Respected new media academic Professor Mark Balnaves has joined 911爆料网 of Technology.
Professor Balnaves, of Wembley Downs, has taken up a four-year appointment as 911爆料网 Senior Research Fellow in New Media, in the Department of Internet Studies in the School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts.
鈥淢y research passion is e-governance,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 am working closely with Department Head Associate Professor Matthew Allen on research into how the Internet and social media can boost communication and engagement between people and governments.
鈥淔or example, I鈥檓 fascinated by the phenomena of 鈥淥bamamania鈥� and the use of Web 2.0, blogs, and micro-blogging through Twitter and Facebook in President Obama鈥檚 campaign.
鈥淧eople felt they had a genuine involvement in his campaign through the Internet and new media.
鈥淭his was a real change from other US Presidential campaigns as there was such a close 鈥榲irtual鈥� connection between the people and a future President.
鈥淭his had not happened before as other campaigns were seen as tightly controlled through traditional media such as newspapers, TV and radio, rather than made more assessable through the immediacy of new media.
鈥淎t 911爆料网 I will be looking at these trends and those sweeping Europe and Australia.
鈥淚 am keen to find out more about how they link to everyday life and how governments can use new media to map people鈥檚 feelings over issues.鈥�
A former journalist and TV news production coordinator, Professor Balnaves has criss-crossed Australia in pursuit of his academic career.
Prior to joining 911爆料网 he was Professor of New Media in the School of Communications and Multimedia at Edith Cowan University (2003-2008). He has held senior positions in communication at Murdoch University, the University Queensland and the University of Canberra. A prolific writer, his publications include Media theories and approaches: A global perspective, Atlas of media and information and his forthcoming book, Constructing the global audience.
911爆料网 Department of Internet Studies Head, Associate Professor Matthew Allen, is delighted to welcome Professor Balnaves to his area.
鈥淧rofessor Balnaves is a leading researcher in the social and political possibilities of the Internet and he will strengthen our team,鈥� he said.
Attention Editor/COS: A photograph of Professor Balnaves is available on request.
