Assessing the impact of new communication technologies in developing countries and disadvantaged communities. This research will enhance understanding of the role of new technologies in communication with, and education of, disadvantaged groups as well as exploring the social changes they bring. Australia is committed to reducing poverty, to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and measuring the impact of development. Understanding how communication interventions may be better understood i ....Assessing the impact of new communication technologies in developing countries and disadvantaged communities. This research will enhance understanding of the role of new technologies in communication with, and education of, disadvantaged groups as well as exploring the social changes they bring. Australia is committed to reducing poverty, to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and measuring the impact of development. Understanding how communication interventions may be better understood is important to revealing how they support the achievement of better health, wellbeing, education and conflict reduction. This research will strengthen Australia's potential to lead in this field, to develop more effective development assistance and to apply such methods to Australian community development initiatives.Read moreRead less
Finding a Voice: Making Technological Change Socially Effective and Culturally Empowering. New information and communication technologies (ICTs) are heralded as remarkable tools for the development of marginalised communities. Research has shown that ICTs can contribute to development, but need to be introduced in ways that recognise local social networks and cultural contexts. This project takes a participatory approach to research, aiming to empower people through finding their own voice. We w ....Finding a Voice: Making Technological Change Socially Effective and Culturally Empowering. New information and communication technologies (ICTs) are heralded as remarkable tools for the development of marginalised communities. Research has shown that ICTs can contribute to development, but need to be introduced in ways that recognise local social networks and cultural contexts. This project takes a participatory approach to research, aiming to empower people through finding their own voice. We will establish a research network of local ICT initiatives across Asia and the Pacific region. Using ethnographic action research the network will be populated by local researchers in each of these initiatives, trained and supported by Australian researchers. This will increase understanding of how ICTs can be both effective and empowering.Read moreRead less
Making animals public: the changing role of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in building public value and interest in wildlife documentary. This project will critically assess the Australian Broadcasting Company's (ABC) changing role in building public interest and value in animals through wildlife programming. Historical and strategic industry analysis will document how the ABC contributed to the development of the wildlife genre in Australia and how new external production models are im ....Making animals public: the changing role of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in building public value and interest in wildlife documentary. This project will critically assess the Australian Broadcasting Company's (ABC) changing role in building public interest and value in animals through wildlife programming. Historical and strategic industry analysis will document how the ABC contributed to the development of the wildlife genre in Australia and how new external production models are impacting on its public charter.Read moreRead less
Creative digital industries in Australia: innovation in quantitative and qualitative mapping. The creative digital industries have been identified as a national priority for research, policy analysis and industry development as they are a high growth sector of the global and Australian economy. The project will innovate in both quantitative and qualitative analysis. It will enhance the statistical base for this emerging part of the new economy, and examine creative enterprise dynamics as well as ....Creative digital industries in Australia: innovation in quantitative and qualitative mapping. The creative digital industries have been identified as a national priority for research, policy analysis and industry development as they are a high growth sector of the global and Australian economy. The project will innovate in both quantitative and qualitative analysis. It will enhance the statistical base for this emerging part of the new economy, and examine creative enterprise dynamics as well as digital outputs within the creative industries and wider service industry sectors including education, health and government. Project results will be used by policy makers, industry analysts, and sector leaders in formulating strategies to develop the sector.Read moreRead less
Youth Internet Radio Network: Ethnographic Action Research of an Emerging Media Technology. This project investigates how interactive technologies can combine with training and enterprise development, and young people's own desires for content creation, to establish a network of users across differing geographical and social 'ecologies', creating new cultural forms and economic outcomes. The research combines innovative internet design, policy analysis and ethnographic methods. Young people from ....Youth Internet Radio Network: Ethnographic Action Research of an Emerging Media Technology. This project investigates how interactive technologies can combine with training and enterprise development, and young people's own desires for content creation, to establish a network of users across differing geographical and social 'ecologies', creating new cultural forms and economic outcomes. The research combines innovative internet design, policy analysis and ethnographic methods. Young people from urban, regional, remote and Indigenous environments will train, create and network their own content on a Youth Internet Radio Network, contributing to community capacity building. Analysis will describe and influence the creative, social and technical processes, and identify opportunities for innovation, enterprise development and regional sustainability.Read moreRead less
Investigating Innovative Applications of Digital Media for Participatory Journalism and Citizen Engagement in Australian Public Communication. This project benefits the Australian community by undertaking the first comprehensive audit of collaborative online news production, and linking this to prototypes developed with leading industry partners such as SBS and Cisco Systems, to promote greater citizen participation in news production and public communication. It marks the first sustained applic ....Investigating Innovative Applications of Digital Media for Participatory Journalism and Citizen Engagement in Australian Public Communication. This project benefits the Australian community by undertaking the first comprehensive audit of collaborative online news production, and linking this to prototypes developed with leading industry partners such as SBS and Cisco Systems, to promote greater citizen participation in news production and public communication. It marks the first sustained application of an open source framework to understanding the future of journalism and news media, and public communication in a democratic society, through the development of user-generated content derived from online user communities and peer-to-peer interaction. It promotes smart innovation use through collaboration and user-led innovation in digitally networked online environments. Read moreRead less
Australian screen content in primary, secondary and tertiary education: uses and potential. This project will investigate the educational market for Australian screen content and the ways students use and engage with that content. This will inform policy development, stimulate content production and distribution, and increase awareness of the availability and utility of Australian screen content in educational settings.
The Place of Communication and Consumption: A Case Study of Australian Regional and Rural Cinema Exhibition. The project provides important, up-to-date analysis of a vital sector of Australia's growing service and knowledge economy. It will help government, film industry, arts and business organisations in the formulation of better policies and programs to assist in improving the quality of life for Australians living in regional and rural areas. It enhances research and training environments fo ....The Place of Communication and Consumption: A Case Study of Australian Regional and Rural Cinema Exhibition. The project provides important, up-to-date analysis of a vital sector of Australia's growing service and knowledge economy. It will help government, film industry, arts and business organisations in the formulation of better policies and programs to assist in improving the quality of life for Australians living in regional and rural areas. It enhances research and training environments for junior researchers and postgraduate students, adding value to investigations already in progress. The research also extends consultative and collaborative capacities in cultural experience enhancement and access, community media development and cultural tourism.Read moreRead less
Place through moving image: A case study of the Gold Coast. Relocation of populations in urban and cosmopolitan centres increasingly makes our sense of place an imagined one. Yet, although film and television are intimately involved in this process, there has been little systematic attempt to explore the profound social and cultural meaning of such a relationship. Using the Gold Coast as a case study, this innovative, multidisciplinary project fills this gap, increasing theoretical knowledge i ....Place through moving image: A case study of the Gold Coast. Relocation of populations in urban and cosmopolitan centres increasingly makes our sense of place an imagined one. Yet, although film and television are intimately involved in this process, there has been little systematic attempt to explore the profound social and cultural meaning of such a relationship. Using the Gold Coast as a case study, this innovative, multidisciplinary project fills this gap, increasing theoretical knowledge in relevant disciplines. The research also provides significant practical results for building community identity, cultural tourism and regional promotion.Read moreRead less
Social media in times of crisis: learning from recent natural disasters to improve future strategies. This project will analyse and evaluate how social media was used by emergency authorities, media organisations and citizens during recent natural disasters, including the January 2011 Queensland floods and Tropical Cyclone Yasi. The project will develop a framework for longer-term strategies for public communication during emergencies.