Beyond the fast and the furious: news coverage of the Robodebt scandal

Article

Coatney, Caryn. 2025. "Beyond the fast and the furious: news coverage of the Robodebt scandal." Communication Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2025.2523656
Article Title

Beyond the fast and the furious: news coverage of the Robodebt scandal

Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsCoatney, Caryn
Journal TitleCommunication Research and Practice
Year2025
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN2204-1451
2206-3374
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2025.2523656
Web Address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22041451.2025.2523656
AbstractThis article explores journalists’ techniques of purposeful pausing during Australia’s political scandal, Robodebt. It draws on conceptions of journalism as a time-conscious, interpretive community to conduct a qualitative analysis of the scandal news coverage and journalists’ published comments about their reporting. This study focuses on the journalistic representations about the changing news pace, pausing and peak times during the disintegration of the welfare debt-recovery scheme that led to Federal Court challenges, a royal commission and $1.8 billion dollar payout to victims. Contemporary media coverage of scandals has often been known for churning out sensationalised clickbait, spin and insider commentaries that appear disconnected from the public. This study finds that journalists increasingly affirmed the value of reflective inquiry, disrupted stereotyped spin and spent time to publicise self-criticism about ethical lapses in the watchdog role during the seemingly slow days and frenzied firestorms of the scandal reporting. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
KeywordsMedia-government relations; political journalism; scandal reporting; Robodebt
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470105. Journalism studies
430302. Australian history
Byline AffiliationsSchool of Humanities and Communication
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/zy7wx/beyond-the-fast-and-the-furious-news-coverage-of-the-robodebt-scandal

Log in to edit

Download files

Published Version
Beyond the fast and the furious news coverage of the Robodebt scandal.pdf
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File access level: Anyone

