Lyn Barnes: Gender balance in newsrooms needs further monitoring
The gender balance in New Zealand newsrooms was an unexpected source of research interest for AUT academic Lyn Barnes as she worked toward her PhD.
Her findings on the discrepancy between the number of women in newsrooms compared to the number of female graduates from the country’s leading journalism training programme will form the basis of her paper presentation at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Titled ‘An inexplicable gap: Journalism and gender in New Zealand’, Barnes’ paper was borne out of her wider doctorate research on trauma reporting and its effects on journalists.
“It was just one of the areas that I needed to look at,” explains Barnes. “It wasn’t meant to be a gender study, but it went that way when I figured out that a high percentage of women in New Zealand cover trauma compared to figures overseas.”
The discovery that in nearly every metropolitan newspaper in New Zealand except for one, crime is covered by female reporters, led the AUT lecturer to look into the numbers of women in newsrooms.
“The important thing I found out [is] that 76 per cent of journalists from AUT, the country’s largest journalism training programme, are female, and yet the ratio in newsrooms from the latest Statistics New Zealand figures are 50/50,” says Barnes. “So somewhere along the line there are 26 per cent of young women that either aren’t getting work or aren’t staying in work.”
While Barnes says the ratio is high compared to the international average of 37 per cent females reporting news, she believes there is still a gap that needs to be better understood and monitored.
“I think in 2006, there were six women editing metropolitan newspapers, but I did an update and found it’s now only three, so we’re losing role models, and that’s [one reason] why we need to monitor gender. Not because women should be given a priority, but because they should be given equal opportunities.”
Barnes acknowledges the work of fellow New Zealand researcher Catherine Strong on gender in newsrooms, but says overall there is a lack of attention to the roles of men and women in journalism both here and overseas.
She is looking forward to the WJEC as an opportunity to meet with fellow researchers in both gender and her main field of trauma reporting.
“Meeting some of the names of people who I have cited in my research, that is one of the bonuses of attending the WJEC for me,” says Barnes. “I was really impressed to see the line-up, it’s fantastic.”
The researcher will also be taking part in a panel on reporting trauma and suicide, which she expects will provoke discussion about the issues of reporting on traumatic events and the impacts on journalists.
“It will be really interesting to get an international perspective and find out what’s happening overseas,” she says of the panel. “We are looking particularly at suicide reporting as well, and of course that is all changing at the moment in New Zealand, so that will be fascinating.”
Her findings on the discrepancy between the number of women in newsrooms compared to the number of female graduates from the country’s leading journalism training programme will form the basis of her paper presentation at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Titled ‘An inexplicable gap: Journalism and gender in New Zealand’, Barnes’ paper was borne out of her wider doctorate research on trauma reporting and its effects on journalists.
“It was just one of the areas that I needed to look at,” explains Barnes. “It wasn’t meant to be a gender study, but it went that way when I figured out that a high percentage of women in New Zealand cover trauma compared to figures overseas.”
The discovery that in nearly every metropolitan newspaper in New Zealand except for one, crime is covered by female reporters, led the AUT lecturer to look into the numbers of women in newsrooms.
“The important thing I found out [is] that 76 per cent of journalists from AUT, the country’s largest journalism training programme, are female, and yet the ratio in newsrooms from the latest Statistics New Zealand figures are 50/50,” says Barnes. “So somewhere along the line there are 26 per cent of young women that either aren’t getting work or aren’t staying in work.”
While Barnes says the ratio is high compared to the international average of 37 per cent females reporting news, she believes there is still a gap that needs to be better understood and monitored.
“I think in 2006, there were six women editing metropolitan newspapers, but I did an update and found it’s now only three, so we’re losing role models, and that’s [one reason] why we need to monitor gender. Not because women should be given a priority, but because they should be given equal opportunities.”
Barnes acknowledges the work of fellow New Zealand researcher Catherine Strong on gender in newsrooms, but says overall there is a lack of attention to the roles of men and women in journalism both here and overseas.
She is looking forward to the WJEC as an opportunity to meet with fellow researchers in both gender and her main field of trauma reporting.
“Meeting some of the names of people who I have cited in my research, that is one of the bonuses of attending the WJEC for me,” says Barnes. “I was really impressed to see the line-up, it’s fantastic.”
The researcher will also be taking part in a panel on reporting trauma and suicide, which she expects will provoke discussion about the issues of reporting on traumatic events and the impacts on journalists.
“It will be really interesting to get an international perspective and find out what’s happening overseas,” she says of the panel. “We are looking particularly at suicide reporting as well, and of course that is all changing at the moment in New Zealand, so that will be fascinating.”
- Lyn Barnes will present ‘An inexplicable gap: Journalism and gender in New Zealand’ on Saturday 16 July at 11am in WG803. The ‘Reporting trauma and suicide’ panel takes place on the same day at 9am in WA224A.
Claire Wolfe: Learning how to tackle the trolls
The potentially damaging impact of “acid tongued trolls” on new journalists, and how they can protect themselves from online attacks, is being explored by a UK researcher.
Claire Wolfe, the subject leader for journalism at the University of Worcester, has taken the subject of ‘trollology’ on in her research paper entitled, ‘Online trolls and the freedom of speech: Devising a survival guide for journalism undergraduates & new entrants to the media industry’.
The researcher and former news journalist says the topic was inspired by the fact that the massive growth in social media “has not been paralleled by the development of help and guidance for those involved in journalism”.
In particular, Wolfe says there is a demand for more advice and information when it comes to interactions with trolls online from both graduate journalists and students.
“The first part of the research started about two years ago when I began investigating internet trolls and the impact they had on some journalists,” explains Wolfe.
“A number of interviews were carried out. I then canvassed students and realised that they were encountering difficulties in handling negativity online.”
Wolfe says her interviews of graduates and undergraduates revealed the extent of the problem, and prompted her to devise a “survival guide” for journalists working with social media.
“Some of the stories they recounted were quite shocking, and made me realise they needed to know how to deal with such comments before they occurred, rather than afterwards while reeling from the assault,” says Wolfe.
“It is important that those entering journalism and other related media roles are able to work effectively online and to know how to respond when targeted by trolls,” she adds.
“If not, they may shy away from encounters and try to self-censor their views.”
The impact of such censorship would not only impact on the concept of freedom of expression, says Wolfe, but also the role of the media in defending the right to freedom of speech.
In her paper abstract, she refers to “acid tongued trolls” who have managed to stifle online debate in some sectors, for instance in the case of US Popular Science magazine, which scrapped its comments sections, warning that “lively, intellectual debate” and the ability to inform the public about science issues are under threat.
Her research looks at these issues, and also attempts to “produce some good practice guidance” for young journalists to help them survive without feeling compromised.
On her first trip back to New Zealand after a family trip eight years ago, Wolfe says she is looking forward to meeting people from different cultures and “hearing their stories about the challenges of teaching journalism in a rapidly changing environment”.
Claire Wolfe, the subject leader for journalism at the University of Worcester, has taken the subject of ‘trollology’ on in her research paper entitled, ‘Online trolls and the freedom of speech: Devising a survival guide for journalism undergraduates & new entrants to the media industry’.
The researcher and former news journalist says the topic was inspired by the fact that the massive growth in social media “has not been paralleled by the development of help and guidance for those involved in journalism”.
In particular, Wolfe says there is a demand for more advice and information when it comes to interactions with trolls online from both graduate journalists and students.
“The first part of the research started about two years ago when I began investigating internet trolls and the impact they had on some journalists,” explains Wolfe.
“A number of interviews were carried out. I then canvassed students and realised that they were encountering difficulties in handling negativity online.”
Wolfe says her interviews of graduates and undergraduates revealed the extent of the problem, and prompted her to devise a “survival guide” for journalists working with social media.
“Some of the stories they recounted were quite shocking, and made me realise they needed to know how to deal with such comments before they occurred, rather than afterwards while reeling from the assault,” says Wolfe.
“It is important that those entering journalism and other related media roles are able to work effectively online and to know how to respond when targeted by trolls,” she adds.
“If not, they may shy away from encounters and try to self-censor their views.”
The impact of such censorship would not only impact on the concept of freedom of expression, says Wolfe, but also the role of the media in defending the right to freedom of speech.
In her paper abstract, she refers to “acid tongued trolls” who have managed to stifle online debate in some sectors, for instance in the case of US Popular Science magazine, which scrapped its comments sections, warning that “lively, intellectual debate” and the ability to inform the public about science issues are under threat.
Her research looks at these issues, and also attempts to “produce some good practice guidance” for young journalists to help them survive without feeling compromised.
On her first trip back to New Zealand after a family trip eight years ago, Wolfe says she is looking forward to meeting people from different cultures and “hearing their stories about the challenges of teaching journalism in a rapidly changing environment”.
- Claire Wolfe will speak on her research, ‘Online trolls and the freedom of speech: Devising a survival guide for journalism undergraduates & new entrants to the media industry’, on Thursday 14 July, at 4pm, in WG907.
Richard Pamatatau: Making it ‘real’ for students in the newsroom
Real world experience is helping students gain better insight into the journalism industry, thanks to an innovative programme.
Programme leader for AUT’s graduate diploma in Pacific Journalism, Richard Pamatatau, will present his findings on how new methods are preparing students for the workforce at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Pamatatau’s research is based on AUT’s Newsroom Intensive, a two-week programme where students work in an operational newsroom alongside a journalist-in-residence and a web editor.
“We’re engaging with the rapid changes in the industry and modelling the pressures of the newsroom very early on so when the students leave us it’s not a shock,” says Pamatatau.
“We’re researching how the students respond, how real the learning experience is in the context of an academic, theoretical environment and how to make the newsroom experience as real as we can make it at the university.”
This practice-based learning is something Pamatatau can relate to, having established a successful career in journalism without formal training.
After an established career with two of New Zealand’s largest publications - the Dominion Post and the New Zealand Herald - Pamatatau became the first Pacific issues correspondent for Radio New Zealand.
The Auckland born and bred researcher says integrating different facets is key to becoming a successful journalist.
“Journalism is a mix between an art, a craft and a science and is something that takes a lot of practice.”
Through his research, Pamatatau has found technology to be a useful learning device.
“The bigger learning has been that we need to engage more with the technology and the practice of journalism in a changing environment,” he explains.
“If you don’t constantly change and adapt you will cease to be relevant. We’ve also recognised that the ubiquitous access to content in the developed world means you just have to be much more on the ball.”
At the WJEC, Pamatatau is looking forward to discovering different approaches.
“I hope to hear from other journalism educators about how they’re engaging with the really important things that we have to do to ensure that the students we send out as graduates are reflexive practitioners.
“They need to really think about interrogating their practice on a daily basis because journalism isn’t a matter of going out and telling a story, it’s realising the impact of what that might be.”
Programme leader for AUT’s graduate diploma in Pacific Journalism, Richard Pamatatau, will present his findings on how new methods are preparing students for the workforce at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Pamatatau’s research is based on AUT’s Newsroom Intensive, a two-week programme where students work in an operational newsroom alongside a journalist-in-residence and a web editor.
“We’re engaging with the rapid changes in the industry and modelling the pressures of the newsroom very early on so when the students leave us it’s not a shock,” says Pamatatau.
“We’re researching how the students respond, how real the learning experience is in the context of an academic, theoretical environment and how to make the newsroom experience as real as we can make it at the university.”
This practice-based learning is something Pamatatau can relate to, having established a successful career in journalism without formal training.
After an established career with two of New Zealand’s largest publications - the Dominion Post and the New Zealand Herald - Pamatatau became the first Pacific issues correspondent for Radio New Zealand.
The Auckland born and bred researcher says integrating different facets is key to becoming a successful journalist.
“Journalism is a mix between an art, a craft and a science and is something that takes a lot of practice.”
Through his research, Pamatatau has found technology to be a useful learning device.
“The bigger learning has been that we need to engage more with the technology and the practice of journalism in a changing environment,” he explains.
“If you don’t constantly change and adapt you will cease to be relevant. We’ve also recognised that the ubiquitous access to content in the developed world means you just have to be much more on the ball.”
At the WJEC, Pamatatau is looking forward to discovering different approaches.
“I hope to hear from other journalism educators about how they’re engaging with the really important things that we have to do to ensure that the students we send out as graduates are reflexive practitioners.
“They need to really think about interrogating their practice on a daily basis because journalism isn’t a matter of going out and telling a story, it’s realising the impact of what that might be.”
- Richard Pamatatau will present ‘Working the Room: How a journalism department responds to industry pressure for work ready graduates’ on Thursday 14 July, 4pm, in WG609.
Victoria Lepou: Samoan media’s journey toward free speech
The challenges faced by working journalists in Samoa to ensure freedom of speech will be discussed in a presentation from a leading academic from the South Pacific nation.
Head of the media and communication department at the National University of Samoa, Misa Victoria Lepou, will attend the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) this year.
She will present her paper ‘Samoan journalists’ journey of free speech vs media laws’, and hopes the research she brings to the congress will benefit other academics attending the event.
Lepou hopes that the challenges faced by Samoan media will provide valuable lessons for the industry to make relevant changes.
The paper explores the historic struggle of one major publisher in Samoa to report on ‘official corruption and abuses of power’,
and the recent establishment of the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa (J.A.W.S) and a Media Council.
Lepou says she wanted to “share Samoa’s interpretation of how journalism is being challenged by its way of life”, and has been researching the topic for the past eight months.
“There was a lack of locally produced literature, so I felt there should be more research done to teach our own students,” she adds.
Since starting her research, Lepou says there have been changes in codes of ethics in the country.
“The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) funded initiative donated over $100,000 worth of equipment, as well as funding from UNESCO to fund our campus radio station to enhance training at the university to balance [the] quality of journalism in newsroom practices,” explains Lepou.
“As well as [this], the newly set up Media Council which is still in progress awaiting the national association to set it up.”
The former print and broadcast journalist who has been a lecturer for nine years is looking forward to meeting fellow researchers at the WJEC.
“The opportunity to network, learn and share experiences with journalism educators is not always a privilege that comes around very often for the Pacific region,” says Lepou.
“I felt this would be the appropriate time to make our voices heard and address our own challenges from this part of the region, other than New Zealand and Australia.”
Head of the media and communication department at the National University of Samoa, Misa Victoria Lepou, will attend the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) this year.
