DOCSLIB.ORG

Problematising the Subjectivities of Single Parenthood

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Problematising the Subjectivities of Single Parenthood Worthless and undeserving? Problematising the subjectivities of single parenthood Sandra May Coe Bachelor of Justice (Honours I) School of Justice, Faculty of Law Queensland University of Technology Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2011 Keywords Poststructuralism; discourse analysis; Michel Foucault; power; truth; knowledge; discourse; single parenthood; subjectivities; games of truth; media analysis; insider discourses; outsider discourses; normalisation; dividing practices; risk; neoliberal discourses; child wellbeing; parenthood; resilience. Reference list i Abstract A considerable body of knowledge has been constructed perpetuating the notion single parenthood is a significant problem for society, and while this is supported by specific research designs and sampling practices, it is also maintained by two key discourses. The first constitutes single parenthood as a deficit, while the second identifies it as a risk. In both cases, these discourses are operationalised by the philosophy of neo-liberalism, which envisions good citizenship as economic autonomy. Historically, it has been the convergence of the risk and deficit discourses that has constituted single parenthood as a social problem. More recently, however, risk discourses have come to dominate thinking about single parenthood. As a result, this thesis terms risk discourses as dominant discourses. As dominant discourses, risk sidelines or discounts other ways of Reference list thinking about single parenthood. While a few exceptions are notable, including some feminist, poststructural and family resilience scholars, most researchers appear unable to see past the positioning of these discourses and envision another way of being for parents who are single. This means that alternative subjectivities are obscured and have limited influence in this field of research. Because this thesis aimed to problematise dominant subjectivities of single parenthood, a poststructural Foucauldian framework has been utilized in order to document the discursive constructions of single parenthood through literature, insider discourses, and outsider discourses. For the purposes of this thesis, outsider discourses are constituted as those outside the subjectivities of single parenthood, such as media and research discourses. An examination of the Australian media has been undertaken over a one year period, the results of which ii form the basis for the analysis of media discourses of single parenthood. Parents who are single were also targeted for self selection into this project to provide insider discourses about single parenthood. This analysis explored how respondents negotiated the discourses of single parenthood and how they themselves used or rejected the subjectivities constructed for them via these discourses to constitute their own subjectivities. This thesis aimed to explore the role of discourses in the construction of individuals’ subjectivities. Specifically, it draws attention to the way in which knowledge and power work through discourses to emphasize what is allowable, both publicly and privately, in relation to single parenthood. Most importantly, this thesis offers alternative subjectivities for single parenthood to facilitate new ways of thinking about parents who are single. Reference list iii Contents Keywords i Abstract ii Statement of Original Authorship x Acknowledgement xi Chapter 1: Introduction to a social problem 1.1 The misconceptions and assumptions of single 1 parenthood 1.2 The purpose of this study 3 1.2.1 Research aims and objectives 3 1.3 Single parenthood as a social problem 6 1.4 A poststructural/Foucauldian toolbox: setting the 8 parameters for theoretical conceptualisations 1.5 A poststructural research design 11 1.6 Conclusion 12 Chapter 2: Exploring the discourses of single parenthood: the literature review Reference list 2.1 Introduction: single parenthood as deficit 15 2.2 Risk discourses and employment: constructing single 18 parents as problematic workers 2.2.1 Single parents helplessly addicted to welfare: the 23 riskiness of dependency 2.2.2 Feminists rewriting single mothers’ dependency as 26 victimisation 2.2.2.1 Resisting dependency and enacting responsibility 29 2.3 Perpetuating the species: family discourses and the 31 riskiness of single parenthood 2.3.1 Destabilising and damaging: the threat of single 33 parenthood. 