Dr Sarah O'Hara

I am the Faculty Director for Learning and Teaching with responsibility for strategic oversight of learning, teaching and assessment across the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education. 

I spent over 20 years working in all areas of the media and communications industry both in the UK and overseas. I have industry experience in media, advertising and public relations and have worked for media organisations, agencies and within client companies. I moved into academia at Canterbury Christ Church in 2013. My teaching focus was on practical industry-focused insight. I was also Course Director across Media and Communications, PR, Media and Marketing and PR and Media.

I completed my Masters by Research in 2017 looking at Organisational Culture in Local Media Organisations.

I co-delivered a funded project Online news and communication in local communities’ (2015-2017) with Agnes Gulyas and in partnership with Canterbury Voluntary Alliance, Canterbury City Council, Kent Messenger Group and Esri UK, funded by HEIF (£5,518)

Publications and research outputs
Book Chapters

O’Hara S (2020) “What can we learn from Independent Family Owned Local Media Groups?” In: Baines, D and Guylas, A (eds) Companion to Local Media and Journalism Abingdon: Routledge

Referred Journal Articles

Gulyas, A, O’Hara, S and Eilenburg, J (2018) Experiencing local news online: audience practices and perceptions Journalism Studies, Routledge

I am currently studying for a Doctorate in Education due to submit in 2024 looking at the Stereotyping of Dyslexia in Higher Education. My research area is in inclusivity and embedding of assistive technologies for all students.

CATS College – University Foundation Programme – External Examiner Media Studies 2017- 2020

University of East London – External Examiner for Media, Fashion and Communications Department 2017 – 2022

University of Bedfordshire in partnership with Modern Sciences and Arts University, Cairo for External Examiner for Mass Communications (with Advertising and Public Relations) 2018 – 2021

External Assessor University of Roehampton – Marketing Communications Programme 2019

I am also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Senior Fellow in Higher Education through Advance HE.