Dr Matthew Winston

I'm originally from New York but I've lived in the UK since childhood. I hold an MSt from the University of Oxford and in 2014 I earned my PhD from Cardiff University. I became a Teaching Fellow in Media & Communication at the University of Leicester in 2015.

My research has examined the ‘Gonzo’ journalism of Hunter S. Thompson and hybrid forms of literary journalism in general, the history of American journalism, theories of subjective journalism, and ideas surrounding media representations of drugs and drug culture(s). Most recently I have undertaken an extended research collaboration on ‘fake news’ and public perceptions surrounding it with Prof. Brian Winston of the University of Lincoln.

Winston, M. S., (2014).  Gonzo Text: Disentangling Meaning in Hunter S Thompson's Journalism. New York: Peter Lang.

Winston, M. S., (2015). How do you like America?: Hunter S Thompson and Gonzo Sports Journalism. Journalism Studies, 16(3), pp.403-416

And with Prof. Brian Winston:

Winston, B. and Winston, M., (2021). The Roots of Fake News: Objecting to Objective Journalism. New York: Routledge.

Winston, B. and Winston, M., (2020). Is its news operation the chink in the BBC's armour? In: Mair, J. & Bradshaw, T. eds. Is the BBC in Peril?  Does it deserve to be? London: Bite-Sized Books, 49-53

Winston, B. and Winston, M., (2020). Speaking Truth to Science. In: Mair, J. ed. The Virus and the Media: How Journalism Covered the Pandemic. London: Bite-Sized Books, 49-53

Winston, B. and Winston, M., (2020). Is its news operation the chink in the BBC's armour? In: Mair, J. & Bradshaw, T. eds. Is the BBC still in Peril?  Advice to the New Director General. London: Bite-Sized Books, 69-73

Winston, B. and Winston, M., (2020).  He who pays the piper. British Journalism Review, 2020-03, Vol.31 (1), p.47-51

Winston, B. and Winston, M., (2020).  This balancing act always falls over. British Journalism Review, 2020-12, Vol.31 (4), p.31-36

As a Teaching Fellow I do not supervise PhD students.

At present I am module leader for:

MS1003 - Global Media

MS2006 - Identity and Popular Culture

MS7013 - Media Audiences and Users

'Fake news'

The history/ideology of American journalism

Hunter S Thompson and Gonzo journalism