She will present her paper ‘Samoan journalists’ journey of free speech vs media laws’, and hopes the research she brings to the congress will benefit other academics attending the event.
Lepou hopes that the challenges faced by Samoan media will provide valuable lessons for the industry to make relevant changes.
The paper explores the historic struggle of one major publisher in Samoa to report on ‘official corruption and abuses of power’,
and the recent establishment of the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa (J.A.W.S) and a Media Council.
Lepou says she wanted to “share Samoa’s interpretation of how journalism is being challenged by its way of life”, and has been researching the topic for the past eight months.
“There was a lack of locally produced literature, so I felt there should be more research done to teach our own students,” she adds.
Since starting her research, Lepou says there have been changes in codes of ethics in the country.
“The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) funded initiative donated over $100,000 worth of equipment, as well as funding from UNESCO to fund our campus radio station to enhance training at the university to balance [the] quality of journalism in newsroom practices,” explains Lepou.
“As well as [this], the newly set up Media Council which is still in progress awaiting the national association to set it up.”
The former print and broadcast journalist who has been a lecturer for nine years is looking forward to meeting fellow researchers at the WJEC.
“The opportunity to network, learn and share experiences with journalism educators is not always a privilege that comes around very often for the Pacific region,” says Lepou.
“I felt this would be the appropriate time to make our voices heard and address our own challenges from this part of the region, other than New Zealand and Australia.”
- Victoria Lepou will present her paper ‘Samoan journalists’ journey of free speech vs media laws’ on Saturday 16 July at 2pm in WG607.
Sarah Baker: Watching current affairs in New Zealand
As current affairs programming continues to evolve, one academic is mapping the challenges that the industry faces.
AUT communications lecturer, Dr Sarah Baker, is presenting ‘The State of Current Affairs Television in New Zealand and its impact on Journalism and an Informed Citizenry’ at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
The Auckland academic says deregulation by the Government in the 1980s changed the state of current affairs programmes which also had an impact on education, health and welfare.
“The changes that happened here in terms of neo-liberalism or deregulation meant that current affairs programmes became entertainment-led and so lost a lot of their function of providing information.”
A specialist in the “completely separate” field of pop culture, including subjects such as zombies, gothic culture and sexuality, Dr Baker says her research into current affairs journalism happened by chance.
“My interest was sparked at university when I, by accident, did a paper on the New Zealand TV industry which turned out to be really interesting.”
Likewise, these are interesting times for the industry, says Dr Baker.
“There really had been effects of deregulation which could be mapped and were clearly showing patterns that needed further exploration.”
The effects seem to be “accelerating”, for example, the popular current affairs show Campbell Live was axed last year.
“Losing Campbell Live set us back even further because it means we don’t really have investigative journalism and current affairs that looks at things in depth. It’s a loss of journalism and a loss of democracy.”
It’s a hot topic amongst academics and while Dr Baker is uncertain about the future, she knows areas that can be improved.
“At the moment I think it will take a political will to put some energy, money and resources into having public service broadcast.”
Ultimately, she hopes that journalism students will engage with the issue for the future of current affairs programming.
“If people want to become journalists and do something like current affairs, it adds fuel to those debates about where journalism is, what do we do and where we come from.”
Dr Baker anticipates a lively debate over the issues of current affairs programming at the WJEC.
“I’m looking forward to attending, being in the middle of it and hearing what everyone’s got to say because they’ll add to the discussion and that will be exciting.”
AUT communications lecturer, Dr Sarah Baker, is presenting ‘The State of Current Affairs Television in New Zealand and its impact on Journalism and an Informed Citizenry’ at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
The Auckland academic says deregulation by the Government in the 1980s changed the state of current affairs programmes which also had an impact on education, health and welfare.
“The changes that happened here in terms of neo-liberalism or deregulation meant that current affairs programmes became entertainment-led and so lost a lot of their function of providing information.”
A specialist in the “completely separate” field of pop culture, including subjects such as zombies, gothic culture and sexuality, Dr Baker says her research into current affairs journalism happened by chance.
“My interest was sparked at university when I, by accident, did a paper on the New Zealand TV industry which turned out to be really interesting.”
Likewise, these are interesting times for the industry, says Dr Baker.
“There really had been effects of deregulation which could be mapped and were clearly showing patterns that needed further exploration.”
The effects seem to be “accelerating”, for example, the popular current affairs show Campbell Live was axed last year.
“Losing Campbell Live set us back even further because it means we don’t really have investigative journalism and current affairs that looks at things in depth. It’s a loss of journalism and a loss of democracy.”
It’s a hot topic amongst academics and while Dr Baker is uncertain about the future, she knows areas that can be improved.
“At the moment I think it will take a political will to put some energy, money and resources into having public service broadcast.”
Ultimately, she hopes that journalism students will engage with the issue for the future of current affairs programming.
“If people want to become journalists and do something like current affairs, it adds fuel to those debates about where journalism is, what do we do and where we come from.”
Dr Baker anticipates a lively debate over the issues of current affairs programming at the WJEC.
“I’m looking forward to attending, being in the middle of it and hearing what everyone’s got to say because they’ll add to the discussion and that will be exciting.”
- Sarah Baker will present ‘The State of Current Affairs Television in New Zealand and its impact on Journalism and an Informed Citizenry’ on Saturday July 16, 2pm, in WG907.
Fiona Martin: Challenging the ‘news gap’ in social media sharing
She may enjoy the silence of nature, but an Australian academic is hoping to generate a buzz around online conversations through her research.
University of Sydney senior lecturer, Dr Fiona Martin, will be attending the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) in Auckland for the first time this year.
A Wollongong local, Dr Martin commutes along the coast to work in Sydney and enjoys a seaside lifestyle filled with activities such as bush walking and snorkelling.
When she’s not diving into the sea, Dr Martin delves into the area of social media.
She will present ‘Sharing News Online’, a multidisciplinary, industry partnership with journalism project Share Wars and ninemsn analysing the scope, forms and implications of social media news sharing on the future of journalism.
“We’re examining the political economy of news sharing, its impact on news production and distribution and its meanings for audiences,” Dr Martin explains.
“This work is critical to understanding how journalism is changing in response to peoples’ increased use of social media for news and information and we hope it will also inform policy on digital media diversity.”
Her research examines the types of stories shared across the world on Facebook and Twitter, as well as the topics people prefer to share.
Dr Martin says her findings have challenged the ‘news gap’ thesis which suggests, for example, that stories shared are not likely to be celebrity gossip but news about politics, crime, law and justice.
“The chapter argues that the nature of our story sharing needs more careful classification and analysis to reveal the differences between significant and everyday sharing, and to identify what types of stories will share best on different platforms,” she says.
“Importantly, it calls into question the reductionist notion that social sharing is driving a clickbait culture that will dumb down news production.”
At the WJEC, Dr Martin hopes to meet others specialising in the fields of online and social journalism as well as researching participatory journalism and digital media ethics.
The aim is to identify strategies and principles for better managing user participation, she adds.
As a result, Dr Martin hopes to see journalism education expand on social media communications, effective online writing, data analytics and building “co-creative relationships” with different users.
She says the future looks bright for online journalism education.
“Despite the dismal job outlook, online journalism education is more demanding and exciting than ever, thanks to the expansion of publishing platforms and reporting tools, uptake of data journalism and information visualisation, and the evolution of social and co–creative journalisms.”