  • 3
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Spotlight on Journalism and Popular Heroism: The Rise from Tabloid Stars to Digital Activists
Coatney, Caryn. 2025. Spotlight on Journalism and Popular Heroism: The Rise from Tabloid Stars to Digital Activists. United Kingdom. Routledge.
Beyond the fast and the furious: how Australian journalists cover AI nudging©
Coatney, Caryn. 2024. "Beyond the fast and the furious: how Australian journalists cover AI nudging©." Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Communication Association 2024 Conference. Melbourne, Australia 25 - 28 Nov 2024 Australia.
"Journalistic Revolution": The Rise of Newswomen during Australia’s Press Wars, 1933–1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2024. ""Journalistic Revolution": The Rise of Newswomen during Australia’s Press Wars, 1933–1945." 74th Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference. Gold Coast, Australia 20 - 24 Aug 2024 Gold Coast, Queensland.
Research in Depth: The Rise of Newswomen During Australia’s Press Wars
Coatney, Caryn. 2024. "Research in Depth: The Rise of Newswomen During Australia’s Press Wars." Media Report to Women. 52 (3), pp. 6-11.
Extra! Extra! Tabloid justice!: The news panic about a celebrity spy©
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Extra! Extra! Tabloid justice!: The news panic about a celebrity spy©." 42nd Annual Australian and New Zealand Law and History Society (ANZLHS) Conference. Toowoomba, Australia 30 Nov - 02 Dec 2023 Australia.
The future of work: how John Curtin was calling for a new cooperative work ethic 80 years ago
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "The future of work: how John Curtin was calling for a new cooperative work ethic 80 years ago." The Conversation.
Shedding light on “Rough Justice”: The ABC digital story innovation team
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Shedding light on “Rough Justice”: The ABC digital story innovation team." 2023 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA 2023). Wellington, New Zealand 21 - 24 Nov 2023 New Zealand.
Golden Ages of Journalism
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Golden Ages of Journalism." 13th Australian Media Traditions Conference 2023. Toowoomba, Australia 20 - 21 Sep 2023 Australia.
Ronald Morgan (Ron) Richards (1928–2000)
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Ronald Morgan (Ron) Richards (1928–2000)." Australian Dictionary of Biography.
Representing Trust in Digital Journalism
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Representing Trust in Digital Journalism ." Media and Communication. 11 (4), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v11i4.6982
“Here comes John Curtin”: The historical consciousness of a journalists’ hero
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "“Here comes John Curtin”: The historical consciousness of a journalists’ hero." Historical Encounters. 10 (1), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.52289/hej10.101
‘New Forces’: How Classroom Textbooks Are Redefining Journalism
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "‘New Forces’: How Classroom Textbooks Are Redefining Journalism." Journalism and Mass Communication Educator. 78 (1), pp. 40-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776958221138702
Conversations with Danielle Cronin, Philip Howard and Julian Thomas
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Conversations with Danielle Cronin, Philip Howard and Julian Thomas." Coatney, Caryn (ed.) Investigative Journalism in Changing Times: Australian and Anglo-American Reporting. United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 170-181
Data investigations: A humanitarian turn
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Data investigations: A humanitarian turn." Coatney, Caryn (ed.) Investigative Journalism in Changing Times: Australian and Anglo-American Reporting. United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 135-149
A golden age? Myths and meaning
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "A golden age? Myths and meaning." Coatney, Caryn (ed.) Investigative Journalism in Changing Times: Australian and Anglo-American Reporting. United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 16-30
Introduction
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Introduction." Coatney, Caryn (ed.) Investigative Journalism in Changing Times: Australian and Anglo-American Reporting. United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 1-15
Afterword
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "Afterword." Coatney, Caryn (ed.) Investigative Journalism in Changing Times: Australian and Anglo-American Reporting. United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 182-184
“Good Australians Will Respond”: Transforming the Work Ethic in Popular Media, 1941–1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2023. "“Good Australians Will Respond”: Transforming the Work Ethic in Popular Media, 1941–1945 ." Journal of Australian Studies. 47 (1), pp. 128-141. https://doi.org/10.1080/14443058.2022.2135573
Power and compassion: John Curtin's journalist relations, 1941-1945©
Coatney, Caryn. 2021. "Power and compassion: John Curtin's journalist relations, 1941-1945©." Nolan, David (ed.) 2021 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association: Communication, Authority and Power (ANZCA 2021). Melbourne, Australia 06 - 09 Jul 2021 Melbourne, Australia.
Recovering an optimistic era: Chinese-Australian journalism from the 1920s to the 1940s
