<p dir="ltr">This introduction is published in the Krystie Maddox Lue Award Journal for Best Media Dissertation, which celebrates and showcases exceptional final-year dissertations produced by students reading for one of the degrees in the area of media studies at Edge Hill University.</p><p dir="ltr">This introduction gives context to our first issue of the newly inaugurated Krystie Maddox Lue Award Journal for best Media Dissertations.</p>