François Nel

François Nel is a prominent figure in media innovation and journalism education at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). He holds the position of Reader/Associate Professor of Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is the Director of the Journalism Leaders Programme at UCLan.12

Academic Background and Achievements

François Nel has an impressive academic background, including:

• PhD in Journalism from the University of London
• MA in English from Winthrop University, US
• BA (Hons) in Business Communication and English from North Park University at Chicago1

He has received several notable accolades:

• National Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2013)
• Harris Award for Teaching Innovation (2010)
• Harris Award for Research Excellence (2006)1

Professional Roles and Expertise

Nel's expertise spans various areas of media and journalism:

• Media innovation specialist
• Editor of World Press Trends for WAN-IFRA (World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers)
• Co-convenor of the Digital Editors Network
• Associate Editor of the Journal of Media Management and Entrepreneurship12

His research interests include:

• Organizational innovation in dynamic markets
• Media entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship
• Impact of new digital technologies on organizations
• News media's role in the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
• Use of data in and for journalism1

International Involvement

François Nel has extensive international experience and collaborations:

• Works with the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) and WAN-IFRA
• Collaborates with Dr. Coral Milburn-Curtis of the University of Oxford
• Has been a Visiting Researcher at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism1

UCLan Affiliations

At the University of Central Lancashire, Nel is involved in several research initiatives:

• Member of the leadership team of the UCLan Research Centre for Digital Life
• Member of the Media Innovation Studio (MIS)
• Partner in the Innovation Research Group (IRG)1

François Nel's LinkedIn username is indeed thefrancoisnel, as mentioned in the query.2