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Law School expert wins prestigious award for research on freedom of expression

9 October 2025
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Dr Ge Chen has won an international honour for his research into freedom of expression with a focus on China.

Ge, an Associate Professor in Durham Law School, receives the prestigious Franklyn S Haiman Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Freedom of Expression.

The prize is presented by the United States National Communication Association (NCA).

The annual award, dating back to 1976, goes to an NCA member who has authored outstanding published research on freedom of expression in the preceding three years, both within the United States and internationally.

Speech imperialism: New perspectives on China and free expression

Ge’s research focuses on free speech and global constitutionalism, with particular attention to China.

He was recognised for his article, “The ‘Constitutional’ Rise of Chinese Speech Imperialism”.

Ge will be presented with the award at the NCA’s 111th Annual Convention, held in November in Denver, Colorado.

Announcing the prize, the NCA award committee noted: “Dr Ge Chen’s ambitious, rigorous scholarship illustrates China’s constitutional doctrine of party supremacy, with implications for freedom of expression domestically and internationally.”

Global Free Speech Summit

Ge also spoke at the 2025 Global Free Speech Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. He took part in a discussion on “AI Laws, Chatbots, and the Future of Expression”.

The summit brought together leading figures from politics, business, journalism, and academia to discuss global developments in freedom of expression.

Other academic participants this year included professors from Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford universities.

Find out more

  • Dr Ge Chen, Associate Professor in Global Media and Information Law, Durham Law School.

  • Read Ge’s article, The “Constitutional” Rise of Chinese Speech Imperialism, published in the Journal of Free Speech Law (2023).

  • Our Law School is ranked 57th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Visit our Law webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

  • The NCA is largest communication association in the United States and is dedicated to fostering and promoting free and ethical communication.

  • See more about the Global Free Speech Summit 2025.