Coatney, Caryn. 2021. "Recovering an optimistic era: Chinese-Australian journalism from the 1920s to the 1940s." Dewhirst, Catherine and Scully, Richard (ed.) Voices of Challenge in Australia's Migrant and Minority Press. Cham, Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 83-106
'Show solidarity': Journalists’ anti-trolling networks©
Coatney, Caryn. 2022. "'Show solidarity': Journalists’ anti-trolling networks©." Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference. Australia. Australian and New Zealand Communication Association.
Transforming broadcast news: Robert G.Menzies and journalists©
Coatney, C. M.. 2022. "Transforming broadcast news: Robert G.Menzies and journalists©." 72nd Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference. Paris, France 23 May - 01 Jun 2022 United States. International Communication Association.
Performing compassion: John Curtin and journalists, 1941-1945©
Coatney, Caryn. 2021. "Performing compassion: John Curtin and journalists, 1941-1945©." 71st Annual International Communication Association Conference: Engaging the Essential Work of Care: Communication, Connectedness, and Social Justice. Washington, United States 27 - 31 May 2021 Washington DC, United States.
‘Amazing Stories’: Australian Newspapers and Anti-Spy Panic, 1910–1945©
Coatney, Caryn. 2022. "‘Amazing Stories’: Australian Newspapers and Anti-Spy Panic, 1910–1945© ." Media History. 28 (4), pp. 494-509. https://doi.org/10.1080/13688804.2021.1947213
Don’t feed the trolls? Emerging journalism practices for fighting anti-Semitism©
Coatney, Caryn. 2021. "Don’t feed the trolls? Emerging journalism practices for fighting anti-Semitism©." Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: an interdisciplinary journal. 13 (1), pp. 62-78. https://doi.org/10.5130/ccs.v13.i1.7421
Reporting on war: Press Gallery interactions with Australian Prime Ministers, 1941-2013
Coatney, Caryn. 2020. "Reporting on war: Press Gallery interactions with Australian Prime Ministers, 1941-2013." Wake, Alex and Morieson, Lucy (ed.) Journalism Education & Research Association of Australia Conference (JERAA 2020). Melbourne, Australia 02 - 04 Dec 2020 Melbourne, Australia.
Communicating Compassionately in a Crisis: John Curtin and Journalists, 1941-1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2020. "Communicating Compassionately in a Crisis: John Curtin and Journalists, 1941-1945." International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 10 (12), pp. 36-45. https://doi.org/10.30845/ijhss.v10n12p5
The Australian Nexus: At the Center of the Storm by Randell Doyle
Coatney, Caryn. 2019. "The Australian Nexus: At the Center of the Storm by Randell Doyle ." Australian Historical Studies. 50 (1), pp. 145-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/1031461X.2019.1559442
Look at things other than the rice paper umbrellas: Australian news images of Asia, 1979-2009
Coatney, Caryn. 2019. "Look at things other than the rice paper umbrellas: Australian news images of Asia, 1979-2009." Dewhirst, Catherine and Connors, Libby (ed.) 38th Australian Historical Association Conference: Local Communities, Global Networks (AHA 2019). Toowoomba, Australia 08 - 12 Jul 2019 Toowoomba, Australia.
Managing the news: press gallery investigations of terrorism, 2010-2013©
Coatney, Caryn. 2019. "Managing the news: press gallery investigations of terrorism, 2010-2013©." Martin, Fiona and Van Heekeren, Margaret (ed.) 2019 Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia Conference: Journalisms - Plurarity, Precarity and Possibilities. Sydney, Australia 03 - 06 Dec 2019 Sydney, Australia.
Beyond the virtual factory: the journalist as digital manager©
Coatney, Caryn Michelle. 2019. "Beyond the virtual factory: the journalist as digital manager©." Fisher, Caroline (ed.) 2019 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference: Making Sense: Data, Publics & Storytelling (ANZCA 2019). Canberra, Australia 03 - 05 Jul 2019 Canberra, Australia.
Media rhetoric of post-heroic leadership: Julia Gillard, Barack Obama and Press Gallery journalists, 2010–2013©
Coatney, Caryn. 2018. "Media rhetoric of post-heroic leadership: Julia Gillard, Barack Obama and Press Gallery journalists, 2010–2013©." Media International Australia Incorporating Culture and Policy: quarterly journal of media research and resources. 167 (1), pp. 71-87. https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878X18766095
Reporting the retreat: war correspondents in Burma by Philip Woods
Coatney, Caryn. 2018. "Reporting the retreat: war correspondents in Burma by Philip Woods." History (Washington): Reviews of New Books. 46 (3), pp. 81-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/03612759.2018.1436301
'Masters of the Gags': cartoonist visions of war and peace, 1941-1945©
Coatney, Caryn Michelle. 2018. "'Masters of the Gags': cartoonist visions of war and peace, 1941-1945©." McIntyre, Phillip, Goggin, Gerard, Martin, Fiona and Hutchinson, Jonathon (ed.) 2017 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference: Communication Worlds: Access, Voice, Diversity, Engagement (ANZCA 2017). Sydney, Australia 04 - 07 Jul 2017 Sydney, Australia.
Media rhetoric of human rights©
Coatney, Caryn. 2017. "Media rhetoric of human rights©." GSTF Journal on Media & Communications. 3 (2), pp. 21-26.
Contemporary news management: managerial functions in journalism©
Coatney, Caryn. 2016. "Contemporary news management: managerial functions in journalism©." Allen, Lin (ed.) 5th Annual International Conference on Journalism & Mass Communications (JMComm 2016). Singapore 10 - 11 Oct 2016 Singapore. https://doi.org/10.5176/2301-3710_JMComm16.56
'Humanity can never let this happen again': remembrance, resistance and the alt-right©
