Qualifications 

Doctor of Philosophy - Griffith University 

Master of Arts - Bond University 

Bachelor of Business (Communication) - Queensland University of Technology 

Jane’s research interests cover a wide range of fields. She began her investigations into
the relationship between the courts and the media in the early 1990s and has continued to
research and publish in that field, with topics ranging from the televising of courts,
how courts are ‘translated’ into news and restrictions on media reporting and the
implications for democracy. In 2010 Jane began a project with Bond Professor’s Mark
Pearson (Humanities & Social Sciences) and Patrick Keyzer (Law) into ‘The courts and
the media in the digital age’. 

Jane’s research also includes the use of narrative techniques in news coverage and the
role of sources in news. She has spent two years working with Dr Susan Forde (Griffith
University) on the role played in the Australian media by Australian Associated Press
(AAP) and international news agencies, and has published these findings in scholarly
journals and conference papers in Australia and internationally. 

In public relations, following the publication of her two books Public Relations: Theory
and Practice (2000, 2004 and 2009) and Media Relations: Issues and Strategies (2007,
forthcoming 2011), she developed a keen interest into how public relations is depicted in
popular culture, focussing on film and television. 

Jane is on the editorial review board for three journals: Public Relations Review, Prism
and Australian Journalism Monographs and regularly reviews scholarly articles and
conference papers for Australian and international journals and conferences. She is on
the expert working party for the Hunter Institute for Mental Health Response-Ability
Public Relations Project and has contributed to a manual for court professionals
published by the Institute. She has also been consultant to the Tasmanian courts in their
court-media resources. 

Jane’s industry background was predominantly in print journalism and corporate public
relations and she continues to do occasional work in third sector PR. 

Articles

The new, old journalism: Narrative writing in contemporary newspapers (with Caroline Graham), Journalism Studies (online) (2011)

While there is a significant literature on the rise of narrative journalism in daily newspapers,...

 

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The silent partner: News agencies and 21st century news (with Susan Forde), International Journal of Communication (2011)

This article investigates the ubiquitous presence of news agencies (or wire services) in the daily...

 

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Towards a narratology of court reporting (with Rhonda Breit), Media international Australia (2010)

This article uses the theory of narratology to connect legal discourses and processes with the...

 

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Girls on screen: How film and television depict women in public relations, PRism (2010)

This paper explores how women in public relations have been depicted in the popular culture...

 

FM radio news: Spreading the news or spread too thin? (with Denise Raward), Australian journalism review (2009)

United Kingdom investigative reporter Nick Davies has coined the term 'churnalism' to describe the UK...

 

Books

Public relations: Theory and practice (2009)

This leading introductory student text has been completely revised. With new examples, new information on...

 

Media relations: Issues and strategies, Media relations: Issues and strategies (2007)

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

 

Book Chapters

Public relations: An overview (with Clara Zawawi and Jeff Brand), Public relations: Theory and practice (2009)

This leading introductory student text has been completely revised. With new examples, new information on...

 

Conference Papers

Same copy, different outlet: Wire services, journalism and the erosion from within (with Susan Forde), IAMCR Conference 2010: Communication and Citizenship (2010)

This paper examines the role of Australia’s single news agency, Australian Associated Press (AAP) in...

 

A history of public relations on screen: Cinema and television depictions since the 1920s, International History of Public Relations Conference (IHPRC) (2010)
 

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Constructing legal narratives: Law, language and the media (with Rhonda Breit), Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference (ANZCA09): Communication, creativity and global citizenship (2009)

This paper proposes using the theory of narratology to connect to legal discourses and processes...

 

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Democratisation of public relations: Levelling the playing field, Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association (ICA) - Communication (2005)

Criticism of the anti-democratic uses of public relations by governments and corporations is appropriate. However...

 

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Setting the table doesn't mean the guests will come to dinner: Televised courts in Australia, Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association (ICA) - Communication: Questioning the dialogue (2005)

The Australian courts are entering their second decade of experimentation with televised court proceedings. Yet,...