Dr Ruth A Deller SFHEA
Reader in Media and Communication
Summary
I am a Reader in Media and Communications, and I also teach on several media related modules. My research and teaching interests are varied but involve thinking about media representations of religion and gender, fan and audience studies, soap opera, celebrity, social media and reality/factual television.
About
I'm interested in media in all its shapes and forms and this is one of the reasons why I enjoy working in the Media Arts and Communications department at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, which offers a broad spectrum of courses and modules in these areas. I currently teach modules on audience research, celebrity culture and media identities and representations, as well as supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research.
I'm interested in supervising PhD students in a range of areas relating to media and communication, especially social media, media representations, media audiences, celebrity or fan studies.
I have published widely on topics such as religion and the media, social networking, gender in the media, media fandom, media audiences, soap opera, celebrity, social justice, research ethics and factual TV. I'm currently working on a monograph about religion on television and articles on YouTube celebrity (with Kathryn Murphy), soap opera and religious celebrity.
I am also a member of my college research ethics committee and the college validation panel. For several years I served as a programme leader for courses in the communications area and have an interest in curriculum design, student experience and interdisciplinary teaching and research.
I am a regular contributor to television and radio, as 'Dr Ruth' I am a regular film and media expert for Radio Sheffield and always happy to liaise with media and external organisations. I enjoy running workshops for community groups, which I have done on topics such as women's magazines and social justice practices.
Outside of my work here, I am actively involved in amateur theatre. I also write for several entertainment websites and have recently completed my first novel.
Specialist areas of interest
Media and religion
Celebrity
Fans and audiences
Social media
Media representations
Soap opera
Reality and factual television
Qualitative research
Social justice
Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ ethics
Curriculum design
Teaching
Subject area
Media and Photography
Courses
Media
Public Relations and Media
Journalism
Public Relations
Modules
Media Audiences
Media Identities and Representations
Celebrity Culture
Applied Project/Dissertation
Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
Collaborators and sponsors
PhD funded by AHRC 2008-11
Publications
Journal articles
Deller, R.A. (2023). Book Review: Special Issue of Journal of Popular Television on ‘Histories and new directions: Soap opera/serial narrative research’. Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies, 18 (4), 500-502.
Deller, R. (2023). . Participations: journal of audience and reception studies, 19 (3), 61-68.
Deller, R. (2023). . Critical Studies in Television, 18 (4), 500-502.
Deller, R.A., & Murphy, K. (2019). . European journal of cultural studies.
Deller, R.A. (2019). . Journal of Gender Studies, 28 (6), 746-747.
Deller, R.A. (2016). . Information, communication & society, 19 (12), 1803-1805.
Deller, R.A. (2016). . Celebrity Studies, 7 (3).
Deller, R.A., & Tilton, S. (2015). . International Journal of Communication, 9 (5), 1788-1805.
Attwood, F., & Deller, R.A. (2015). . International Journal of Cultural Studies, 18 (3), 263-267.
Deller, R.A. (2015). . International Journal of Cultural Studies, 18 (3), 291-303.
Deller, R.A. (2015). . Transformative Works and Cultures, 18.
Deller, R.A. (2015). . Celebrity Studies, 6 (1), 140-142.
Deller, R.A. (2014). . Intensities : The Journal of Cult Media, 7, 97-106.
Deller, R.A., Harman, S., & Jones, B. (2013). . Sexualities, 16 (8), 859-863.
Deller, R.A., & Smith, C. (2013). . Sexualities, 16 (8), 932-950.
Bury, R., Deller, R.A., Greenwood, A., & Jones, B. (2013). . Participations: journal of audience and reception studies, 10 (1), 299-318.
Deller, R.A. (2011). . Participations, 8 (1), 216-245.