University of Sydney senior lecturer, Dr Fiona Martin, will be attending the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) in Auckland for the first time this year.
A Wollongong local, Dr Martin commutes along the coast to work in Sydney and enjoys a seaside lifestyle filled with activities such as bush walking and snorkelling.
When she’s not diving into the sea, Dr Martin delves into the area of social media.
She will present ‘Sharing News Online’, a multidisciplinary, industry partnership with journalism project Share Wars and ninemsn analysing the scope, forms and implications of social media news sharing on the future of journalism.
“We’re examining the political economy of news sharing, its impact on news production and distribution and its meanings for audiences,” Dr Martin explains.
“This work is critical to understanding how journalism is changing in response to peoples’ increased use of social media for news and information and we hope it will also inform policy on digital media diversity.”
Her research examines the types of stories shared across the world on Facebook and Twitter, as well as the topics people prefer to share.
Dr Martin says her findings have challenged the ‘news gap’ thesis which suggests, for example, that stories shared are not likely to be celebrity gossip but news about politics, crime, law and justice.
“The chapter argues that the nature of our story sharing needs more careful classification and analysis to reveal the differences between significant and everyday sharing, and to identify what types of stories will share best on different platforms,” she says.
“Importantly, it calls into question the reductionist notion that social sharing is driving a clickbait culture that will dumb down news production.”
At the WJEC, Dr Martin hopes to meet others specialising in the fields of online and social journalism as well as researching participatory journalism and digital media ethics.
The aim is to identify strategies and principles for better managing user participation, she adds.
As a result, Dr Martin hopes to see journalism education expand on social media communications, effective online writing, data analytics and building “co-creative relationships” with different users.
She says the future looks bright for online journalism education.
“Despite the dismal job outlook, online journalism education is more demanding and exciting than ever, thanks to the expansion of publishing platforms and reporting tools, uptake of data journalism and information visualisation, and the evolution of social and co–creative journalisms.”
- Dr Fiona Martin will be presenting ‘Sharing News Online’ on Thursday 14 July, 2pm, in WG907.
Mark Pearson: Reflection and knowledge key in best practice Islam reporting
More reflection and knowledge is needed for journalists reporting on Islam and Muslim communities to ensure stories do not misinform or inflame tensions, according to a senior Australian researcher.
Dr Mark Pearson, professor of journalism and social media at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, will be presenting ‘Eliciting Best Practice in Reporting Islam: Case studies from Australia’ along with his co-researcher, associate professor Jacqui Ewart, also of Griffith University.
“Given that reporting Islam and Muslim communities is one of the biggest ethical questions facing media this century, it’s important more work be done in how journalists approach stories that involve Islam and Muslim people,” says Dr Pearson.
The work undertaken by the pair focuses on two case studies – one involving the reporting of a new mosque opening, and the other on radicalisation – and is part of a three-stage project aimed at developing best practice resources to encourage the more mindful reporting of Islam and Muslims.
“We’ve found in the research that highly inflammatory and inaccurate coverage of this topic can actually create or inflame social tensions,” explains Dr Pearson.
Those tensions can be seen in social media comment streams on reporting, and sometimes in physical acts against perceived members of the Islam community as a result of the stories.
Due to the potential to spark these kinds of issues, “it’s vital that journalists at least take time to pause and reflect upon the implications of their approaches to these stories,” says Dr Pearson.
He says it is not an attempt to sanitise or to censor journalists in any way, but rather a recognition of the importance of accuracy and understanding – best practice principles that should be applied to all stories.
“There are many other topics where journalists pause to reflect, and then decide they will take a certain approach that may not be the most conflict-driven or confrontational because of the potential harm that might come to some people as a result,” says Dr Pearson.
“In a similar way, journalists have adapted their coverage of mental health and suicide over the last couple of decades, journalists now take a reflective approach to those topics because they are more aware of the potential implications of their reportage.”
The researchers have developed a set of resources and curricula for mainstream journalists to improve their reporting of Islam and Muslim communities, such as a mobile app, website, training guide and newsroom handbook.
Funding has been provided for the project by the Australian government, and Australian mainstream media, leading Muslim figures, Islamic studies researchers, and the regulatory or self-regulatory media authorities have all been involved.
Dr Pearson and Dr Ewart have also drawn on the opinions of working journalists, student journalists and educators, to put together a list of the top 10 questions journalists should ask themselves when covering Islam and Muslim people based on international best practice.
Ultimately, Dr Pearson hopes the research and subsequent training will help reporters during every stage of story production, right through to thinking about comment moderation and suitability.
Dr Mark Pearson, professor of journalism and social media at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, will be presenting ‘Eliciting Best Practice in Reporting Islam: Case studies from Australia’ along with his co-researcher, associate professor Jacqui Ewart, also of Griffith University.
“Given that reporting Islam and Muslim communities is one of the biggest ethical questions facing media this century, it’s important more work be done in how journalists approach stories that involve Islam and Muslim people,” says Dr Pearson.
The work undertaken by the pair focuses on two case studies – one involving the reporting of a new mosque opening, and the other on radicalisation – and is part of a three-stage project aimed at developing best practice resources to encourage the more mindful reporting of Islam and Muslims.
“We’ve found in the research that highly inflammatory and inaccurate coverage of this topic can actually create or inflame social tensions,” explains Dr Pearson.
Those tensions can be seen in social media comment streams on reporting, and sometimes in physical acts against perceived members of the Islam community as a result of the stories.
Due to the potential to spark these kinds of issues, “it’s vital that journalists at least take time to pause and reflect upon the implications of their approaches to these stories,” says Dr Pearson.
He says it is not an attempt to sanitise or to censor journalists in any way, but rather a recognition of the importance of accuracy and understanding – best practice principles that should be applied to all stories.
“There are many other topics where journalists pause to reflect, and then decide they will take a certain approach that may not be the most conflict-driven or confrontational because of the potential harm that might come to some people as a result,” says Dr Pearson.
“In a similar way, journalists have adapted their coverage of mental health and suicide over the last couple of decades, journalists now take a reflective approach to those topics because they are more aware of the potential implications of their reportage.”
The researchers have developed a set of resources and curricula for mainstream journalists to improve their reporting of Islam and Muslim communities, such as a mobile app, website, training guide and newsroom handbook.
Funding has been provided for the project by the Australian government, and Australian mainstream media, leading Muslim figures, Islamic studies researchers, and the regulatory or self-regulatory media authorities have all been involved.
Dr Pearson and Dr Ewart have also drawn on the opinions of working journalists, student journalists and educators, to put together a list of the top 10 questions journalists should ask themselves when covering Islam and Muslim people based on international best practice.
Ultimately, Dr Pearson hopes the research and subsequent training will help reporters during every stage of story production, right through to thinking about comment moderation and suitability.
- Dr Mark Pearson and Dr Jacqui Ewart will present ‘Eliciting Best Practice in Reporting Islam: Case studies from Australia’ on Saturday 16 July, 11am, in WG607. Dr Pearson will also appear on the ‘21st century ethical issues in journalism’ panel hosted by Donald Matheson, on Thursday 14 July, 11am, in WG404.
Louise Matthews: Following police tweets in the public eye
A British academic would like to see more journalism students become “digital natives” as she presents research into police officers’ use of Twitter.
