David Girling is a lecturer and Director of Research Communication in the School of International Development (DEV). He teaches on the MA Media and International Development and also on a number of undergraduate modules.

He is a Chartered Marketer with over 20 years marketing and communications experience in the public and non-profit sector. He is an active committee member on the Chartered Institute of Marketing Higher Education Group. His interests are multidisciplinary, but he has particular expertise in strategic marketing, communications, PR, branding, digital and social media.

His research focuses on two main areas of social media within developing countries. Firstly how social media has empowered communities to effect change e.g. the Arab Spring and Chile Winter. Secondly how international development organisations and NGOs use social media: rapid response to unforeseen events, emergency related videos, fundraising and general awareness raising.