Book chapters
Deller, R.A. (2025). . In Horeck, T., Meyers, E., Froula, A., & Lenos, M. (Eds.) Televising True Crime [provisional title]. Routledge
Deller, R.A. (2020). . In Ross, K. (Ed.) The International Encyclopedia of Gender, Media, and Communication. Wiley-Blackwell:
Deller, R.A. (2019). . In Kinna, R., & Gordon, U. (Eds.) Routledge handbook of radical politics. New York: Routledge:
Deller, R.A. (2019). Safer Spaces. In Routledge Handbook of Radical Politics. (pp. 222-239). Routledge:
Bell, S., & Deller, R.A. (2018). . In Williams, R. (Ed.) Everybody hurts: Transitions, Endings, and Resurrections in Fan Cultures. (pp. 87-100). Iowa City: University of Iowa Press:
Deller, R.A. (2018). . In Booth, P. (Ed.) A companion to media fandom and fan studies. (pp. 123-142). Wiley:
Deller, R.A. (2016). . In Bennett, L., & Booth, P. (Eds.) Seeing Fans : Representations of Fandom in Media and Popular Culture. (pp. 197-207). Bloomsbury Academic:
Deller, R. (2016). . In The Ashgate Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ Companion to Fan Cultures. (pp. 238-248). Taylor & Francis:
Deller, R.A. (2016). Gender performance in american idol, pop idol and the X factor. In Adapting Idols: Authenticity, Identity and Performance in a Global Television Format. (pp. 181-194). Routledge:
Deller, R.A. (2014). . In Duits, L., Zwaan, K., & Reijnders, S. (Eds.) The Ashgate research companion to fan cultures. (pp. 237-248). Farnham: Ashgate
Deller, R.A. (2013). . In Bennett, P., & Macdougall, J. (Eds.) Barthes' "Mythologies" today : readings of contemporary culture. (pp. 118-121). Routledge:
Deller, R.A. (2012). . In Zwaan, K., & de Bruin, J. (Eds.) Adapting idols: authenticity, identity and performance in a global television format. (pp. 181-194). Farnham: Ashgate:
Deller, R.A. (2010). . In Smithka, P., & Lewis, C. (Eds.) Doctor Who and Philosophy. (pp. 239-247). Chicago: Open Court
Books
Deller, R.A. (2019). . Emerald Group Publishing.
Theses / Dissertations
Watson, A. (2025). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Deller, R.
Murphy, K.D. (2021). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Deller, R., & Mcseveny, K.
Alsolamy, F. (2017). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Deller, R.A., & Adam, A.
Deller, R.A. (2012). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Attwood, F., & Blain, J.
Saputro, K.A. (2010). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Green, G., Deller, R.A., & Postill, J.
Internet Publications
Deller, R.A. (2019). 63 Up: long-running documentary series shows how reality TV should be done.
Deller, R.A. (2019). Captain Marvel: why female superheroes are not just for International Women’s Day.
Deller, R.A. (2019). BAFTAs 2019: diverse set of winners led by The Favourite and Roma bodes well for the Oscars.
Deller, R.A., & Bennett, L. (2018). The State of Fandom Studies pt1: Ruth Deller and Lucy Bennett.
Deller, R.A., & Bennett, L. (2018). The State of Fandom Studies pt2: Ruth Deller and Lucy Bennett.
Deller, R.A., Jones, B., & Taylor-Harman, S. (2013). Reading the Fifty Shades phenomenon.
Media
Artsnight, B.B.C. (2015). Artsnight: Fame (BBC 2). BBC
Four, B.B.C. (2015). When Pop Ruled My Life: The Fans' Story (BBC 4).
Presentations
Deller, R.A. (2024). The Golden Girl Next Door: Transmedia Celebrations of Kylie’s Fiftieth.
