Digital Commons Network^™

The Courts And Social Media: What Do Judges And Court Workers Think?, Patrick Keyzer, Jane Johnston, Mark Pearson, Sharon Rodrick, Anne Wallace

Jane Johnston

Brief Abstract: This article reports the findings of a research project that examined the impact and issues arising from the use of social media in court.

Courts' New Visibility 2.0, Jane Johnston

Jane Johnston

Extract

This chapter uses the concept of a 'New Visibility theory' as a framework for viewing the courts' involvement in the complex contemporary media landscape. Sociologist John Thompson notes that the new visibility 'is a space shaped not only by the constantly changing technologies that enable words and images to be recorded and transmitted ... but also by the institutions and organisations that have an interest in transmitting this content'.¹ The courts are one such institution which have, over the space of two decades, both sought out visibility and had visibility imposed on them by changing communications practices. Accordingly, …

The News Triumvirate, Susan Forde, Jane Johnston

Jane Johnston

News agencies, or wire services, are playing a growing role in the contemporary news environment, primarily due to the prevalence of the 24/7 online newsroom and its associated need for speed and volumes of copy. At the same time press releases and other public relations-generated material daily flood the news environment. This paper builds on research into these two fields, trialling a new methodology—one which follows press releases and other public relations material through the uptake by news agencies, in particular the Australian Associated Press, and finally, as published stories in metropolitan online newspapers. While previous research has tracked press …

The Courts And The Media: Challenges In The Era Of Digital And Social Media, Patrick Keyzer, Jane Johnston, Mark Pearson

Jane Johnston

The jury system is under threat, as jurors turn to Google and defy instructions to stick to the evidence. The news media struggle with inconsistent suppression orders. Judges wonder how to insulate justice from Twitter and Facebook. The eminent contributors to this book are Chief Justices, journalists, News Ltd’s former CEO, legal scholars and court officials. They see the anxieties from different viewpoints - and the opportunities as well - but none are under illusions about how serious (and complex) the issues are becoming.

The New, Old Journalism: Narrative Writing In Contemporary Newspapers, Jane Johnston, Caroline Graham

Jane Johnston

While there is a significant literature on the rise of narrative journalism in daily newspapers, mostly from the United States, few studies have investigated the breakdown of newswriting styles in the front end of the newspaper, with a specific focus on the use of narrative techniques. This study investigates the writing styles of two daily metropolitan print newspapers in order to provide some concrete data on narrative news reporting in Australia. In a sense, it responds to Mark Kramer's comment in 2000 that “no one has added up the reallocated column inches to quantify this change.” The research analyses 5000 …

A History Of Public Relations On Screen: Cinema And Television Depictions Since The 1920s, Jane Johnston

Jane Johnston

No abstract provided.

Same Copy, Different Outlet: Wire Services, Journalism And The Erosion From Within, Jane Johnston, Susan Forde

Jane Johnston

This paper examines the role of Australia’s single news agency, Australian Associated Press (AAP) in the news media landscape and positions this within the broader international context. It uses a UK study which suggests news agency dominance of international news on the internet and investigates these claims in the Australian context. Specifically, we examine the prevalence of AAP copy in the ‘Breaking News’ sections of two major news websites to create a preliminary understanding of the impact of AAP on news content. The findings suggest an overwhelming reliance on wire copy – particularly AAP – in this section of two …

Public Relations: An Overview, Jane Johnston, Clara Zawawi, Jeff Brand

Jane Johnston

This leading introductory student text has been completely revised. With new examples, new information on digital strategies and on community relations, it reflects best contemporary practice in this increasingly influential profession.

Australia’S Media Climate:Time To Renegotiate Control, Jane Johnston, Mark Pearson

Jane Johnston

In 2007, Australia was rated by two international media bodies as well down the chain in media freedom. Within its own borders, internal media groups—in particular the Australian Press Council and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, as well as a consortium of major employer groups—have recently released reports investigating the position of media freedoms. This article examines a select few of these shrinking freedoms which range from the passive restrictions on access to documents to the overt threat of imprisonment for publishing sensitive material. In particular, it considers laws relating to freedom of information, camera access to courts, shield …

Constructing Legal Narratives: Law, Language And The Media, Jane Johnston, Rhonda Breit

Jane Johnston

This paper proposes using the theory of narratology to connect to legal discourses and processes with the way the media translate the law into news. Focussing on the Australian context, it looks at the choice of language used my media in covering courts, how stories are told and retold within these primarily textual environments, as well as the selection processes used by journalists in covering these rounds. The paper extends the argument for a narratology of courts, to a narratology of court reporting, suggesting fundamental criteria of story, discourse and the interpretative context be examined. It foreshadows the need for …

Fm Radio News: Spreading The News Or Spread Too Thin?, Denise Raward, Jane Johnston

Jane Johnston

United Kingdom investigative reporter Nick Davies has coined the term 'churnalism' to describe the UK print media's reliance on wire copy and press releases for the vast majority of its news. This study looks at this trend in Australia, focusing on the FM radio industry and a case study of one radio station which also serves as a news 'hub' for a national network. Davies found that up to 80 per cent of Fleet Street news is based on wire service, other media or press releases. This Australian FM newsroom study found nearly 90 per cent of networked news bulletins …

Public Relations: Theory And Practice, Jane Johnston

Jane Johnston

This leading introductory student text has been completely revised. With new examples, new information on digital strategies and on community relations, it reflects best contemporary practice in this increasingly influential profession.

Public relations is a dynamic and rapidly growing field which offers a variety of career paths. Whether you're developing the public image of an organisation, dealing with the media or managing issues for a large company, you need strong communication skills and a sound understanding of public relations processes.

This widely used introduction to theory and professional practice has been fully revised and includes new material on community relations. …

Coastlines, Cags And Communications, Jane Johnston, Steve Gration

Jane Johnston

This paper layers communication theory over a cultural context by examining how Community Action Groups (CAGs) have responded to development along Australian coastlines. It analyses how communication and media strategies and techniques have been adopted by the third sector to challenge commercial and government organisations which have proposed coastal development. As noted by Huntsman (2001): 'It is this appropriation of the beach for the purposes of capitalism, and the contesting ideas about the beach that have captured the attention of critics.' Indeed these critics, who in this paper are members of strategic alliances, or CAGs, exist all along the Australian …

Media Relations: Issues And Strategies, Jane Johnston

Jane Johnston

A thorough introduction to the essential skills of working with the media, for public relations students and professionals.

Media relations is one of the most tangible and visible areas of public relations practice. It requires specialised skills, expertise about the media and its practices, and an understanding of current affairs and issues. It uses the practical tools of the media release, media conference and media kits, combined with management skills of advising about best practice within an organisation, and it is based on open relationships with journalists and other media professionals.

Media Relations provides a practical and thorough introduction to …