Huddersfield Centre for Communication Research (HCfCR)

Introduction

The Huddersfield Centre for Communication Research (HCfCR) is a research and training centre building on staff background and strengths in journalism and Public Relations. The Centre has three main areas of research interest:

• Public Sector Communication
• Third Sector Communication
• Financial and Business Journalism 

Public Sector Communication

In the last ten years communication in the public sector has been one of the fastest growing areas in communication. Covering, Central Government, Local Government, Health Sector and Education.

HCfCR staff are actively engaged in a number of research projects which consider the effectiveness and impact that communication is having in these sectors.  

Third Sector

Third sector communication is an under researched field. Communication to many third sector organisations is not just a means of communication but essential to their finances. Third sector communication is characterised by a high degree of creativity and innovation in their communication campaigns which they have to rely on as they only have limited budgets. HCfC has successfully worked with many charities advising them on communications campaigns. Research in 2007 by the Hansard Society highlighted that voluntary sector lobbyists were regarded by MPs as being more successful and more respected than their commercial counterparts.

Financial and Business Journalism

The Centre is currently carrying out a major research project into financial and business journalism in the UK. The research will be looking to answer such fundamental questions as, what is financial journalism? What is its purpose – to act as a cheer leader for business or as a critical friend? This area of journalism remains largely ignore yet is crucial and critical to understand how and why economic ideas and values are transmitted and become accepted ideas.