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ABSTRACT
As journalism programmes continue to grow, journalism research – especially that which is practice-based – is declining. In Australia this is recognised by fewer universities submitting research outputs to the ‘Journalism and Professional Writing’ Field of Research Code, and in the latest Excellence in Research for Australia evaluation, no university scoring above 3 (‘at world standard’) out of 5 (‘well above world standard’). For journalists transitioning from industry to academy, it is becoming an issue that their professional successes are largely unable to be translated into legitimate and important research identities. One core issue underpinning the arrested growth of journalism practice research is the approach to preparing and assessing ethics applications. Often perceived at odds with professional and personal codes of ethics, university processes informed by the National Statement in Australia, and other guidelines internationally, deter practitioner-researchers from undertaking quality journalism. In this paper we discuss the challenges of undertaking journalism as a mode of research, suggesting it is entirely feasible to take advantage of the in-built flexibilities of the National Statement. By doing this, not only can journalist-researchers build distinctive research identities, but also institutions can take advantage of the core fabric of journalism to generate research with cultural, social and political impact.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Dr Josie Vine has taught into the Journalism program at RMIT University since 2006. She began her academic career at Deakin University in 2001, after more than 10 years’ experience in regional press and radio newsrooms, and media liaison for the petroleum industry. She currently lectures in the areas of Australian journalism history and culture, journalism ethics and regulation, news writing and feature writing, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Josie also supervises honours and post-graduate research in journalism-related projects. Josie’s research interests include regional reporting, the sociological development of newsroom practice, and journalism culture and history.
Dr Craig Batty is Associate Professor of Screenwriting at RMIT University, where he is also Higher Degrees by Research Director for the School of Media and Communication. He is a screenwriter, script consultant and script editor, with experiences in short film, feature film, television and online drama. He is author, coauthor and editor of eight books, including Screenwriters and Screenwriting: Putting Practice into Context (2014), The Creative Screenwriter: Exercises to Expand Your Craft (2012), Movies That Move Us: Screenwriting and the Power of the Protagonist’s Journey (2011) and Writing for the Screen: Creative and Critical Approaches (2008).
Rilke Muir’s background is in PR, advertising and media production, as well as three years as features writer/editor for international technical publications. She returned to Melbourne from Sydney as Communications Adviser for Small Business Victoria. Her later work includes media strategist for industry groups, and then she served in a range of research-related roles across RMIT University. Her research interests include governance and professional ethics and the future of journalism and media in an online world, as well as issues around community and the built environment.
ORCID
Craig Batty http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8542-4763
Rilke Muir http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4715-589X
Notes
1 National Health and Medical Research Council (2015) ‘National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (Citation2007) – Updated May 2015, see https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines-publications/e72 accessed June 12, 2015.
2 This is not necessarily a view we subscribe to.
3 Held at Monash University, Australia, in February 2016.
4 Here we refer to an academic as one on a teaching and research contract, but note that some universities encourage professional practice (over research) by way of teaching-focussed contracts (e.g. the teaching fellow). Our university has also recently employed a number of industry fellows, whose professional practice expertise is the driver of their appointment.
5 For example, see the TEXT: Journal of Writing and Writing Courses special issue series, available at: http://www.textjournal.com.au/speciss/; and also the Sightlines: Filmmaking in the Academy journal, available at: http://aspera.org.au/research/sightlines-2/journal/ [accessed March 10, 2016].
6 See http://ro.ecu.edu.au/research_journalism/ [accessed June 15, 2015].
7 See: http://www.pjreview.info/tags/frontline [accessed 15 June 2015].
8 FoR 1903 has four sub-fields: 190301 Journalism Studies; 190302 Professional Writing; 190303 Technical Writing and 190399 Journalism and Professional Writing not elsewhere classified. This discussion centres on 190301, and to a lesser extent 190399.
10 See http://www.alliance.org.au/code-of-ethics.html [accessed July 6, 2015].
11 See Appendix 1.
12 ‘The journalists' code, however is as unimpeachable as the priests', which reads: ‘The sacramental seal is inviolable. Accordingly it is absolutely wrong for a confessor in any way to betray the penitent, for any reason whatsoever, whether by word or in any other fashion’ (Pearson and Polden Citation2011, 267)
13 On-record, off-record, embargoed: ‘Embargoed’ information is on the record but cannot be reported until an hour and date specified by the person releasing the information (US Dept. of State, accessed Sept 23, 2014) and whistle-blower: a person who reveals serious wrongdoing under protected disclosures. See, for instance, the Victorian Protected Disclosure Act (Citation2012).
14 See Appendix 1.
15 At our institution, this is called the College Human Ethics Advisory Network (CHEAN).
16 These FAQs are only accessible to RMIT University staff and research candidates, via a secure login page.
17 As a full-time or fractional employee, as opposed to a casual or sessional lecturer or tutor.