Topic outline

  • Diverse and inclusive public interest journalism: what it is and why it’s important

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    • Overview

      When we talk about journalism in a western democratic society, such as Australia’s, we often think of journalism’s fourth estate or watchdog role of holding the powerful to account for their decisions and actions. But a definition for journalism’s role provided by University of London Professor James Curran (2002, p. 247) writes that in the contemporary world, the media 


      should empower people by enabling them to explore where their interest lies; it should support sectional group identities and assist the functioning of organizations necessary for the effective representation of group interests; it should sustain vigilant scrutiny of government and centres of power; it should provide a source of protection and redress for weak and unorganised interests; and it should create the conditions for real societal agreement and compromise based on an open discussion of differences rather than a contrived consensus based on elite dominance.


      This definition provides a good starting point for understanding this week’s topics, and is the bedrock definition of journalism for this course. It includes and takes us further than the watchdog or “vigilant scrutiny” role to an understanding of the importance of participation to democracy.  

    • Watch

      Challenges in defining journalism 23m 43s


    • Read and make notes  

      In a sense, Curran’s definition represented a rethinking and expanding of journalism’s purpose. Australian journalism scholars Lynette Sheridan Burns, with Benjamin J. Matthews, have written about journalism and journalistic storytelling as a thinking process.  

      In the book’s introduction, the authors survey the contemporary journalism landscape and focus on journalism’s place in society. They also focus on some of the challenges for journalism and journalists in negotiating and operating successfully in this landscape.

      Reference: Sheridan Burns, L. and Matthews, B. J. Understanding Journalism, 3rd Edition. London: Sage Publications. Introduction, pp. 3-18.

    •  Read, listen to, watch and monitor news and current affairs - a selection

      The Age/The Guardian/The Australian/The Saturday Paper
      Crikey
      The Advertiser/InDaily
      Your local paper
      NITV/SBS
      ABC radio (Radio National and/or local/regional), JJJ “The Hack”,
      ABC-TV news / any commercial TV news
      Four Corners/Dateline (other ABC/SBS current affairs/issues/investigative programs)
      News and features magazines (eg, Time, The Monthly)

    •  Learning activity 1.1 - Important points 

      Interpreting and analysing are very important skills for both journalists and university students. This exercise is designed to help you to practise and develop those skills.  

      Identify two or three points from the Sheridan Burns and Matthews reading that stood out for you, and say briefly (one sentence each will do) why you think these points are important.

      Post to the discussion forum.

    • Forum icon
      Learning Activity 1.1 - discussion forum
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