University journalism programs launch new storytelling platform

Swinburne University of Technology is collaborating with 10 other Australian university journalism programs to create a platform for public interest reporting and storytelling.

The Junction, launched today, showcases the best articles being produced by Australian university programs and explores new ways for journalism students across the country to work together.

“Swinburne journalism and media students now benefit from two outputs for their work – the Swinburne department’s online publication The Standard and now the national title The Junction,” says Swinburne’s Associate Professor Colleen Murrell. 

Unique publication model

The Junction’s editor, Swinburne Adjunct Associate Professor Andrew Dodd, says, “The Junction has a novel publication model. All of the member journalism programs are able to publish direct to the platform rather than through a central commissioning and gatekeeping process.”

In addition to Swinburne, the participating universities comprise Edith Cowan University, University of NSW, Southern Cross University, University of Canberra, University of Newcastle, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, RMIT University, Deakin University and Monash University.

Associate Professor Dodd, Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne, says, “The publication provides a platform for universities to work together on projects and to cover issues and tell stories in new ways.

“Together we can do so much more than any one university can working alone. Together, the students and staff of Australia’s university journalism programs make up the biggest newsroom in the country.

“The Junction will showcase the rich store of talent to be found in Australian journalism programs and will become a means to draw readers from across the country back to the many fantastic publications being produced by respective journalism schools.”

Victorian Election Coverage

Coinciding with the launch, Swinburne and five other Victorian universities are working together on The Junction to cover the November 24 state election.

“This is a great example of how the site can bring students together for the benefit of general audiences,” says Associate Professor Dodd.

Dr Kayt Davies, Deputy Editor and Head of Edith Cowan University’s journalism major, says, “The role of the editorial board is to steer the site and create opportunities for universities to work together to produce high-quality journalism for general audiences.

“Australia’s journalism schools have highly experienced journalists serving as mentors and lecturers, so it is fitting that they use those skills to promote the best of their students’ work.”

The Junction is published by the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia (JERAA) on behalf of Australia’s journalism programs.

JERAA President, Professor Matthew Ricketson, says, "The Junction is an important new venture that JERAA sees as an integral to its mission of improving standards of teaching journalism and fostering innovation in journalism."

The Junction is owned and published by the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia

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