27 May 2013
Margo Kingston, one of Australia’s best-known political and investigative journalists, is partnering with Macquarie University to cover the upcoming Federal election using social media.
Kingston was the first Australian journalist to use online media to bring the voice of citizen journalists into the mainstream media with her Sydney Morning Herald- based website Webdiary. Her new project will build on this legacy and explore the role Twitter now plays in public debate and journalism.
“I see this as a successor to Webdiary,” Kingston says. “It will be grounded in the same charter, values and ethics. It will be based on the citizen journalism model where I will work with citizens to report the news, investigate stories, comment and involve others citizens in commentary”.
Professor Catharine Lumby, herself a former journalist, will work with Kingston to analyse the opportunities and challenges that Twitter and social media present to professional journalists.
“Social media is changing the way news is reported and analysed and this is a terrific opportunity to explore its impact on political reporting and democracy,” says Professor Lumby.
Macquarie University is developing a Master of Future Journalism degree that will offer students the opportunity to marry traditional journalistic skills with social and online media skills. The degree is proposed to launch in 2014.
“The media landscape is changing rapidly and it’s an exciting time to be researching the impact of new media technologies and platforms on journalism and public debate,” says Lumby.
Media contact
Joanna Wheatley
9850-1039
joanna.wheatley@mq.edu.au
Catharine Lumby
0414 897 255
catharine.lumby@mq.edu.au
For more information see:
Read more:
Macquarie University funds the first twitter–based election coverage by a professional journalist
good news!
Glad you are on the journey with us, Bumpy.
Exciting new #media project to support #democracy at Macq Uni -@margotkingston1 to run citizen #journalism project http://t.co/oMAaPpKpGV
Macquarie University funds the first twitter–based election coverage by a professional journalist http://t.co/DSsxvqJcU9 via @zite
Australia’s Macquarie Uni funds Twitter-based journalism project for federal elections http://t.co/ers8bZRoML via @smurray38 via @Colvinius
Macquarie University funds the first twitter–based election coverage by a professional journalist http://t.co/dMVmKBPdm4
Macquarie University funds the first twitter–based election coverage by a professional journalist by @NoFibs…. http://t.co/POZZ2qNilB
Congratulation to my friend @margokingston1 for this new proj with MacqUni – http://t.co/2Ptw02C9bO – The spirit of Webdiary lives on
Congratulations Margo. I will read it all closely, and with interest.
This is the best news Margo!!! I am so stoked for you, backing to attempt what you always thought was possible is going to be a wonderful opportunity. I know you work so hard online and it is great that not only do you have the new site (very swish I must say…) but you have the backing to go hard now. Well done & serious congratulations lady, we are all indebted to your passionate work you do on behalf of all of us :xxxx
Worth keeping an eye on this site in the lead up to September >> http://t.co/NscmvfHwyA
The first twitter based coverage of an election? You sure? If that’s really true, that says little about professional journalism…
Macquarie University funds the first twitter–based election coverage by a professional journalist – No Fibs http://t.co/tWRPQ6gz8C
I want my taxes back …
@janey64, did you hear that I got funding? http://t.co/qxehw6NUam @samantharegione @text_appeal
This looks exciting…twitter based coverage of elections http://t.co/C5UNvOAD52
@AshleyLeahy http://t.co/qxehw6NUam
Macquarie Universit… http://t.co/iUdBioZ17n
Web Diary founder in deal with Macquarie Uni to cover elections via Twitter http://t.co/ssNZCXDfjI
http://t.co/mpgbQx4Mf8
This is wonderful news @geeksrulz @margokingston1
Will it be as sily as Webdiary was?
Macquarie Universit… http://t.co/knVIvUeXEX
What a colossal waste of taxpayers money. We all know what reporting we are going to be getting given who is participating in and backing this. The next few months all we’ll get is Liberals = bad, Labor = good, Greens = perfect. Blah, blah, blah. C’mon show these kids that want to be good journalists how to do it properly and without bias.