Bournemouth University’s senior lecturer in multimedia journalism, Louise Matthews, aims to highlight how police in the UK use the social media platform to communicate with the public at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) this year.
The former AUT senior lecturer says she was drawn to the subject having worked as a police reporter and police liaison officer in New Zealand.
She says her observations of the police in the UK were interesting.
“There were police officers on Twitter protesting anonymously about the austerity cuts and it was an outlook never seen before,” she explains.
She cites other incidents significantly influenced by Twitter, such as a planned march on Parliament, and the shooting of two policewomen in Manchester.
“There were train companies offering free travel so a police officer could go to the funeral. These things simply wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t gone on Twitter.”
However, because Twitter is public, there are implications for journalists, says Matthews.
“In a sense it completely bypasses the traditional gatekeepers, the journalists. On Twitter the [police] can communicate directly.”
This inevitably impacts on reporting, Matthews points out.
“You obviously need to get something different [to what’s out there] and if you want people to talk to you and not circumvent you we need to think about what can we offer that makes us better.”
As a result, Matthews believes that Twitter or future platforms should be taken seriously in journalism education.
“It teaches old school journalism skills such as keywords, narrowing down and specialising, and you have to have knowledge of different audiences.”
It also helps journalists build contacts and engage with communities they otherwise may not encounter, she adds.
Her research will serve as a reminder and example of communities represented on Twitter and how they function, which is useful for student journalists.
“It’s about knowing what’s going on and how people use communication, and students should really be Twitter natives.”
With a diverse career working for major news corporations including the Sunday Times and Daily Mirror in the UK, and TVNZ and NZ Herald in New Zealand, Matthews is looking forward to returning to New Zealand and reconnecting with friends and colleagues.
“I did my MA and taught at Auckland, so I’m very attached and very proud that AUT’s hosting it. I couldn’t bear the thought of my own department hosting a conference and not coming back for it.”
Bournemouth University’s senior lecturer in multimedia journalism, Louise Matthews, aims to highlight how police in the UK use the social media platform to communicate with the public at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) this year.
The former AUT senior lecturer says she was drawn to the subject having worked as a police reporter and police liaison officer in New Zealand.
She says her observations of the police in the UK were interesting.
“There were police officers on Twitter protesting anonymously about the austerity cuts and it was an outlook never seen before,” she explains.
She cites other incidents significantly influenced by Twitter, such as a planned march on Parliament, and the shooting of two policewomen in Manchester.
“There were train companies offering free travel so a police officer could go to the funeral. These things simply wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t gone on Twitter.”
However, because Twitter is public, there are implications for journalists, says Matthews.
“In a sense it completely bypasses the traditional gatekeepers, the journalists. On Twitter the [police] can communicate directly.”
This inevitably impacts on reporting, Matthews points out.
“You obviously need to get something different [to what’s out there] and if you want people to talk to you and not circumvent you we need to think about what can we offer that makes us better.”
As a result, Matthews believes that Twitter or future platforms should be taken seriously in journalism education.
“It teaches old school journalism skills such as keywords, narrowing down and specialising, and you have to have knowledge of different audiences.”
It also helps journalists build contacts and engage with communities they otherwise may not encounter, she adds.
Her research will serve as a reminder and example of communities represented on Twitter and how they function, which is useful for student journalists.
“It’s about knowing what’s going on and how people use communication, and students should really be Twitter natives.”
With a diverse career working for major news corporations including the Sunday Times and Daily Mirror in the UK, and TVNZ and NZ Herald in New Zealand, Matthews is looking forward to returning to New Zealand and reconnecting with friends and colleagues.
“I did my MA and taught at Auckland, so I’m very attached and very proud that AUT’s hosting it. I couldn’t bear the thought of my own department hosting a conference and not coming back for it.”
- Louise Matthews will present ‘Tweeting off the beat: Social media and alternative voices of police as protester’ on Thursday 14 July, 2pm, in WG907.
Bevelyn Dube: Codes of conduct lagging behind digital image manipulation
An increasing number of “ethical violations” in the world of photojournalism has inspired the research of one South African academic attending this year’s World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Dr Bevelyn Dube, a senior communications lecturer from the University of Venda in South Africa, has spent the last five months examining how codes of conduct in her country address image manipulation and how journalists are handling the issue.
In her paper, ‘To lie or not to lie: Interrogating the ethical complexities of photo manipulation in the era of digital technologies’, Dr Dube addresses a topic that isn’t commonly discussed in the region.
“Photojournalism is a field that is not talked about much in journalism scholarship, at least in Africa. Yet there are so many ethical violations that take place in that field,” says Dr Dube.
The publication of a doctored image of a minibus destroyed by a suicide bomb in Kabul by The Citizen newspaper in South Africa in 2012 started the researcher thinking seriously about the issues involved.
“The Press Club of South Africa took exception to the newspaper’s removal of images of two bodies of South Africans from the frame. The original photograph from Agence France-Presse showed two bodies in the mangled wreck of the minibus,” explains Dr Dube.
“What interested me most were the diverse responses to the issue, some in support and others against the action.”
With that example in mind, Dr Dube has looked at the what? to find out what the codes of conduct of the different Southern African countries say about this new development of digital technologies in journalism.
She also looked at whether newsroom journalists are given guidance on how to handle user-generated images which might be manipulated.
“The image has always had evidentiary status. People easily believe that something is true when they see it with their own eyes, and, traditionally, pictures have always provided that kind of authority,” says Dr Dube.
“There is a real concern that if photo manipulation becomes the norm in journalism, people will lose their confidence in journalism’s ability to tell the truth.”
The researcher found that while photo manipulation is not new – “it dates back to the early days of photography and, for some time, it was actually welcome and many renowned photographers made their name on it” – many current codes in the country do not address it.
“Codes of conduct of the countries in Southern Africa, except for two, are completely silent about photo manipulation and user generated content,” Dr Dube explains.
“I found this surprising especially in view of the fact that digital technologies have penetrated the journalism landscape in those countries.”
Dr Dube is looking forward to getting feedback on her research, and learning about new trends and narratives in journalism education, at this year’s WJEC.
It will be her first time visiting New Zealand, so she says she hopes to get a sense of the country as well as connect with world-renowned scholars.
“I am really looking forward to seeing Auckland. I am told it is a beautiful city and I am looking forward to enjoying new experiences.”
Dr Bevelyn Dube will present her paper ‘To lie or not to lie: Interrogating the ethical complexities of photo manipulation in the era of digital technologies’ on Saturday 16 July, at 2pm, in WG609.
Dr Bevelyn Dube, a senior communications lecturer from the University of Venda in South Africa, has spent the last five months examining how codes of conduct in her country address image manipulation and how journalists are handling the issue.
In her paper, ‘To lie or not to lie: Interrogating the ethical complexities of photo manipulation in the era of digital technologies’, Dr Dube addresses a topic that isn’t commonly discussed in the region.
“Photojournalism is a field that is not talked about much in journalism scholarship, at least in Africa. Yet there are so many ethical violations that take place in that field,” says Dr Dube.
The publication of a doctored image of a minibus destroyed by a suicide bomb in Kabul by The Citizen newspaper in South Africa in 2012 started the researcher thinking seriously about the issues involved.
“The Press Club of South Africa took exception to the newspaper’s removal of images of two bodies of South Africans from the frame. The original photograph from Agence France-Presse showed two bodies in the mangled wreck of the minibus,” explains Dr Dube.
“What interested me most were the diverse responses to the issue, some in support and others against the action.”
With that example in mind, Dr Dube has looked at the what? to find out what the codes of conduct of the different Southern African countries say about this new development of digital technologies in journalism.
She also looked at whether newsroom journalists are given guidance on how to handle user-generated images which might be manipulated.
“The image has always had evidentiary status. People easily believe that something is true when they see it with their own eyes, and, traditionally, pictures have always provided that kind of authority,” says Dr Dube.
“There is a real concern that if photo manipulation becomes the norm in journalism, people will lose their confidence in journalism’s ability to tell the truth.”
The researcher found that while photo manipulation is not new – “it dates back to the early days of photography and, for some time, it was actually welcome and many renowned photographers made their name on it” – many current codes in the country do not address it.
“Codes of conduct of the countries in Southern Africa, except for two, are completely silent about photo manipulation and user generated content,” Dr Dube explains.
“I found this surprising especially in view of the fact that digital technologies have penetrated the journalism landscape in those countries.”
Dr Dube is looking forward to getting feedback on her research, and learning about new trends and narratives in journalism education, at this year’s WJEC.
It will be her first time visiting New Zealand, so she says she hopes to get a sense of the country as well as connect with world-renowned scholars.
“I am really looking forward to seeing Auckland. I am told it is a beautiful city and I am looking forward to enjoying new experiences.”
Dr Bevelyn Dube will present her paper ‘To lie or not to lie: Interrogating the ethical complexities of photo manipulation in the era of digital technologies’ on Saturday 16 July, at 2pm, in WG609.
Tara Ross: Making sense of natural disasters for students
A teaching exercise inspired by the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch in 2011 is helping student journalists and scientists learn about handling a high-pressure natural disaster situation.
Head of the journalism programme at the University of Canterbury, Tara Ross, will be sharing details of the collaborative teaching laboratory exercise at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) this year.
Ross, who was previously an award-winning senior journalist for Fairfax newspapers The Press and the Sunday Star-Times, says the exercise has proved a valuable one for journalism students.
The real-time project sees journalism students cover a mock disaster – either a volcanic eruption or a tsunami – in collaboration with Hazard Management students at the university, working to communicate information and update the public throughout the day on the event.
“It’s an unfolding disaster where information is scarce, the science behind the disaster is quite complex and hard to explain, it’s wrapped up with all kinds of emergency management protocols such as evacuations, and public safety is at risk in certain areas,” explains Ross.
Various characters are available for interview, including people acting as eyewitnesses, local police and civic leaders, which forces students to digest a large amount of information quickly.
The journalism students then load their reports to a website which the Hazard Management students monitor in an effort to understand what information is needed, and to help them prepare for press conferences.
“It’s a high-pressure situation based in a real-world scenario as much as possible, so there’s lots of uncertainty for both teams,” explains Ross. “It’s all about how to translate that uncertainty to a public that wants black and white answers.”
A debrief follows the exercise with both teams discussing what went wrong throughout the process, where errors crept in, and the feedback helps improve learning for both parties, says Ross.
The lessons journalism students take from the exercise also have real-world impact once they start working in the industry.
“Various students have gone on to cover the significant floods [in Canterbury] and the Chile tsunami [threat in 2015] and other natural disasters, and they have said they couldn’t possibly have managed what they did without having done that exercise.”
Ross says science aside, the rapidity of the breaking news prepares soon-to-be journalists to absorb information and keep up with the “frantic pace” of news production in general.
Ultimately, it also prepares students to deal with a variety of situations and disciplines when they start working.
“As journalists we are jacks of all trade, and we touch on all sorts of things in a shallow way, so anything we can do to work with experts in those [other] areas is really valuable,” she says.
Head of the journalism programme at the University of Canterbury, Tara Ross, will be sharing details of the collaborative teaching laboratory exercise at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) this year.
Ross, who was previously an award-winning senior journalist for Fairfax newspapers The Press and the Sunday Star-Times, says the exercise has proved a valuable one for journalism students.
The real-time project sees journalism students cover a mock disaster – either a volcanic eruption or a tsunami – in collaboration with Hazard Management students at the university, working to communicate information and update the public throughout the day on the event.
“It’s an unfolding disaster where information is scarce, the science behind the disaster is quite complex and hard to explain, it’s wrapped up with all kinds of emergency management protocols such as evacuations, and public safety is at risk in certain areas,” explains Ross.
Various characters are available for interview, including people acting as eyewitnesses, local police and civic leaders, which forces students to digest a large amount of information quickly.
The journalism students then load their reports to a website which the Hazard Management students monitor in an effort to understand what information is needed, and to help them prepare for press conferences.
“It’s a high-pressure situation based in a real-world scenario as much as possible, so there’s lots of uncertainty for both teams,” explains Ross. “It’s all about how to translate that uncertainty to a public that wants black and white answers.”
A debrief follows the exercise with both teams discussing what went wrong throughout the process, where errors crept in, and the feedback helps improve learning for both parties, says Ross.
The lessons journalism students take from the exercise also have real-world impact once they start working in the industry.
“Various students have gone on to cover the significant floods [in Canterbury] and the Chile tsunami [threat in 2015] and other natural disasters, and they have said they couldn’t possibly have managed what they did without having done that exercise.”
Ross says science aside, the rapidity of the breaking news prepares soon-to-be journalists to absorb information and keep up with the “frantic pace” of news production in general.
Ultimately, it also prepares students to deal with a variety of situations and disciplines when they start working.
“As journalists we are jacks of all trade, and we touch on all sorts of things in a shallow way, so anything we can do to work with experts in those [other] areas is really valuable,” she says.
- Tara Ross will present ‘Reporting disaster: crisis communication training for journalists’ on Saturday 16 July, 11am, in WG907.
Joseph M Fernandez: ‘Growing threat’ to journalist-source relationships under the microscope
The importance of journalists maintaining confidential relationships with sources and whistle blowers will be highlighted as part of the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Curtin University associate professor, Dr Joseph M Fernandez, will present research “aimed at enabling journalists to adapt to the new reality of the Surveillance State”.
The Perth academic has been active in promoting the need for protection of journalists’ confidential sources for almost a decade, and says while his research focuses on Australia, the challenge is an international one.
“All over the world, including in Australia, journalists and their confidential sources have been under growing threat from governments. Many new laws threaten journalist-source confidentiality and those who blow the whistle on wrongdoing,” explains Dr Fernandez.
“Governments often claim that such impacts are unintended by-products of, for example, surveillance aimed at protecting national security. Insufficient attention, however, is paid to preventing an overreach by such laws.”
Dr Fernandez says there is a strong public interest in ensuring the public can communicate freely with journalists to expose corruption and wrongdoing.
He points to exposures made by Wikileaks, Edward Snowden and, most recently, the international consortium of investigative journalists working on the Panama Papers which have shown “corruption, deception and impropriety thrive where light doesn’t shine”.
For example, he explains, governments are known to lie about important matters of public interest such as the justifications for going to war.