Rodriguez-Amat, J., Zhang, H., & Deller, R. (2023). Waka Waka and the Platform Influencers Labor in the Spanish Speaking Music Industry. Presented at: Global Perspectives on Platforms and Cultural Production, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Deller, R., Murphy, K., Rodriguez-Amat, J., & Zhang, H. (2022). Siblings that vlog together brand together: analysing networked connections between YouTuber siblings. Presented at: 9th European Communication Conference, Aarhus, Denmark
Zhang, H., Deller, R., Kathryn, M., & Rodriguez-Amat, J. (2022). Are real-life siblings also algorithmic siblings? Mapping algorithmic connections between YouTuber brothers and sisters. Presented at: Global Perspectives on Platforms and Cultural Production, University of Amsterdam, 2022
Deller, R.A. (2020). The real deal? Reality TV’s relationship to social media. Presented at: MeCCSA 2020, University of Brighton
Deller, R.A. (2019). The Future of Reality TV. Presented at: CCRC seminar series, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
Deller, R.A. (2019). ‘Queering Christianity? Gay religious celebrity in Britain. Presented at: Queer Celebrity Conference, University of Portsmouth
Deller, R.A. (2018). ‘All hail the comedy vicar’: Clergy as celebrity. Presented at: Celebrity Studies Conference, Sapienza University, Rome
Deller, R.A. (2017). 30 years in Holby: Analysing Casualty’s Anniversary. Presented at: British Medical Television Conference, University of Brighton
Deller, R.A. (2017). . Presented at: MeCCSA 2017 Conference, Leeds, UK, 2017
Deller, R.A. (2017). Transmedia Storytelling in soap opera. Presented at: Huddersfield Centre for Participatory Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ seminar series, University of Huddersfield
Deller, R.A., & Murphy, K. (2016). 'PewDiePie doesn't sing or dance': Mainstream media representations of YouTube celebrities. Presented at: YouTube Conference, Middlesex University
Deller, R.A., & Murphy, K. (2016). ‘As sugary as a frosted cupcake’: Newspaper representations of a YouTube star. Presented at: Celebrity Studies Conference, University of Amsterdam
Deller, R.A. (2015). Soap opera anniversaries as media events. Presented at: C3Ri seminar series, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
Deller, R.A. (2015). Imagining the Social Justice Warrior. Presented at: Association of Internet Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµers Conference, University of Phoenix
Deller, R.A., Hoffman, A.L., Martey, R., & Guzman, A. (2015). Social Justice and Pedagogy Fishbowl. Presented at: Association of Internet Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµers Conference, University of Phoenix
Deller, R.A. (2015). 'Like the women have been beamed down en masse from BHS': Newspaper representations of mature female fans. Presented at: Fan Studies Network Conference, University of East Anglia
Deller, R.A., Walters, C., & Barker, M.-.J. (2015). Workshop on trigger warnings. Presented at: Sexual Cultures Conference, Middlesex University
Deller, R.A. (2015). Tawdry, trashy and a turn on: Reader responses to Fifty Shades. Presented at: Science Museum Lates, Science Museum, London
Deller, R.A. (2015). Hollyoaks at 20: ‘Teen’ soap no longer? Presented at: MeCCSA conference, Northumbria University
Deller, R.A. (2014). Pull the Trigger? Workshop on trigger warnings. Presented at: LaDIY Fest, Sheffield
Deller, R.A. (2014). What is this Sims 4?: PR, Promotion and Play. Presented at: C3Ri Seminar Series, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
Deller, R.A. (2014). Charitable selfies, national identity and gender: Comparing the #nomakeupselfie and #thumbsupforstephen campaigns. Presented at: Picturing the Social conference, University of Sheffield
Deller, R.A. (2014). (Over) A Decade in the Life of Online Communities. Presented at: Fan Studies Network Conference, Regent's University, London
Deller, R.A. (2014). Celebrity Reality Television and the Fame Cycle. Presented at: Celebrity Studies Conference, Royal Holloway, University of London
Deller, R.A. (2014). Cosmopolitan Readers’ Working Group.
Deller, R.A. (2013). The Fifty Shades Phenomenon.
