Journalism research and practice in Australian Universities

This article discusses the current state of journalism research in Australian universities. It does this within the context of the practice-as-research debate and the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative. It asks how journalism can confirm a position as a significant research discipline, where programs and staff meet industry and university needs, receive recognition and career advancement when deserved and produce research with impact. It poses a series of questions that it argues require urgent addressing if the discipline is to avoid an unnecessary and potentially stifling traditional research/practice divide, and ends by offering suggestions as to how the staffing needs of journalism teaching programs in Australian universities might be fit/filled while also ensuring the discipline generates internationally recognisable and methodologically diverse research.