According to Dr Fernandez, many in high office tend to prefer concealment rather than disclosure when the information concerned can cause political repercussions or embarrassment or lead to prosecution.
“The absence of adequate legal protections for journalists, their confidential sources and whistleblowers poses a serious threat to investigative journalism,” he adds. “It impedes the exposure of corruption, wrongdoing and other misdemeanours.”
Dr Fernandez has conducted research over two years to understand how Australian journalists operate when it involves confidential sources, how the laws in this area impact on journalists’ work, journalists’ familiarity with the rules in this area, and the steps they take to overcome obstacles posed by confidentiality obligations.
In attending the WJEC to present his findings, Dr Fernandez says he is looking forward to connecting with like-minded teachers and researchers to explore opportunities for research collaboration, and learn how academics can help to overcome the problems journalists and whistleblowers face in this area.
“Journalists perform a vital public duty and they must be provided a safe environment to perform their public duty.
“I hope to forge strong links that will lead to improved understandings of this subject and to research outputs that can benefit journalism professionals, journalism educators, journalism students, media industries, legislators and the public.”
Curtin University associate professor, Dr Joseph M Fernandez, will present research “aimed at enabling journalists to adapt to the new reality of the Surveillance State”.
The Perth academic has been active in promoting the need for protection of journalists’ confidential sources for almost a decade, and says while his research focuses on Australia, the challenge is an international one.
“All over the world, including in Australia, journalists and their confidential sources have been under growing threat from governments. Many new laws threaten journalist-source confidentiality and those who blow the whistle on wrongdoing,” explains Dr Fernandez.
“Governments often claim that such impacts are unintended by-products of, for example, surveillance aimed at protecting national security. Insufficient attention, however, is paid to preventing an overreach by such laws.”
Dr Fernandez says there is a strong public interest in ensuring the public can communicate freely with journalists to expose corruption and wrongdoing.
He points to exposures made by Wikileaks, Edward Snowden and, most recently, the international consortium of investigative journalists working on the Panama Papers which have shown “corruption, deception and impropriety thrive where light doesn’t shine”.
For example, he explains, governments are known to lie about important matters of public interest such as the justifications for going to war.
According to Dr Fernandez, many in high office tend to prefer concealment rather than disclosure when the information concerned can cause political repercussions or embarrassment or lead to prosecution.
“The absence of adequate legal protections for journalists, their confidential sources and whistleblowers poses a serious threat to investigative journalism,” he adds. “It impedes the exposure of corruption, wrongdoing and other misdemeanours.”
Dr Fernandez has conducted research over two years to understand how Australian journalists operate when it involves confidential sources, how the laws in this area impact on journalists’ work, journalists’ familiarity with the rules in this area, and the steps they take to overcome obstacles posed by confidentiality obligations.
In attending the WJEC to present his findings, Dr Fernandez says he is looking forward to connecting with like-minded teachers and researchers to explore opportunities for research collaboration, and learn how academics can help to overcome the problems journalists and whistleblowers face in this area.
“Journalists perform a vital public duty and they must be provided a safe environment to perform their public duty.
“I hope to forge strong links that will lead to improved understandings of this subject and to research outputs that can benefit journalism professionals, journalism educators, journalism students, media industries, legislators and the public.”
- Dr Joseph M Fernandez’s paper, ‘Journalists’ confidential sources: Keeping the State at bay’, will be presented on Saturday 16 July, 2pm, in WG609.
Catherine Strong: Driven by drone journalism
A New Zealand academic is taking her research to lofty territory thanks to her passion for new technology.
Massey University senior lecturer, Catherine Strong, will present her findings on drone journalism at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Born and raised in the United States, Dr Strong has called New Zealand home for most of her adult life, and will present her paper called ‘Drone Journalism: Not Toying Around’ at this year’s congress.
The Wellington-based researcher will be attending the WJEC for the first time, along with two of her PhD students who will also be presenting.
A journalist with experience spanning decades, Dr Strong was based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2008-2012 where she taught media skills to Muslim women at Zayed University.
She says it was a truly enjoyable experience.
“They just sucked up education even though they didn’t have a culture [of education]. They are so technically adventurous and I love using new technology to tell the news.”
In fact, it was a trip to the UAE that inspired Dr Strong to pursue the emergent field of drones when she saw a student using one.
“I got into drones mainly because I try to keep up with the latest technology and the Arab students certainly helped foster that,” she says.
Having worked across multiple platforms, Dr Strong believes journalists should use as many tools as they can to tell a story.
“Drones are really the only way to cover some stories realistically. The most valuable thing with drone journalism is natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and to have an overview of how widespread the devastation is.”
Dr Strong says it is also a way to help her students who go on to become journalists stay safe without having to be on the ground and risk their lives.
As a result, she would like graduate journalists to be competent in drone usage, and learn the ethics and laws surrounding it.
Journalism education today is heading in an exciting direction, says Dr Strong.
“We are turning out absolutely fabulous journalists. Students come out hitting the road running and they’re going into the field at a lot more mature, critical stage as opposed to, in the past, learning on the job at a young age without the depth and critical analysis.”
Massey University senior lecturer, Catherine Strong, will present her findings on drone journalism at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
Born and raised in the United States, Dr Strong has called New Zealand home for most of her adult life, and will present her paper called ‘Drone Journalism: Not Toying Around’ at this year’s congress.
The Wellington-based researcher will be attending the WJEC for the first time, along with two of her PhD students who will also be presenting.
A journalist with experience spanning decades, Dr Strong was based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2008-2012 where she taught media skills to Muslim women at Zayed University.
She says it was a truly enjoyable experience.
“They just sucked up education even though they didn’t have a culture [of education]. They are so technically adventurous and I love using new technology to tell the news.”
In fact, it was a trip to the UAE that inspired Dr Strong to pursue the emergent field of drones when she saw a student using one.
“I got into drones mainly because I try to keep up with the latest technology and the Arab students certainly helped foster that,” she says.
Having worked across multiple platforms, Dr Strong believes journalists should use as many tools as they can to tell a story.
“Drones are really the only way to cover some stories realistically. The most valuable thing with drone journalism is natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and to have an overview of how widespread the devastation is.”
Dr Strong says it is also a way to help her students who go on to become journalists stay safe without having to be on the ground and risk their lives.
As a result, she would like graduate journalists to be competent in drone usage, and learn the ethics and laws surrounding it.
Journalism education today is heading in an exciting direction, says Dr Strong.
“We are turning out absolutely fabulous journalists. Students come out hitting the road running and they’re going into the field at a lot more mature, critical stage as opposed to, in the past, learning on the job at a young age without the depth and critical analysis.”
- Dr Catherine Strong will present ‘Drone Journalism: Not Toying Around’ as part of a panel on Friday July 15, 4pm, in WA224A.
Grant Hannis: A closer look at New Zealand’s media scandals
Scandals that dominated New Zealand news in recent years have been put under a research spotlight by the head of the journalism programme at Massey University in Wellington.
Associate professor Grant Hannis will be at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) presenting his research on the news coverage of recent political scandals, including Auckland mayor Len Brown’s extramarital affair and the investigation of internet tycoon Kim Dotcom.
Dr Hannis has worked on the research for about a year, and says the topic ‘Understanding the nature of media scandals in light of recent revelations in New Zealand’s political life’, has proved to be a fascinating one.