2.3.2 Ameliorating risks: discourses of good motherhood 36 2.3.3 Entering the ‘charmed circle’: single mothers by 37 choice as ‘Maverick’ mothers 2.3.4 Discursively constructing good fatherhood and the 40 essentialness of men 2.3.5 ‘At risk’ of single parenthood: career choices of 43 undesirable women 2.3.6 Air pollution, depression, and injury: single 46 iv motherhood as risk 2.3.7 Limiting exposure and protecting children: the 49 riskiness of single parenthood 2.3.8 Immature parents: public surveillance of risky 53 teenage single parenthood 2.3.9 Stigmatisation and vilification: single motherhood as 56 victimisation 2.4 Dividing practices and enacting difference to construct 58 a social problem 2.5 Challenging discourses of deficit and risk 60 2.5.1 ‘Fewer and poorer’: the burden of free-riding men and 61 divided women 2.5.2 Deconstructing a social problem: poststructural 63 interpretations of single parenthood 2.5.3 Searching for family resilience: personal growth and 65 successful single parenthood 2.6 Conclusion 67 Chapter 3: Using Foucault’s toolbox: theoretical conceptualisations 3.1 Introduction 71 3.2 The making of things: discursively constituting reality 72 3.3 The creative and constraining aspects of power 74 3.3.1 Foucault’s trifecta: the power/knowledge/truth 77 Reference list complex 3.3.2 Understanding and contesting truths 78 3.3.3 Understanding subjectivities 81 3.3.4 Resistance: rejecting subjectivities 83 3.4 The macro processes of governance: disciplinary 85 citizenship 3.4.1 Producing the good citizen: normalisation and 88 dividing practices 3.4.2 Internalising normalisation practices: technologies of 91 the self 3.4.3 Risk and the importance of children 92 3.5 Conclusion 95 Chapter 4: Doing knowledge differently: poststructural research design 4.1 Introduction 99 4.2 Fractured mirrors and refracted culture: interpreting 101 the poststructural research design 4.3 Recognising slipperiness: the qualitative approach to 104 v research processes 4.3.1 Discursively shaping reality: the analysis of discourse 105 4.4 Worrying the old shibboleths: rewriting validity 107 4.5 Writing under erasure: ethical considerations 111 4.6 Reconfiguring reality: media influence on discursive 112 reality 4.7 Exploring insider and outsider discourses of single 114 parenthood 4.7.1 Stage one: highlighting outsider discourses 116 4.7.1.1 ‘Unrelated’ and ‘duplicated’ data 118 4.7.1.2 Second and third coding rounds 119 4.7.1.3 Research findings: coding and classification 121 4.7.2 Making space for insider discourses: the stage two 124 data 4.7.2.1 Constructing the data: the interview questions 125 4.7.2.2 Accommodating diversity: the recruitment process 126 4.7.2.3 Profile of respondents 128 4.7.2.4 Coding the stage two data 129 4.8 Conclusion 130 Chapter 5: Social burdens and poor citizens: truth games of a social problem Reference list 5.1 Introduction 132 5.2 Problematic workers: barriers and vulnerability as 133 economic threat 5.2.1 Breeding in rabbit proportions: welfare dependency 134 and the economic threat of single parenthood 5.2.1.1 Losing jobs and being exploited: respondents engage 140 with problematic worker subjectivities 5.2.1.2 Having to work differently so the wheels don’t fall off: 142 resisting problematic worker subjectivities 5.2.2 Feeling the pinch: the economic vulnerability of single 147 parenthood 5.2.2.1 Outsider assumptions and good financial managers: 148 resisting economic vulnerability 5.3 Constructing abnormality: media accounts engage 155 risk discourses 5.3.1 Blighted with mental problems: the psychological 156 riskiness of single parenthood 5.3.1.1 Trying not to fall off the cliff: the cataclysmic 158 devastation of single parenthood vi 5.3.2 Mentally destabilised children: the riskiness of single 162 parenthood for children’s wellbeing 5.3.2.1 Natural phobias and protection: respondents engage 166 with risk discourses 5.3.3 Born on the wrong side of the tracks: single 170 parenthood as criminal risk 5.3.3.1 A natural distrust: respondents engage with criminal 173 risk 5.3.4 Changing horses midstream and the uncertainty of 176 life: the contradictions of risk discourses 5.3.4.1 Losing the big fig tree: loss as a manifestation of 178 single parenthood 5.4 Generating substandard beings: single parent and 181 threat discourses 5.4.1 Sex and the single parent: shameless single mothers 187 and philandering men 5.4.1.1 Stealing husbands: insiders respond to threat 188 discourses 5.5 Surveillance via stigma, stereotypes and labelling: 191 living publicly examined lives 5.5.1 Soiled goods: single motherhood and stigma 191 discourses 5.5.1.1 Sucking breath and having to tell the bad story: 193 insider discourses on stereotypes, labels, and stigma Reference list 5.5.2 Public scrutiny and the problem of teenage single 205 mothers 5.5.2.1 Stuffing up your life or creating opportunities: insider 207 discourses on teenage single motherhood 5.6 Conclusion 212 Chapter 6: Re-thinking single parenthood via resilience and metamorphosis 6.1 Introduction 214 6.2 Media fashioning single parenthood into good 215 citizenship 6.2.1 The mouse that roared:
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories?
    Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories? Putting the spotlight on cultural and linguistic diversity in television news and current affairs The Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories? report was prepared on the basis of research and support from the following people: Professor James Arvanitakis (Western Sydney University) Carolyn Cage (Deakin University) Associate Professor Dimitria Groutsis (University of Sydney) Dr Annika Kaabel (University of Sydney) Christine Han (University of Sydney) Dr Ann Hine (Macquarie University) Nic Hopkins (Google News Lab) Antoinette Lattouf (Media Diversity Australia) Irene Jay Liu (Google News Lab) Isabel Lo (Media Diversity Australia) Professor Catharine Lumby (Macquarie University) Dr Usha Rodrigues (Deakin University) Professor Tim Soutphommasane (University of Sydney) Subodhanie Umesha Weerakkody (Deakin University) This report was researched, written and designed on Aboriginal land. Sovereignty over this land was never ceded. We wish to pay our respect to elders past, present and future, and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities’ ongoing struggles for justice and self-determination. Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories? Executive summary The Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories? report is the first comprehensive picture of who tells, frames and produces stories in Australian television news and current affairs. It details the experience and the extent of inclusion and representation of culturally diverse news and current affairs presenters, commentators and reporters. It is also the first
    [Show full text]
  • FAA-Industry-Smiles Turner Submission
    THE CLASH BETWEEN IDEALISM AND REALITY A SUBMISSION to the SENATE ECONOMICS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE INQUIRY into the Consumer Credit and Corporations Legislation Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2011: formerly the Exposure Draft entitled the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2011 from the FINANCIERS’ ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA / INDUSTRY / SMILES TURNER DELEGATION Consultants: Phillip Smiles LL.B., B.Ec., M.B.A., Dip.Ed. Lyn Turner M.A., Dip.Drama Smiles Turner Ph: (02) 9975 4244 Fax: (02) 9975 6877 Email: [email protected] © Smiles Turner, November 2011 1 “You certainly, in a modern economy can’t regulate interest rates. That’s economics discarded for the last 30 years.” - Prime Minister Julia Gillard, 4 November 2010, Today Show, TCN Channel 9 © Smiles Turner, November 2011 2 INDEX Content Page Executive Summary 4 About this Submission 11 Section 1 - Market Characteristics and Supply Realities 14 If the Bill Proceeds to Enactment Unchanged 14 Section 2 - The Delegation’s Simple Alternative 24 Section 3 - A Detailed Analysis of the Current Bill 30 Section 32A 49 Section 4 - Explanatory Memorandum and RIS Deficient 57 Concerns in Regard to the Explanatory Memorandum 57 An Analysis of the Regulation Impact Statement 65 A Major Government Study Ignored by Treasury 76 An Analysis of the Minister’s Second Reading Speech 77 Section 5 - Non-Commercial Alternatives Grossly Inadequate 81 Decisions Demanding Alternatives, Without Timely Research 81 Not-for -profit, Non-commercial Credit Opportunities 82 Other Possible
    [Show full text]
  • Exporter Update Presenter Biographies 23Rd August 2018
    Exporter Update Presenter biographies 23rd August 2018 Ricardo Goncalves – MC News presenter, business journalist, MC, speaker Ricardo Goncalves presents SBS World News Australia is SBS Finance Editor and is the host of Small Business Secrets. He has covered news globally, filing stories from the Middle-East, LA and New York's Ground Zero. While he has interviewed most of Australia's top CEOs, financial analysts and economists, building up a solid contact list in the process, he notes interviews with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva and Virgin's Sir Richard Branson as most memorable. Prior to working with SBS, Ricardo has previously worked for WIN News Wollongong, Today Tonight, Sky News Business, Seven News, Sunrise, National Nine News, 2GB. Andreas Clark Chief Executive Officer - Wine Australia Andreas has led Wine Australia since its inception on 1 July 2014. Prior to that, he held a number of senior management roles with the former Wine Australia Corporation. Before joining the wine sector, Andreas served as a diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra and Brunei and has also worked as a lawyer in private practice and in-house with an ASX-listed company. He holds a Master of Laws from the Australian National University and Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from Flinders University and is admitted to practice in South Australia. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia and the Authentic Leadership Program at Harvard University. Stuart Barclay General Manager, Marketing – Wine Australia Stuart joined Wine Australia in November 2014 and as General Manager, Marketing he has responsibility for Wine Australia promotional activities domestically and internationally.
