids Out of Crime. McGarry, Fiona (2018) Keeping Kids Out of Crime. Clare, Ireland: Clare FM Audiovisual material [Details]
	(2017)	Morning Focus Investigates Sexual Violence. McGarry, Fiona (2017) Morning Focus Investigates Sexual Violence. Clare, Ireland: Audiovisual material [Details]

Newspaper Articles

	Year	Publication
	(2021)	Letting a Light Shine for Fellow Survivors of Rape. McGarry, Fiona (2021) Letting a Light Shine for Fellow Survivors of Rape. Clare, Ireland: The Clare Champion Newspaper Articles [Details]

Honours and Awards

Year	Title	Awarding Body
2023	Justice Media Award	Law Society of Ireland
2022	Ake Bloomstrom Fellowship Award	Prix Europa
2021	Headline Mental Health Media Award	Headline/Shine
2021	Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award	Discipline of Journalism
2019	Justice Media Award	The Law Society of Ireland
2018	Justice Media Award	Law Society of Ireland
2012	The Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund	Irish Aid

Teaching Interests

My teaching incorporates practical 'Newsroom' and studio teaching, coaching and mentoring, as well as large-group lectures on aspects of journalism, media and cultural theory.

As a teacher, I see myself as a partner, guide, a collaborator and a mentor. I am a natural innovator, always striving for a better way to communicate and connect with learners.

Thanks to the reflective process, I see myself as just one factor in learning ¿ not always the most important or effective one. I have a large responsibility to navigate the learning territory. I must use my expertise to devise the most appropriate Learning Outcomes (LOs) and align these constructively through Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs) and fair, valid and authentic assessments.

The lens of theoretical literature has shown me that I am strongly drawn to cognitive transformative theories, like the ICE (Ideas, Connections and Extensions) model (Fostaty Young, 2005, p.44). In a sense this has validated my belief that true learning is life-changing.

As an innovative teacher, I embrace change and realise that a teaching philosophy should be authentic, but also dynamic and flexible; responsive to changes in both media practice and theory.

As a reflective teacher, I welcome opportunities to review and refresh my practice. I am keenly aware that learners¿ needs are ever-changing, as they prepare to enter a media industry that never stands still. Learners come from increasingly diverse backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives and richness into the classroom. In response to these changes, my practice must evolve. Embracing new areas like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has given me an important new lens through which to re-evaluate and re-calibrate my philosophy. Interacting with the wider community of higher education experts has also presented invaluable new ideas and inspiration. It has helped refresh and refine my practice, which is based on an ongoing process of professional critical reflection.

Modules Taught

Term/Year	Module Title	Module Code	Subject / Desc
2023-24	Journalism Bootcamp	DJ6115	Practical teaching on news and current affairs production for audio platforms and radio.
2018-19 (Semester 2)	Multimedia Newsdays	DJ6112	An intensive practical module coaching students to produce podcasts and live radio news shows.
2023-24	Broadcast Journalism (Radio)	AJ2105	Practical module on radio news and current affairs.
2023-24	Celebrity, Social Class and Media Culture	AJ2120	A jointly-taught module examining celebrity culture through a range of theoretical lenses.
2022-23	Multimedia Newsdays	DJ6112	An intensive practical module coaching students to produce podcasts and live radio news shows.
2023-24	Reporting and Writing	AJ2103	A practical module focusing on students' newsgathering and reporting skills.
2023-24	Media Production	AJ2111	An intensive practice-based module delivered in collaboration with Flirt FM, student radio.
2022-23	Social and Digital Production	DJ6129	Practical teaching in podcasting and digital audio production.
2022-23	How Television Lobotomised the World	AJ2110	A module examining the impact of television on Western culture and changing technologies in the streaming age.
2022-23	Advanced Practical Journalism (Broadcasting)	AJ4101	A practical module on podcast production.
2022-23	Reporting and Writing	AJ2103	A practical module focusing on students' newsgathering and reporting skills.
2022-23	Radio Fundamentals	AJ1101	A practical introductory module on radio news and podcasting.
2023-24	Final Project	DJ6124	A supervision module supporting MA students of Journalism and Global Media to produce practical and research projects.
2021-22	Journalism Bootcamp	DJ6115	Practical teaching on news and current affairs production for audio platforms and radio.
2021-22	Social and Digital Production	DJ6129	An intensive practical module coaching students to produce podcasts and live radio news shows.
2021-22	Radio Fundamentals	AJ1101	A practical introductory module on radio news and podcasting.
2021-22	Reporting and Writing	AJ2103	A practical module focusing on students' newsgathering and reporting skills.
2022-23	Media Production	AJ2111	An intensive practice-based module delivered in collaboration with Flirt FM, student radio.
2021-22	Multimedia Newsdays	DJ6112	An intensive practical module coaching students to produce podcasts and live radio news shows.
2022-23	Final Project	DJ6124	A supervision module supporting MA students of Journalism and Global Media to produce practical and research projects.
2021-22	Final Project	DJ6124	A supervision module supporting MA students of Journalism and Global Media to produce practical and research projects.
2020-21	Final Project	DJ6124	A supervision module supporting MA students of Journalism and Global Media to produce practical and research projects.
2020-21	Radio Fundamentals	AJ1101	A practical introductory module on radio news and podcasting.
2020-21	Reporting and Writing	AJ2103	A practical module focusing on students' newsgathering and reporting skills.
2020-21	Journalism Bootcamp	DJ6115	Practical teaching on news and current affairs production for audio platforms and radio.
2020-21	Multimedia Newsdays	DJ6112	An intensive practical module coaching students to produce podcasts and live radio news shows.
2019-20	Multimedia Newsdays	DJ6112	An intensive practical module coaching students to produce podcasts and live radio news shows.
2019-20	Radio Fundamentals	AJ1101	A practical introductory module on radio news and podcasting.
2020-21	Features Journalism	DJ61101	An intensive practical MA module on feature production in print, digital and audio media.
2019-20	Journalism Bootcamp	DJ6115	Practical teaching on news and current affairs production for audio platforms and radio.
2023-24	Advanced Practical Journalism (Print & Digital)	AJ4104	Intensive, practice-based module on online journalism and digital newsgathering and reporting.