“I undertook it to better understand some major political scandals that have dominated news coverage in New Zealand over recent years. Many Kiwis would be aware of the broad facts of the scandals, but I wanted to use media theory to better understand their nature and significance,” he explains.
Important issues about media ethics and the interaction between old and new media have been raised as a result of the research, which Dr Hannis says is sure to interest both local and international attendees at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
“As researchers have observed internationally, the consequences of scandals have changed in the digital era,” says Dr Hannis. “One of the scandals I examine involved a young woman's affair with the married mayor of Auckland, effectively ending his political career.
“News of the affair was broken by a blogger, who published a lengthy statement from the woman. She wished to remain anonymous, but sufficient details were included in the statement for her to quickly be identified.
“In the past, her name would likely have faded with time, but on the internet her details could exist in perpetuity. This is something she apparently neither wished for nor anticipated. Given this, others seeking to reveal scandals in future may think twice about doing so.”
The “rise of online attack political bloggers in New Zealand and their relationship with the mainstream media” will also be addressed by Dr Hannis, who was previously a financial journalist at Consumer magazine - the New Zealand equivalent of Consumer Reports in the US and Choice in Australia.
Dr Hannis says he is attending the WJEC as an opportunity to exchange research ideas and results with leading overseas and local journalism researchers and educators.
“I’m looking forward to the intellectual stimulation that occurs when a group of leading researchers convene to present their results,” he says.
Associate professor Grant Hannis will be at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) presenting his research on the news coverage of recent political scandals, including Auckland mayor Len Brown’s extramarital affair and the investigation of internet tycoon Kim Dotcom.
Dr Hannis has worked on the research for about a year, and says the topic ‘Understanding the nature of media scandals in light of recent revelations in New Zealand’s political life’, has proved to be a fascinating one.
“I undertook it to better understand some major political scandals that have dominated news coverage in New Zealand over recent years. Many Kiwis would be aware of the broad facts of the scandals, but I wanted to use media theory to better understand their nature and significance,” he explains.
Important issues about media ethics and the interaction between old and new media have been raised as a result of the research, which Dr Hannis says is sure to interest both local and international attendees at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
“As researchers have observed internationally, the consequences of scandals have changed in the digital era,” says Dr Hannis. “One of the scandals I examine involved a young woman's affair with the married mayor of Auckland, effectively ending his political career.
“News of the affair was broken by a blogger, who published a lengthy statement from the woman. She wished to remain anonymous, but sufficient details were included in the statement for her to quickly be identified.
“In the past, her name would likely have faded with time, but on the internet her details could exist in perpetuity. This is something she apparently neither wished for nor anticipated. Given this, others seeking to reveal scandals in future may think twice about doing so.”
The “rise of online attack political bloggers in New Zealand and their relationship with the mainstream media” will also be addressed by Dr Hannis, who was previously a financial journalist at Consumer magazine - the New Zealand equivalent of Consumer Reports in the US and Choice in Australia.
Dr Hannis says he is attending the WJEC as an opportunity to exchange research ideas and results with leading overseas and local journalism researchers and educators.
“I’m looking forward to the intellectual stimulation that occurs when a group of leading researchers convene to present their results,” he says.
- Dr Grant Hannis’ paper, ‘Understanding the nature of media scandals in light of recent revelations in New Zealand’s political life’, will be presented on Saturday 16 July, 2pm in WG609.
Debora Wenger: What employers really want from journalists
As industry demands continue to evolve, a US academic is addressing the need to better equip student journalists for the future.
Associate professor and journalism head of department at the University of Mississippi, Dr Debora Wenger, will present ‘Help Wanted: Realigning journalism education to meet the needs of top US news companies’ at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
The project began in 2008 as a result of a conversation with another academic, Dr Lynn Owens, about improving the journalism curriculum at Virginia Commonwealth University.
“What we found was there was a lot of anecdotal information and case studies available but we needed to take a comprehensive look at what employers really wanted from new graduates in the job market,” says Dr Wenger.
“We have been analysing thousands of job postings and every time we do it we see new skillsets emerging.”
An example is the need for social media skills which has dramatically increased compared to five years ago, explains Dr Wenger.
“I would say that understanding social media and how to use it to communicate with audiences is as important as learning how to write journalistically.”
As a result, Dr Wenger wants to make social media a bigger priority.
“It’s just as fundamental as any other skill in journalism. At our university we are trying to develop a core curriculum that will ensure social media permeates the core as much as writing.”
American born and bred, Dr Wenger was a broadcast journalist for nearly 20 years, with her last post at an NBC-affiliate station in Florida.
Dr Wenger first attended the WJEC in 2010 in Grahamstown, South Africa, and is thrilled to be back this year.
“It really opened my eyes to journalism education on an international level and I could see interesting differences and similarities in the way it’s practised and taught around the world.”
As a first-time visitor to New Zealand, Dr Wenger is keen to explore the wineries of Waiheke Island and the nooks and crannies of Hobbiton.
Sightseeing aside, she hopes to be inspired by other journalism educators, even as the industry continues to be threatened financially.
“I think we need to help our students understand the economic environment that they’ll be working in and help them understand business fundamentals,” says Dr Wenger.
“We can’t sustain important credible, relevant journalism unless we can pay for it. And by feeding that to another group of people, we’ve lost a lot of power in our destiny.”
Associate professor and journalism head of department at the University of Mississippi, Dr Debora Wenger, will present ‘Help Wanted: Realigning journalism education to meet the needs of top US news companies’ at the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC).
The project began in 2008 as a result of a conversation with another academic, Dr Lynn Owens, about improving the journalism curriculum at Virginia Commonwealth University.
“What we found was there was a lot of anecdotal information and case studies available but we needed to take a comprehensive look at what employers really wanted from new graduates in the job market,” says Dr Wenger.
“We have been analysing thousands of job postings and every time we do it we see new skillsets emerging.”
An example is the need for social media skills which has dramatically increased compared to five years ago, explains Dr Wenger.
“I would say that understanding social media and how to use it to communicate with audiences is as important as learning how to write journalistically.”
As a result, Dr Wenger wants to make social media a bigger priority.
“It’s just as fundamental as any other skill in journalism. At our university we are trying to develop a core curriculum that will ensure social media permeates the core as much as writing.”
American born and bred, Dr Wenger was a broadcast journalist for nearly 20 years, with her last post at an NBC-affiliate station in Florida.
Dr Wenger first attended the WJEC in 2010 in Grahamstown, South Africa, and is thrilled to be back this year.
“It really opened my eyes to journalism education on an international level and I could see interesting differences and similarities in the way it’s practised and taught around the world.”
As a first-time visitor to New Zealand, Dr Wenger is keen to explore the wineries of Waiheke Island and the nooks and crannies of Hobbiton.
Sightseeing aside, she hopes to be inspired by other journalism educators, even as the industry continues to be threatened financially.
“I think we need to help our students understand the economic environment that they’ll be working in and help them understand business fundamentals,” says Dr Wenger.
“We can’t sustain important credible, relevant journalism unless we can pay for it. And by feeding that to another group of people, we’ve lost a lot of power in our destiny.”
- Dr Debora Wenger will present ‘Help Wanted: Realigning journalism education to meet the needs of top US news companies’ on Thursday 14 July, 4pm, in WG608.