    [Show full text]
  • Bills Digest 26, 2017-18
    BILLS DIGEST NO. 26, 2017–18 5 SEPTEMBER 2017 Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017 Don Arthur and Matthew Thomas Social Policy Section Paula Pyburne Law and Bills Digest Section Contents The Bills Digest at a glance ................................................... 4 Date introduced: 22 June 2017 Purpose of the Bill ............................................................... 6 House: House of Representatives Structure of the Bill ............................................................. 6 Portfolio: Social Services Structure of this Bills Digest .................................................... 6 Commencement: Various dates as set out Committee consideration .................................................... 7 in the body of this Bills Digest Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee .................. 7 Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills .............. 7 Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights .................... 7 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights .................. 7 Links: The links to the Bill, its Explanatory Memorandum and second reading speech can be Schedule 12—Establishment of a drug testing trial ............... 7 found on the Bill’s home page, or through the Commencement ...................................................................... 7 Australian Parliament website. When Bills have been passed and have received Royal Financial implications .............................................................. 7 Assent, they become Acts, which
    [Show full text]
  • Tracy Marsh Tracy Marsh Was Born in Adelaide, And, at the Age of Ten, Had Already Pieced Together Her First Craft Book
    1 Tracy Marsh Tracy Marsh was born in Adelaide, and, at the age of ten, had already pieced together her first craft book. This was the beginning of a successful business career, in which Tracy invested her talent and entrepreneurial skills to form her own company, now operating successfully for 33 years. Tracy Marsh has published over 3 million books and magazines for the Australian and international publishing industry, including adult craft, children's craft and activities and educational books. Tracy started her first business at the age of 18. In 1984, she wrote and published her first book titled Touch of Nostalgia, selling over 200,000 copies and becoming an ‘Australian Best-Seller’. She also launched Australia's first craft magazine in 1988 - Craft & Decorating. It is recognised as Australia's longest running craft magazine. Tracy established strategic partnerships with major local and international organisations including Spotlight Stores and Weldon Owen Publishing (USA based company). The publishing language rights of Tracy Marsh Publications titles have been sold to international publishers including Scholastic USA and Readers Digest. Previously working out of Sydney and San Francisco (USA), Tracy now operates her business in Adelaide, publishing educational and career-based publications and multi-media digital programs. Achievements • Winner of The 1989 New Achievers Award for Australia. • Australian Best Selling Author. • Finalist in the Business Woman of the Year. • Finalist in the Yellow Pages Small Business Awards. Television Experience • Burke’s Backyard (regular presenter 1998 - 2000). • The Midday Show (regular presenter 1994 - 1995). • WIN Today (regular presenter 1997). • Sixty Minutes (featured in 1990 and 1999).
    [Show full text]
  • Intermediate Leisure Leisure Activities Worksheet 4: TV Guide
    Intermediate Leisure Leisure Activities Worksheet 4: TV guide Copyright With the exception of the images contained in this document, this work is © Commonwealth of Australia 2011. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only for your personal, non- commercial use or use within your organisation for the purposes of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Use of all or part of this material must include the following attribution: © Commonwealth of Australia 2011 This document must be attributed as [Intermediate Leisure Leisure Activities – TV guide]. Any enquiries concerning the use of this material should be directed to: The Copyright Officer Department of Education and Training Location code C50MA10 GPO Box 9880 Canberra ACT 2601 or emailed to [email protected]. Images ©2011 Photos.com, a division of Getty Images. All rights reserved. Images reproduced with permission. Acknowledgements The AMEP is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. Disclaimer While the Department of Education and Training and its contributors have attempted to ensure the material in this booklet is accurate at the time of release, the booklet contains material on a range of matters that are subject to regular change. No liability for negligence or otherwise is assumed by the department or its contributors should anyone suffer a loss or damage as a result of relying on the information provided in this booklet. References to external websites are provided for the reader’s convenience and do not constitute endorsement of the information at those sites or any associated organisation, product or service.
