Spinning out of control: the management of news by two Australian governments, 2004-2010. This project will examine the use of news management or 'spin' by Australian governments. Is it a legitimate tool of government in the face of a hyper-adversarial news media or a technique which undermines democracy? It will examine 'spin' in connection with policies on climate change, economic policy, indigenous policy and asylum seekers policy.
A study of political commentary in the outlets of a major media corporation. This project will analyse the political commentary published or broadcast in the media outlets of a major media corporation and explore whether political commentators and columnists in these outlets share an agenda of conservative populism. The project will impact on a public policy debate on cross-media ownership and its consequences. It will enhance the international scholarly debate on media ownership and its connect ....A study of political commentary in the outlets of a major media corporation. This project will analyse the political commentary published or broadcast in the media outlets of a major media corporation and explore whether political commentators and columnists in these outlets share an agenda of conservative populism. The project will impact on a public policy debate on cross-media ownership and its consequences. It will enhance the international scholarly debate on media ownership and its connections with the content of mass media.Read moreRead less
New Beats: mass redundancies and career change in Australian journalism. This aim of this project is a multifaceted, innovative and timely analysis of the role of mass redundancies, forced career changes and the digital reinvention of Australian journalism at a time of industry restructure and technological change. The nation's journalistic workforce shrank by 15 per cent in 2012 when 1000 journalists were made redundant. This project is intended to explore the transformation of the careers of t ....New Beats: mass redundancies and career change in Australian journalism. This aim of this project is a multifaceted, innovative and timely analysis of the role of mass redundancies, forced career changes and the digital reinvention of Australian journalism at a time of industry restructure and technological change. The nation's journalistic workforce shrank by 15 per cent in 2012 when 1000 journalists were made redundant. This project is intended to explore the transformation of the careers of these journalists and how to best address questions about professional journalism's experience of structural transformation and its capacity to adapt positively to change. The project is expected to provide the first in-depth account of the complex interplay between economic, technological, workplace and career pressures reshaping professional journalism.Read moreRead less
The Australian Book Industry: Authors, publishers and readers in a time of change. The Australian book sector contributes over $2 billion annually to the economy and is one of our most important creative industries. But the rise of e-books and other developments in digital technologies are leading to paradigmatic change across the entire book supply chain. This project addresses the nature of responses to these changes at three principal points in the chain: authors, publishers and readers. The ....The Australian Book Industry: Authors, publishers and readers in a time of change. The Australian book sector contributes over $2 billion annually to the economy and is one of our most important creative industries. But the rise of e-books and other developments in digital technologies are leading to paradigmatic change across the entire book supply chain. This project addresses the nature of responses to these changes at three principal points in the chain: authors, publishers and readers. The project develops an innovative approach to analysing the contribution the book industry makes to the Australian economy and to our national cultural life. It will generate extensive new data and analyses to inform government and industry policy-making at this critical period in the industry’s history.Read moreRead less
Politics, media and democracy in Australia: public and producer perceptions of the political public sphere. At a time of widespread criticism of the role of the media in informing and enabling Australian democratic processes, this study explores the perceptions of ordinary Australians about the performance of the variety of media forms in which politics is reported, analysed and discussed.
News and Community Conflict: examining the role of journalism in local conflict and conflict resolution. The project will place Australia at the leading edge of research on news and conflict. It will contribute an evaluation of the local possibilities for news and conflict resolution to wider international debates on the media in wartime. The research will benefit the Australian journalism profession, journalism educators, policymakers and organisations involved in addressing local level and int ....News and Community Conflict: examining the role of journalism in local conflict and conflict resolution. The project will place Australia at the leading edge of research on news and conflict. It will contribute an evaluation of the local possibilities for news and conflict resolution to wider international debates on the media in wartime. The research will benefit the Australian journalism profession, journalism educators, policymakers and organisations involved in addressing local level and intercommunal conflicts. An accessible report will provide case studies, strategies and recommendations for the media's role in situations of conflict. By developing a complex, cultural understanding of news audiences and news impacts the research will contribute to processes of change and improvement within the Australian news media.Read moreRead less
The shock of the old: Rediscovering the sounds of bel canto 1700-1900. Bel canto—beautiful singing—describes a forgotten tradition (1700–1900), epitomising clear communication of expression and meaning of text. This project aims to generate new research-based knowledge of bel canto sound vocabulary, music, and history through implementation of a multi-modal method—working with an international community of singers—to produce multi-faceted outputs that inform future scholarship and creativity in ....The shock of the old: Rediscovering the sounds of bel canto 1700-1900. Bel canto—beautiful singing—describes a forgotten tradition (1700–1900), epitomising clear communication of expression and meaning of text. This project aims to generate new research-based knowledge of bel canto sound vocabulary, music, and history through implementation of a multi-modal method—working with an international community of singers—to produce multi-faceted outputs that inform future scholarship and creativity in singing. Modern classical singing fails to communicate the meaning of the text in bel canto repertory. Expected outcomes are revitalisation of global practices to produce classical singers better equipped to convey the text, increasing audience engagement, and the sustainability of the classical music industry.Read moreRead less
Deciphering nineteenth-century pianism. The project aims to investigate the nature of 19th-century piano playing and offer new and alternative ways of interpreting 19th-century repertoire. Current approaches to playing 19th-century piano music differ from evidence of historical practices. The project will address this with ideas on 19th-century piano practice, the relationship between music notation and performance, increased interpretive choices, and a method for historically informed performan ....Deciphering nineteenth-century pianism. The project aims to investigate the nature of 19th-century piano playing and offer new and alternative ways of interpreting 19th-century repertoire. Current approaches to playing 19th-century piano music differ from evidence of historical practices. The project will address this with ideas on 19th-century piano practice, the relationship between music notation and performance, increased interpretive choices, and a method for historically informed performance. Published multi-modal outputs will serve as industry models fostering diversity in performing styles.The project aims to bring social and psychological health benefits, increase wellbeing in our culture and society, and boost the music economy.Read moreRead less
Towards the experimental humanities. Growth in the creative arts in universities is demanding the discovery of new methods of research and teaching. This project will develop experimental methods to broaden the humanities so that they can engage with the disciplines that effectively harness human creativity to solve problems.
Creative nation: writers and writing in the new media arts. This project will map an important moment of cultural transition in Australian writing as it begins to engage fully with new electronic forms. It will provide an important resource for understanding the work of writers as producers of novelty and innovation at the cutting edge of cultural and technological change.