Narrative and frame analysis Critical and cultural theory
Before coming to Otago, Michael studied and later taught at the University of Canberra where he received his BA, MA and PhD. in Communication. He has a primary research interest in institutional narratives and frames, with particular interest in those associated with policies, strategies and media technologies that may impact active participation in society. He is also interested in the symmetrical aspects of mediated communication and how various audiences or interpretive communities construct meaning from a wide variety of media texts and personal experiences. His Masters argued both charity and rights narratives have been used to frame access to telecommunication services for people with disabilities in Australia. Subsequently, his PhD. used a similar critical cultural approach to unpack the complexity surrounding policies that attempt to balance political, social and commercial priorities in Australian telecommunication development. Later he used the same method to analyse media and social frames of the 2004 South Asian tsunamis. More recent research projects involve collaboration with other researchers within the University of Otago and overseas. In 2012, he joined a research team from the Centre for Science Communication to analyse New Zealand broadcast media frames of climate change. In addition, he and colleagues from the University of Canberra began analyzing the state online responses to the Christchurch earthquakes. Most recently, in a 2014 research project led by Professor Kerry Shephard from HEDC, Michael is incorporating frame and circuit of culture analyses to explore how university staff construct and represent the graduate attribute, 'global perspective'.
Bourk, M. (2014). Guía de viaje para (nuevos) periodistas que cubren el cambio climático ['Travel guide’ for new journalists covering climate change]. In B. León (Ed.), Periodismo, medios de comunicación y cambio climático. (pp. 59-70). Salamanca, Spain: Comunicación Social.
Chapter in Book - Research
Bourk, M., & Holland, K. (2014). From silos to flows: Spatial metaphor and communication responses to the Christchurch earthquakes. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 29(2), 33-39.
Journal - Research Article
Bourk, M., Davis, L., Rock, J., & León, B. (2014). Mediating the science: The symbolic and structural influences on communicating climate change through New Zealand’s television news. In B. León (Ed.), Communicating Climate Change: From Global Agenda to Media Representation: Proceedings of the 28th CICOM International Conference on Communication. (pp. 232-251). Salamanca, Spain: Communicación Social. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Kabir, S. N., & Bourk, M. (2012). Representing Islam and Muslims in New Zealand newspapers. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 32(3), 324-338. doi: 10.1080/13602004.2012.727293
Journal - Research Article
Bourk, M. (2012). Engaging end-users in telecommunication as complementary assets: Creating more spaces at the policy table. Policy Quarterly, 7(1), 59-64.
Journal - Research Article
Bourk, M. (2011). 'A Makara-like wave came crashing': Sri Lankan narratives of the Boxing Day tsunami. Media International Australia, (141), 49-57.
Journal - Research Article
Bourk, M. (2010). Framing Australian telecommunication policy: A case study of the 1996 'Review of Standard Telephone Service'. Media International Australia, 135, 45-55.
Journal - Research Article
Bourk, M., & Gutsche, Jr, R. E. (2013). News-masking: A theoretical perspective on the rituals and artifacts of news during crisis. Proceedings of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Conference: Crises, ‘Creative Destruction’ and the Global Power and Communication Orders. Retrieved from http://www.iamcr2013dublin.org/content/news-masking-theoretical-perspective-rituals-and-artifacts-news-during-crisis
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Bourk, M. (2012, July). Engaging citizens in climate change advocate initiatives: A case study of political activism in Iowa City. Verbal presentation at the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA) Conference: Communicating Change and Changing Communication in the 21st Century, Adelaide, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Bourk, M. (2009). Universal service provisions in Australasia. Proceedings of the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) Conference: Collaborating for Change: Strategies, Opportunities & Partnerships. [CD-ROM] [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Bourk, M. (2008). Framing essential services: Narratives of Australian telecommunication policy development. Proceedings of the Narrative Matters Conference. Retrieved from http://www.narrativematters.com/conference.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Bourk, M. (2011). Tsunamis across Sri Lanka: Narratives of crisis when nature 'strikes'. In A. Henderson (Ed.), Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA) Conference: Communication on the Edge: Shifting Boundaries and Identities. Retrieved from http://www.anzca.net/conferences/anzca-11.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Leonard, K., Bell, R., Kim, J., Bourk, M., & Chin, B. M. (2009, September). Financing broadband and ICT infrastructure [Panel discussion]. Verbal presentation at the 7th Annual Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Forum, Nadi, Fiji.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Bourk, M. (2008, February). Tsunamis across Sri Lanka: Narratives of crisis and reconstruction. Verbal presentation at the NarrativEncounters Conference, Cork, Ireland.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Bourk, M. (July, 2008). Multiple narratives of Australian telecommunications policy. University of Otago, Department of Media, Film and Communication Research Seminar, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].
Other Research Output
Bourk, M. (2012, March). Engaging end-users in telecommunication as complementary assets: Creating more spaces at the policy table. Verbal presentation at the XXVII International Communication Conference, Pamplona, Spain.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Bourk, M. (2009, September). Consumer-citizens?: Lessons from Australasia. Poster session presented at the 7th Annual Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Forum, Nadi, Fiji.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Bourk, M. J. (2001). Universal service?: Telecommunications policy and people with disabilities. Bloomington, IN: 1st Books Library, 240p.
Authored Book - Research
Davis, L. S., Bourk, M., Rock, J., Wardell, S., & Leon, B. (2013, January). Does the messenger kill the message: How climate change and scientists come across on television news. Verbal presentation at the VII Southern Connection Congress: Southern Lands and Southern Oceans: Life on the Edge? Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Bourk, M. (2012). [Review of the book Media mergers and the defence of pluralism]. Media International Australia, (143), 175-176. [Book Review].
Journal - Research Other
Bourk, M. (2012, June). Of Gods and monsters: Sri Lankan narratives of the Boxing Day Tsunami. Verbal presentation at the Death Down Under Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs