Bex Lewis

As Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing, I have a particular interest in digital culture, and how this affects the third sector, especially faith organisations, voluntary organisations, and government behavioural campaigns. I moved to this position after five years involved with the CODEC Centre for Digital Theology, St John’s College, Durham University. At CODEC, I researched discipleship in a digital age, drawing upon over 130 voices from ‘the pew, the pulpit and the academy’ on the website http://bigbible.org.uk. My work included highlighting to the church the importance of engaging with digital technologies. Previous roles in academia include ‘Senior Fellow in Technology Enhanced Learning’ alongside temporary lectureships, web editorial work, and research projects (including into web accessibility and usability) at the University of Winchester and Interdisciplinary Research Officer at the University of Manchester.

I have been Director of social media consultancy Digital Fingerprint since 2001, whose clients have included third sector organisations such as Girlguiding, The National Archives and NCVO (via another agency), Christian organisations including The Church of England, The Methodist Church, and United Reformed Church, publishers including Lion Hudson and CPO, universities including ‘Organisational Development in Higher Education Group’ and The University of Limerick, and a range of small businesses, including anti-diet cause ‘Beyond Chocolate’, and involvement in the social media startup Super Fun Days Out.

I am regularly asked to write for a range of publications for a wide range of audiences, and often provide expert comment to the media. The Financial Times described my 2014 book Raising Children in a Digital Age as ‘sensible’ in a sea of scare texts around the topic of children and the internet. I have been on flagship shows such as The One Show (BBC One), Steve Wright in the Afternoon (BBC Radio 2) and BBC News, whilst local and specialist media frequently asks for comment or opinion pieces on aspects related to digital culture.