Deller, R.A. (2013). Of Simblr and Simstagram: Simmifying Social Media. Presented at: Fan Studies Network Conference, University of East Anglia
Deller, R.A. (2013). More Awesome than Electronic Arts: Resistance and appropriation within the Sims gaming community. Presented at: Association of Internet Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµers conference, University of Denver
Deller, R.A., & Smith, C. (2013). A nice girl’s nasty book: reading the readers of Fifty Shades.
Deller, R.A. (2013). Good news for the poor? Newspaper responses to the new Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury. Presented at: CRESC annual conference, Open University, London
Deller, R.A. (2013). BBC Three, Young People and Faith. Presented at: CMS Seminar Series, University of South Wales
Smith, C., & Deller, R.A. (2013). Readers' Responses to Fifty Shades. Presented at: Fifty Shades of Grey: An Inquiry Into 'Dangerous Things', University of Brighton
Deller, R.A. (2012). 'OMG it's been going for 16 years!!': The decline and survival of music fan mailing lists. Presented at: Internet Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ 13.0, University of Salford
Deller, R.A. (2012). British television and religion: audience perspectives. Presented at: Religion and TV Workshop, Lancaster University
Deller, R.A. (2012). Portrayals of Religious Activism and Politicisation on British Television. Presented at: Religion in the Digital Age: Media, Performance and "Spectacular Activism", New York University
Deller, R.A. (2012). God Bless Britain: Religion, spirituality and national identity in factual British television. Presented at: C3Ri Seminar Series, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
Deller, R.A. (2012). Regulating Belief: Television, policy and the representation of faith. Presented at: MeCCSA conference, University of Bedfordshire
Deller, R.A. (2011). Saving live TV? Watching television with Twitter. Presented at: Transforming Audiences conference, University of Winchester
Deller, R.A. (2011). Religious audiences and their response to media depictions of religion. Presented at: Media Spaces, Religion Networks and Social Change, Open University, London
Deller, R.A. (2011). Tweeting with the Audience: The use of Twitter in media research. Presented at: MeCCSA conference, University of Salford
Deller, R.A. (2010). Acceptable and Unacceptable Islam in British Television. Presented at: Islam and the Media Conference, University of Colorado, Boulder
Deller, R.A. (2010). "Please when you come to write about my official biography, please don’t say I travelled with her mother": Women in Torchwood, Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Presented at: What happened next? Feminist Television Studies in post-feminist times: researching the relationship between women, feminism, the feminine and British television, University of Sunderland
Deller, R.A. (2010). The Representation of Religious/Spiritual Experience on factual British TV, 2000-09. Presented at: Religion and Society: Religion and Media research day, University of Leeds
Deller, R.A. (2010). Tweeting Revelations. Presented at: Mediating Religion: Social Media and the Sacred conference, Open University, London
Deller, R.A. (2010). Representations of Religion and Spirituality on Mainstream British Factual TV 2000-09. Presented at: Conflicting Identities: Religion, Race, and Belonging in a Changing World, University of Manchester
Deller, R.A. (2010). Representing Religious and Spiritual practice. Presented at: Representations and ‘Realities’: Anthropology of Britain conference, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
Deller, R.A. (2009). This is My Journey: Mediated Religious Experiences on British TV. Presented at: CRESC Religion, Media and Social Change 2nd Annual Symposium, Open University, London
Deller, R.A. (2009). Religion and Spirituality on Mainstream British Factual TV. Presented at: Sociology Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ Group, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
Deller, R.A. (2009). Religion on factual TV: PhD work in progress discussion. Presented at: Media and the Transformation of Religion conference, University of Manchester
Postgraduate supervision
Current
Kathryn Murphy
Annie Watson
Completed
Kurniwan Saputro
Fahd Alsolamy
Media
Ruth (aka 'Dr Ruth') Is a reader and principal lecturer at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ whose work covers a range of aspects of media and communication. Her main areas of research include fan and audience studies, celebrity, television, social media, gender, and religion although her teaching and research covers a broad spectrum of topics. She is a regular contributor to Radio Sheffield providing, film and media reviews, and has been interviewed for a number of documentaries and publications on a variety of topics.