Read all about it: John Curtin's key to generating positive news coverage, 1941-1945

Paper

Coatney, Caryn. 2010. "Read all about it: John Curtin's key to generating positive news coverage, 1941-1945." Lunn, Julie, Baker, Janice and Gerbaz, Alex (ed.) 10th Humanities Graduate Research Conference 2009: Creative Margins. Perth, Australia 05 - 06 Nov 2009 Perth, Australia.
Paper/Presentation Title

Read all about it: John Curtin's key to generating positive news coverage, 1941-1945

Presentation TypePaper
Authors
AuthorCoatney, Caryn
EditorsLunn, Julie, Baker, Janice and Gerbaz, Alex
Journal or Proceedings TitleProceedings of the 10th Humanities Graduate Research Conference 2009
Number of Pages33
Year2010
Place of PublicationPerth, Australia
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttp://hgsoconference.curtin.edu.au/local/pdf/Coatney.pdf
Conference/Event10th Humanities Graduate Research Conference 2009: Creative Margins
Event Details
10th Humanities Graduate Research Conference 2009: Creative Margins
Event Date
05 to end of 06 Nov 2009
Event Location
Perth, Australia
Abstract

As a forceful orator, skilful writer and former hard-hitting journalist, Australia's wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin, led significant innovations that transformed the nation's media and created a legacy in political communications. Yet a major gap exists in the literature about Curtin's use of the mass news media to secure popular support for his World War II initiatives. The proposed conference paper aims to take his journalism strategies away from the academic margins. I will investigate the following question: How did Curtin achieve such success in his management of the news media? The paper will focus on this Prime Minister's groundbreaking initiatives in the press, film and radio broadcasts. My research will be located in the field of scholarship developed by John Curtin historians such as Bobbie Oliver and David Black, political scientist Chris Hubbard, as well as based on the theories of journalism experts Steve Mickler and David Pyvis. Within this context, the paper will argue that Curtin was a brilliant media strategist due to his persuasive skills in influencing reporters to support his foreign policies, providing valuable lessons for managing information needs during global conflicts.

KeywordsWorld War 11; Australia; media control; strategies; john Curtin; journalism; mass news media; political communication
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470105. Journalism studies
430302. Australian history
520599. Social and personality psychology not elsewhere classified
Public Notes

This publication is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for the purposes of study, research, or review, but is subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source.

Byline AffiliationsCurtin University of Technology
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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