Maja Šimunjak’s research focuses on the media, journalism and political communication trends and practices, particularly in authoritarian and transitional societies. She holds a PhD in Political Communication from the University of East Anglia and an MA in Journalism from the University of Zagreb. Research projects she participated in over the last decade range from analyses of media reporting and journalistic cultures, to analyses of news management practices and hidden advertising. Most recently she was involved in the international research projects Varieties of Democracy and European Elections 2014, in which she participated as a country expert analysing media and news management practices in Croatia. Maja’s publications include ‘Media portrayals: from leadership cults to celebrity politicians’ (Routledge, forthcoming), ‘The first time for everything: Political advertising in a new member state’ (Palgrave, forthcoming), ‘The private life as part of Croatian politicians’ communication strategies: The 2009-2010 presidential elections’ (Media Studies, 2012), and ‘Americanization Without Trivialization: Analysis of Newspaper Reporting about Vesna Pusić’s 2009 Presidential Campaign’ (Journal for General Social Issues, 2012). Before joining CMFP, Maja taught a range of modules at the University of East Anglia, including Politics and Mass Media, Studying Media, Media and Society, Media Society and Power, and Media Regulation. Previously, she worked as an editor at a Croatian national television station Sports television. She was also a night desk editor at a Croatian national daily newspapers Jutarnji list, a radio anchorman at a local radio station, and she wrote feature articles for women’s magazine and an online news portal.