Online media experts will offer their views on the direction of news, journalism and technology in a series of upcoming lectures at UQ’s School of Journalism and Communication.
Beginning next week and running into October, the JACtalk series aims to inform students and staff about how the media industry is dealing successfully with content online.
The presentations will offer insight into how journalism is changing and give participants the opportunity to speak with people making editorial decisions in a digital context.
Online editor for the Courier-Mail John Grey begins the series on September 14. A newspaper journalist since the 1970s, Mr Grey helped develop the Courier-Mail’s online prescence.
Speaking on September 21 is WotNews general manager Richard Slatter. WotNews harvests and analyses news from 5,000 traditional and online Australian publishers for clients around the country.
The JACtalk series continues after the mid-semester break when Brisbane Times managing editor Conal Hanna speaks on October 12, with ABC lead developer Rae Allen presenting on October 19.
The idea for the series evolved as part of the newly revised third-year Journalism Production course.
Course co-ordinator Skye Doherty said it was a way for students to see how the skills they were learning applied to the workplace and give them the chance to meet potential employers.
“For sustainable, quality digital journalism to thrive, journalists – and those hoping to be journalists – need to know how to produce content that people will buy,” Ms Doherty said.
“What is going on in newsrooms today is reshaping media industry and these experts provide insight into where the industry is at and where it is headed.”
Journalism Production is a capstone course in the Bachelor of Journalism program. It challenges students to conceptualise, plan and produce stories using text, sound, vision and interaction.
The JACtalk series take place on Mondays from noon in the SJC Meeting Room – level 2 Joyce Ackroyd Building (No 37). All are welcome.
To view the work of UQ journalism students, visit www.jacdigital.com.au or tune into JACRadio, a new digital radio station which broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Media: Skye Doherty (07 3346 8265, s.doherty@uq.edu.au)
