Matthew Alford

Dr Matthew Alford’s research sits at the intersection of political communication, film studies, and international relations, with a particular focus on propaganda, state power, and media influence. His doctoral research examined the application of the Propaganda Model to contemporary Hollywood, shaping a long-term interest in how political authority is exercised and obscured through narrative media.

He co-produced the feature documentary Theaters of War (2022), which analysed the role of the Pentagon and CIA in shaping thousands of Hollywood films and television programmes. The film builds on his co-authored book National Security Cinema (2017) and research conducted in Los Angeles and Washington, DC. His earlier documentary The Writer with No Hands (2014), examining the disappearance of screenwriter Gary Devore, premiered at Hot Docs and was later adapted for stage performance at the Edinburgh Fringe. These films received multiple international awards.

Matthew’s research, teaching, and public scholarship cohere around the creative communication of contested political subjects. His teaching and public-facing work are grounded in a structured approach to stagecraft, epistemic humility, and narrative design, developed through documentary filmmaking and staff development work.

He has written for Times Higher Education on teaching practice and delivered invited talks in policy, educational, and professional development contexts beyond his home institution. His work has been translated into Chinese, Persian, and French. He has taught widely across UK higher education and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.