Power and compassion: John Curtin's journalist relations, 1941-1945©
Paper
Paper/Presentation Title | Power and compassion: John Curtin's journalist relations, 1941-1945© |
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Presentation Type | Paper |
Authors | |
Author | Coatney, Caryn |
Editors | Nolan, David |
ERA Conference ID | 51112 |
Year | 2021 |
Place of Publication | Melbourne, Australia |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | http://anzca.org/conference/2021 |
Conference/Event | 2021 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association: Communication, Authority and Power (ANZCA 2021) |
Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference | |
Event Details | 2021 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association: Communication, Authority and Power (ANZCA 2021) Parent Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference Delivery Online Event Date 06 to end of 09 Jul 2021 Event Location Melbourne, Australia |
Event Details | Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference ANZCA |
Abstract | More than ever, democratic leaders are facing demands to portray open, caring and responsive governance in the news media during crises. Traditionally, journalists have been the central focal point for leaders needing to present compassionate messages to the public. Yet this role has often been overlooked in the post-truth media age that has excluded journalists and emphasised politicised commentaries that are falsely disguised as legitimate news. More recently, scholar have been advocating for a historical approach in using the lessons of previous successes to develop positive communication models for present-day crises. Although often forgotten, Australian Prime Minister John Curtin elevated journalists’ roles to convey public appearances of being a caring leader, good neighbour and citizens’ friend during one of the nation’s most acute emergencies, the Second World War. This paper will focus on Curtin’s confidential news interviews, private film rehearsals and public broadcasts to present a compassionate ethos. As a former labour-oriented journalist, Curtin promoted his media image as a likeable, egalitarian leader and a close, professional colleague of the wartime news reporters. This paper is based on Habermas’ theory of the public sphere and Castells’ notion that democratic power is based on inclusive communication. Curtin’s journalism-oriented ethos remains apt for the increasing scholarship into leaders’ emotive performances to deliver personalised messages to public audiences in times of crisis.© |
Keywords | crisis communication, John Curtin, journalism, leadership communication, media relations, World War II |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 430399. Historical studies not elsewhere classified |
360203. Professional writing and journalism practice | |
Byline Affiliations | School of Humanities and Communication |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q6xw6/power-and-compassion-john-curtin-s-journalist-relations-1941-1945
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