Editorial

Editorial Leadership & Practice Research

I am an international leader in screen media practice research, with a sustained record of editorial leadership, research governance, and sector‑level field building. I am Editor‑in‑Chief of Screenworks, the online peer‑reviewed journal dedicated to screen media practice research, and Practice Editor for Open Screens.

As Screenworks approaches its 20th anniversary, I have been involved since its inception, playing a central role in shaping its editorial ethos, peer‑review processes, and frameworks for the contextualisation and long‑term sustainability of practice research outputs. My work has been particularly significant in supporting and mentoring the next generation of practice research editors and reviewers, contributing to the development of editorial capacity and peer‑review literacy across the discipline.

My leadership extends across national research infrastructures and disciplinary organisations. I served as Vice‑Chair of the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies (BAFTSS), where I inaugurated the BAFTSS Practice Research Award and founded the BAFTSS Practice Research Special Interest Group, helping to embed practice research more visibly and robustly within the field. I was also Founding Practice Network Chair of the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association (MeCCSA), strengthening cross‑disciplinary dialogue around practice‑based and practice‑led research.

I was appointed to REF 2021 Main Panel D specifically for my expertise in practice research, serving as an Output Assessor for UoA33 (Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory) and an Impact Assessor for UoA34 (Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management). Institutionally, I developed the strategy for UWE Bristol’s Practice Research Portfolios for REF 2021 and I am currently UWE REF Lead for UoA34.

At UWE Bristol, I co‑lead Screen Research, am an Associate Member of the Digital Cultures Research Centre, and a Resident of the Pervasive Media Studio, contributing to interdisciplinary research cultures that connect academic research, creative practice, and industry‑engaged innovation.

My research and editorial writing on the publication of screen media practice research has informed sector understanding of coherence, peer review, and future‑proofing practice outputs, including the following key publications:

Selected Publications

Crofts, Charlotte. (2021). Finding coherence across journals. Learning on Screen. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/free-guides/a-guide-to-creating-video-essays/finding-coherence-across-journals/

Crofts, Charlotte, & Nevill, Alex. (2018). Publishing screen media practice research: evolving processes of contextualisation, peer review and future proofing in Screenworks. Media Practice and Education, 19(3), 283–297. https://doi.org/10.1080/25741136.2018.1529478