    [Show full text]
  • Biography: John Charles Blaxland
    Biography: John Charles Blaxland John Blaxland is Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies, Director of the ANU Southeast Asia Institute and, since March 2017, Head (acting) of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at ANU, overseeing its three degree programs. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales. In addition, he is an active member of the ANU Academic Board as well as the Australian Army Journal editorial board and an occasional commentator in the print, television and radio media. He is a US Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative grant recipient, and speaks English, Thai and Spanish. John holds a PhD in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, an MA in History from ANU and a BA (Hons 1) from UNSW. He is a graduate of the Royal Thai Army Command & Staff College (dux, foreign students) and the Royal Military College, Duntroon (Blamey Scholar). He has extensive experience in the intelligence community including as the principal intelligence staff officer for the Australian brigade in East Timor in September 1999, as an intelligence exchange officer in Washington DC, as Director Joint Intelligence Operations (J2), at Headquarters Joint Operations Command (2006/7) and as a lead author of the three-volume history of ASIO. In addition he was Australia’s Defence Attaché to Thailand and Myanmar. He teaches “Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World” and supervises a number of students undertaking higher degrees by research. His publications and research interests concern intelligence and the security arms of government, Australian military history and strategy, defence studies, military operations (including East Timor, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan); international relations, notably on South-east Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Indonesia, South China Sea, ASEAN), and North America, (Canada/United States).
    [Show full text]
  • 20/10/2019 - 26/10/2019) 02:00 - 25:59 Total Individuals - Including Guests
    Consolidated Regional Top 20 Programs Regional Ranking Report - Free To Air Only Week 43 2019 (20/10/2019 - 26/10/2019) 02:00 - 25:59 Total Individuals - including Guests Combined Agg. Markets excl. TAS/WA* QLD NNSW SNSW VIC Rank Description Channel 000's 000's 000's 000's 000's 1 THE MASKED SINGER AUSTRALIA - THE FINAL REVEAL WIN 441 120 107 122 91 2 SEVEN NEWS Prime7/7QLD 385 131 81 83 90 3 THE BLOCK -SUN SCA Nine/NBN 381 74 121 91 94 4 SEVEN NEWS / TODAY TONIGHT Prime7/7QLD 379 131 70 85 92 5 THE GOOD DOCTOR Prime7/7QLD 349 114 79 75 81 6 THE MASKED SINGER AUSTRALIA - GRAND FINALE WIN 343 90 84 103 66 7 HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? WIN 326 85 94 84 63 8 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Prime7/7QLD 317 118 57 60 81 9 THE BLOCK -WED SCA Nine/NBN 309 69 95 67 78 10 THE BLOCK -TUE SCA Nine/NBN 308 60 102 64 82 11 THE BLOCK -MON SCA Nine/NBN 298 64 107 58 69 12 HOME AND AWAY Prime7/7QLD 288 99 63 57 69 13 MOTORBIKE COPS Prime7/7QLD 279 87 77 58 57 14 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Prime7/7QLD 279 96 50 52 81 15 NINE NEWS SUNDAY SCA Nine/NBN 277 44 115 54 65 16 TOTAL CONTROL-EV ABC 265 48 62 78 77 17 THE CHASE AUSTRALIA Prime7/7QLD 262 77 63 64 58 18 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Prime7/7QLD 262 78 50 71 63 19 RUGBY LEAGUE TEST MATCH - AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND -MATCH SCA Nine/NBN 254 80 96 65 12 20 A CURRENT AFFAIR SCA Nine/NBN 249 46 104 50 49 TAS Rank Description Channel 000's 1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Southern Cross Tas 79 2 SEVEN NEWS / TODAY TONIGHT Southern Cross Tas 68 .
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Muslim Leaders, Normalisaton and Social Integration
    AUSTRALIAN MUSLIM LEADERS, NORMALISATON AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION Mohammad Hadi Sohrabi Haghighat Thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2013 Swinburne University ABSTRACT Functionalism has been the dominant framework for the explanation of social integration. Policies for the integration of migrants in the West have mainly centred on the improvement of migrants’ socio-economic situation (employment, education and income). Nonetheless, for Muslim minorities in the West, including Australia, the functionalist conception of integration is inadequate. Although Muslim minorities are socio- economically disadvantaged, they are also subject to social exclusion based on their religion and culture. This is due to a longstanding historical ideological construction of Islam as stagnant, pre-modern, despotic, patriarchal and violent, in opposition to the progressive, modern, democratic, egalitarian and civilised West. This is to say that Muslims have been placed outside the space of ‘normal’ in western discourses. Muslims will not be able to fully integrate into Australian society unless their derogatory image changes. This study aims to explore the issue of social integration from the perspective of Australian Muslim leaders. It is argued that social integration can be defined as a process of normalisation. ‘Integrationist’ Muslim leaders struggle to normalise the image of Muslims and Islam in the Australian public sphere. Their efforts have both organisational and discursive aspects. This process of normalisation, however, is contested from both within and without. From within, there are Muslim ‘radicals’ and ‘isolationists’ who challenge the normalisation process. From without, the media’s disproportionate focus on provocative and radical Muslim voices challenges the integrationist leaders’ efforts.
