Josie Barnard.

Dr. Josie Barnard SFHEA is an author and academic whose research centres on the impact of the ‘digital turn’ on writing and publishing.  

Josie Barnard’s work as an author includes her Bloomsbury book, ‘The Multimodal Writer: Creative Writing Across Genres and Media’ (2019).  The award-winning author of five other books, including ‘The Book of Friendship’ (2011) and ‘Poker Face’ (1996), she is, alongside writers including Anna Burns and Penelope Lively, the subject of a chapter in Sue Gee’s ‘Just You and the Page: Twelve writers and their art’ (Seren, 2021).  Josie has spoken about her fiction and creative non-fiction at literary festivals including the Cheltenham Literary Festival, Dartington Literary Festival, the South Bank Centre’s Women of the World (WOW) Festival and the Byline Festival. 

Josie Barnard’s work as an academic centres on the application of creativity to the challenge of bridging the digital divide. She is Subject Lead of and Associate Professor in Creative Writing at De Montfort University Leicester. Her research into digital literacy is represented by ‘The Multimodal Writer’; her research into digital inclusion is represented by her prime time BBC Radio 4 programme, ‘Digital Future: the New Underclass’ (2019). Her multimodal research is the subject of a special issue of the leading academic journal ‘Writing in Practice’ (2022).

Josie Barnard’s work as a journalist – in radio and print journalism – includes producing and presenting extensively for BBC Radio 4, making prime time programmes such as ‘Digital Future’ (2019), ‘M1 Magic’ (2009) and ‘The Telemark Heroes’ (2003).  Her print features, columns and articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines including the Guardian, the Independent, Country Living and the Times Literary Supplement

Josie Barnard’s work as a consultant for government departments and other key stakeholder groups informs policy and helps develop citizens’ digital literacy, with recent consultancy contributing to the development of Ofqual-approved Essential Digital Skills Qualifications (2020).

You can find Josie on Twitter @josiebarnard

Dr Josie Barnard

With thanks to Heather McDonough for the author photographs (@Hevphoto).