Political Communication, Policy and Participation
About the ResearchThis cluster aims to prioritize research that seeks to assess and enhance citizen participation/engagement in a range of civic activities that are central to civil society including policy formation/negotiation. The cluster will organize and coordinate research on political communication, and related issues of 'public policy formation' and 'public sphere participation'. The cluster will develop and apply reconceptualizations of the role of political communication at both the national and international levels. At the national level, researchers will work with theories of civil society that view engaged, informed civility as essential for public sphere participation. At the international level, researchers will also apply theories of media and globalization that trace the emergence of a transnational media system with many implications for both national and transnational politics and social institutions. CoordinatorNew Zealand Media and Environment Forum, November 6, 2009This one-day forum will be held on November 6, 2009 at the Hutton Theatre at the Otago Museum. For more information and to register (by Monday 2 November for catering purposes) go to the information and registration page. Researchers
Research Projects/Public EventsThe following list includes public events and some recent projects organised by cluster members. New Zealand Media & Environment Forum, November 2009This forum was co-hosted by the Research Cluster, the Department of Politics and the Centre for Science Communication. Leading scientists, politicians, journalists, activists and academics will discuss a range of topics such as:
............................................................................ Informing Voters? Politics, Media and the New Zealand Election 2008 (Pearson 2009)This study of the 2008 New Zealand Election was co-edited by Chris Rudd, Janine Hayward and Geoffrey Craig. Chapters examine issues such as political party strategy, television news and newspaper coverage of the campaign, political advertising, leaders' debates and media interviews, the Maori Party and newspaper coverage, and online media. For further details see: ............................................................................ Children as Citizens[Prof Anne Smith, Ms Nicola Taylor, Ms Megan Gollop, Ms Kate Marshall, Childwatch International] (2004-2005) A cross-cultural and cross-generational study on children's and adults' perspectives about what constitutes good citizenship (for children and young people) and influences nation building. A Web-based survey about children and young people's perspectives on their rights[Prof Anne Smith, Researchers at the Children's Issues Centre] Ongoing analysis and writing up of responses from approximately 500 children and young people. This research is being conducted for contract with the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Children's Commissioner. New Zealand Environmental Groups and Media RelationsGeoffrey Craig is investigating the relationship between the media and New Zealand Environmental Groups. Geoff is also conducting a study of the television leaders’ debates from the 2005 national election. The 2005 NZ election campaignPhil Harris, Mathew Parackal and Chris Rudd are continuing their research on the 2005 NZ election campaign. E-Government and Outcome-Based Government in New ZealandRobin Gauld, along with Shaun Goldfinch, from the Department of Political Studies, will study E-Government and Outcome-Based Government in New Zealand into 2006. Gender, Globalization and Democratization[Professor Marian Simms] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) project. Regional Bases of International Competitiveness[Dr Michelle Thompson-Fawcett] (2003-2006) This project involves assessment of the locational strengths and location-based potential (e.g. urban regeneration) of Dunedin. Michelle is also exploring, with Sophie Bond (PhD candidate): Democracy within the Urbanist Planning Paradigm: Social Justice or Empty Rhetoric? (2005-2008)Dispositions in Social Context[Prof Anne Smith, Assoc Prof Margaret Carr (Waikato University)] (2002-2005) The conceptions, communication and uses of population health ideas by NZ government policymakers: a six-agency study[ Dr Robin Gauld] The intentions and outcomes of urbanist participatory processes[Dr Michelle Thomson-Fawcett] Project case studies in Australia, North America and Europe. Researcher ProfilesDr Geoffrey CraigDr Geoffrey Craig is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics. Geoffrey is the author of The Media, Politics and Public Life (Allen & Unwin 2004), co-author (with Wendy Parkins) of Slow Living (Berg and UNSW Press 2006) and co-editor (with Chris Rudd and Janine Hayward) of Informing Voters? Politics, Media and the New Zealand Election 2008 (Pearson 2009). He has research interests in news media interviews and leaders’ debates, environmental communication, and lifestyle politics. He also has research interest in the areas of political communication, the media and the public sphere, journalism and democracy. He has previously published on subjects such as public service broadcasting; anti-globalisation protest movements; the global financial news, data and technology corporations; and the role of spin doctors. He previously taught at Murdoch and Curtin universities in Western Australia and worked as a journalist for Reuters. Dr Vijay DevadasDr Vijay Devadas is a Lecturer in the Department of Media, Film and Communication. Dr Devadas conducts research in media studies generally and has particular interests in indigenous media and Asian media. He also has research interests in postcolonial-theory and literature, critical and cultural theory, diaspora studies and identity politics and cultural studies. Dr Claire FreemanDr Claire Freeman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Director of the Masters in Regional and Resource Planning programme. She is an appointed member to the national council of the New Zealand Planning Institute. Her research interests are in the general field of environmental planning and include planning for the natural environment, planning with children and sustainable settlements. Dr Robin GauldDr Robin Gauld is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine. He is a reviewer for the NZ Health Research Council and the Health Research Board of Ireland. His area of research interests include comparative studies of Health Policy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. He is co-author of an upcoming book E-government in New Zealand , due out mid-2005. Dr. Brett NichollsDr. Brett Nicholls is a Lecturer in the Department of Media, Film and Communication. His current research interests span the political economy of the media, critical theory, and game studies. They include, as a subset, the study of the division of work and leisure in digital space and time, and, as a super-set, the cycles and circuits of struggle in high-technology capitalism. Dr Mathew ParackalDr Mathew Parackal teaches in the Department of Marketing and his research concentrates on forecasting methods. He has conducted studies of the 2004 Dunedin mayoral elections and the 2005 New Zealand general election. He also works in the area of social marketing. Mathew's expertise includes computer programming and he has designed and developed a number of Internet based database applications for marketing research purposes. Dr Chris PoorDr Chris Poor was a Post-Doctoral Fellow with the cluster. In his current research he is employing a critical realist adaptation of complexity concepts to develop a theory of Socio-Ontological Flux in terms of environmental, relational and cognitive mechanisms, and the transformative capacity of communicative action. His model focuses on the process of positive feedback between causal mechanisms and on the phase transition in communication regimes from hierarchical to network form. Professor Hilary RadnerProfessor Hilary Radner is Chair of Film and Media Studies, in the Department of Media, Film and Communication. Her research interests include representations of sexuality; European actors in Hollywood and the global feminine. Dr Chris RuddDr Chris Rudd teaches political communications and political marketing in the Department of Politics. He is co-editor of Political Communications in New Zealand (2004). Professor Anne SmithProfessor Anne Smith, past Director of the Children's Issues Centre, has been the initiator of and researcher in a large number of research projects, many with a focus on children's voices and children's rights. Dr Michelle Thompson-FawcettDr Michelle Thompson-Fawcett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography. Her research interests include participatory community planning; and comparative studies in urban planning for the built landscape; and sustainable settlements. She has recently completed a project: Urbanist participatory planning: inclusive process or idealistic rhetoric. Dr. John WilliamsDr. John Williams is the Research Analyst in the Department of Marketing. His current research focus is about research and analysis methods (particularly new ones) and their validity in different contexts. Among his other interests are the influence of technology on society, and ethical issues in marketing. Postgraduate ResearchRecently completed and current research by PhD and Masters students students linked to the Political Communication, Policy and Participation research cluster: PhD
Masters
ContactFor further information about the Cluster please contact Dr Chris Rudd on 64-3-479 8664 or at chris.rudd@otago.ac.nz.
|
 |