    [Show full text]
  • Bad Aunty: Seven Years On, How ABC Lateline Sparked the Racist NT Intervention
    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bad Aunty: Seven Years On, How ABC Lateline Sparked The Racist NT Intervention By Chris Graham on June 21, 2015 A Howard government policy that decimated Aboriginal communities in 2006 is still reverberating today. Chris Graham takes a look at a scandal that the ABC would rather you not hear about. Self-praise is really no recommendation, so, in 2011, when television personality Tony Jones described ABC Lateline’s 2006 coverage of sexual violence in remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities – reporting which led directly to the 2007 NT intervention – as among the best he’d ever seen, I was a little underwhelmed. Jones, of course, is the former anchor of Lateline, now the face of the popular Q&A program. 2 My sense of unease wasn’t helped by the fact that Lateline’s coverage proved extremely popular with politicians. Generally speaking, when conservatives get ‘excited’ about Aboriginal affairs, some blackfella somewhere in the country is going to get screwed. But excited they got, and few more so than Dave Tollner, Country Liberal Party MP, and the Member for Fong Lim, in the Northern Territory parliament. In my career, I’ve only ever had one encounter with Tollner. It was in Alice Springs in 2009, when the Northern Territory parliament moved south to Alice Springs for a session, to ‘bring democracy to the people’. I sat in the public gallery directly behind Tollner throughout much of the proceedings. For several days I watched him surf Facebook on his laptop. Occasionally, he’d leap to his feet to direct some class-clown barb at the Opposition, only to sit back down and resume the Facebook hunt.
    [Show full text]
  • The Logics of Social News: How Buzzfeed, Junkee, and Pedestrian.Tv Are Making News More Engaging, Sociable, and Personal
    The Logics of Social News: How BuzzFeed, Junkee, and Pedestrian.tv are Making News More Engaging, Sociable, and Personal Edward Hurcombe BA(Hons). University of Melbourne Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Communication Creative Industries Faculty Queensland University of Technology 2019 ii Keywords BuzzFeed Junkee Pedestrian.tv News Journalism Digital journalism Audience engagement Sharing Personalisation Sociability Popular culture Social media Platforms Textual analysis Social media analytics iii Abstract In recent years, disruptive digital technologies, monopolising platforms, fragmented and partisan news publics, and failing revenue streams have led to growing concerns regarding the health of journalism. Yet a number of commercially successful news outlets, that share common stylistics and operate in similar ways, have arisen from these developments. Journalism researchers, however, currently lack categories in which understand and evaluate these outlets. In response, this thesis proposes, conceptualises, and illustrates the emerging genre of “social news”, comprising specific forms and practices that are recognisably journalistic yet deeply embedded in the everyday cultures of social media platforms and the broader Internet. Specifically, it examines three exemplary Australian born- digital publications – BuzzFeed Oz News, Junkee, and Pedestrian.tv. These outlets are critically evaluated using a mixed methods approach that combines textual analysis of content and self-representational
    [Show full text]
  • Week Thirteen Semester Two 2013 Honi Soit Honi
    week thirteen semester two 2013 honi soit honi Syria: Damascus is Burning p 12 Take a walk on the wild side p 14 Opinion competition winners p 18 Unigate Awards p 27 voices from the fringe DISCONTENTS Washington DC in Unseen, unheard, unwritten 4 the USSC In 2013, we’ve brought you ideas big It’s easy to underestimate a weekly society, have little contact with the out- Tim Anderson and small, new and old, left and right, student newspaper with a circulation side world, and are often ostracised but when it comes down to it, the one of 4000. We don’t have the reach or the upon their release for having a criminal thing we have not done is shy away from resources of bigger publications and record. Their voices, perpetually, are Faces behind the being shamelessly political. news outlets. Nor do we have the ability silenced. Which part of this process is 7 rhetoric Voicing dissent, critically engaging to influence social discourse on a regu- “correctional”? Astha Rajvanshi with the status quo and consistently lar basis like the mainstream media does More than half of this week’s paper is reporting on inherently political issues (vagina incidents aside). But we cater to written by women. Considering the per- like the staff strikes represent a robust a decidedly different sector of the popu- petual underrepresentation of women in The kindness of student voice, not a corrupt machine. lation and this is a privilege as much as it news publications, this is an important, 9 strangers Many may disagree with the death of is a restriction.
    [Show full text]