The last decade has seen unprecedented changes in communications technologies and policy. The communications program is based around the need for a course which meets the academic and research needs of a discrete industry sector undergoing rapid change. The communications program also emphasises the need to maintain a critical literacy in information research, which increasingly requires the development of new skills in technological use and evaluation and an understanding of issues in information access.
In this context, 'communications' is broader than any one of its traditional constituent elements, including journalism, public relations, media studies, publishing and editing, and creative writing. A broader approach, which places these elements in a cultural and policy framework, allows a range of students to enter the program and to specialise as appropriate within it. The program supports students in examining topics relevant to those employed (or seeking employment) in communications and media industries (for instance, audience and internet user studies, electronic journalism, policy formation, public relations and tourism marketing).
Students come from a range of disciplinary and industry backgrounds, including those with undergraduate degrees in politics, journalism, science and fine arts, as well as those with extensive industry experience in areas such as print and radio journalism, public affairs, media liaison, public relations, and media or policy advisers to politicians and industry.
Supervision of research candidates is available, with particular staff strengths in:
- animation studies
- computer and video games
- cultural/communication theory
- graphic novels and visual fiction
- internet studies
- music studies
- national identity and communications policy
- new communications technologies
- philosophy of communication
- publishing studies
- sports media
- textual and discourse analysis of media texts
- travel writing
- war and conflict
- writing practices.