Coatney, Caryn. 2017. "'Humanity can never let this happen again': remembrance, resistance and the alt-right©." Biggins, Felicity, Fulton, Janet, Koutsoukos, Christina and Scott, Paul (ed.) 2017 Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia Conference: The Second Coming of Journalism? Rebirth, Resurrection, Renewal, Resistance, Resurgence. Newcastle, Australia 04 - 06 Dec 2017 Sydney, Australia.
Unmasking codes of power: expanding the relatively new media to escalate war, 1941-45
Coatney, Caryn. 2014. "Unmasking codes of power: expanding the relatively new media to escalate war, 1941-45." 2014 Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia Conference: Breaking the Codes - Journalism, Technology, Information and Education in the 21st Century. Sydney, Australia 24 - 27 Nov 2014 Sydney, Australia.
Recovering a radio ethos: how John Curtin and Franklin D. Roosevelt created conversational spaces with journalists, 1941-1945©
Coatney, Caryn. 2016. "Recovering a radio ethos: how John Curtin and Franklin D. Roosevelt created conversational spaces with journalists, 1941-1945©." McIntyre, Phillip and Fulton, Janet (ed.) 2016 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference: Creating Space in the Fifth Estate (ANZCA 2016). Newcastle, Australia 06 - 08 Jul 2016 Newcastle, Australia.
Curtin: a fighter for the underdog
Coatney, Caryn. 2016. "Curtin: a fighter for the underdog." Australian Prime Ministers [website].
Recovering a radio ethos: how John Curtin created conversational spaces with journalists, 1941-1945
Coatney, Caryn M.. 2016. "Recovering a radio ethos: how John Curtin created conversational spaces with journalists, 1941-1945." Global Media Journal: Australian Edition. 10 (2).
John Curtin: how he won over the media
Coatney, Caryn. 2016. John Curtin: how he won over the media. North Melbourne, Australia. Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Humor as a wartime communication strategy: Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Curtin and allied journalists, 1941-1945
Coatney, Caryn Michelle. 2015. "Humor as a wartime communication strategy: Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Curtin and allied journalists, 1941-1945." 27th International Humor Conference of the International Society for Humor Studies 2015. Oakland, California 29 Jun - 03 Jul 2015 Oakland, California.
Communication techniques for blended learning: Barack Obama and Julia Gillard, 2010-2013
Coatney, Caryn. 2015. "Communication techniques for blended learning: Barack Obama and Julia Gillard, 2010-2013." 12th Annual Online Learning Consortium Blended Learning Conference and Workshop 2015. Denver, Colorado 07 - 08 Jul 2015 United States.
Personalising politics in a global crisis: the media communication techniques of John Curtin and Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Pacific War, 1941-45
Coatney, Caryn. 2015. "Personalising politics in a global crisis: the media communication techniques of John Curtin and Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Pacific War, 1941-45." Communication, Politics and Culture. 48 (1), pp. 66-84.
From Burma battles to 'the bright lights of Brisbane': how an Australian wartime prime minister won, lost, and recaptured American journalists’ support, 1941 to 1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2015. "From Burma battles to 'the bright lights of Brisbane': how an Australian wartime prime minister won, lost, and recaptured American journalists’ support, 1941 to 1945." Journalism History. 40 (4), pp. 229-239.
Menzies, Fadden and Moreton's 'Youthful' Captain: the fall and rise of Australian coalition-press relations, 1939-1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2015. "Menzies, Fadden and Moreton's 'Youthful' Captain: the fall and rise of Australian coalition-press relations, 1939-1945." Queensland History Journal. 22 (11), pp. 812-828.
Staking out Australia's 'effective voice' in the world: John Curtin and the war correspondents, 1941-1945©
Coatney, Caryn. 2014. "Staking out Australia's 'effective voice' in the world: John Curtin and the war correspondents, 1941-1945©." Research Seminar 2014: School of Arts and Communication, University of Southern Queensland. Toowoomba, Australia 12 Nov 2014 Toowoomba, Australia.
Gazing into a kaleidoscope of world news: an insight into Australian city editors' views of some developing neighbours
Coatney, Caryn. 2008. "Gazing into a kaleidoscope of world news: an insight into Australian city editors' views of some developing neighbours." Baldwin, Janet, Baker, Janice and Fordham, Helen (ed.) 9th Humanities Postgraduate Conference (EPEC 2008): Engaging place(s)/engaging culture(s). Perth, Australia 05 - 08 Nov 2008 Perth, Australia.
John Curtin: Prime Minister and journalist
Coatney, Caryn. 2011. "John Curtin: Prime Minister and journalist." Museum of Australian Democracy.
Curtin is doing a splendid job: how a wartime labour Prime Minister won press support, 1941-45
Coatney, Caryn. 2009. "Curtin is doing a splendid job: how a wartime labour Prime Minister won press support, 1941-45." Oliver, Bobie (ed.) Labour history in the new century. Perth, Australia. Black Swan Press. pp. 91-101
John Curtin and Franklin Delano Roosevelt: a cross-national case study of media agenda setting in the U.S.-Australian alliance, 1941-1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2010. "John Curtin and Franklin Delano Roosevelt: a cross-national case study of media agenda setting in the U.S.-Australian alliance, 1941-1945." Escobar-Lemmon, Maria and Nicholson, Stephen (ed.) 68th Annual Midwest Political Science Association National Conference (MPSA 2010). Chicago, United States 22 - 25 Apr 2010 Bloomington, IN. United States.
History is theatre: the secrets to the success of the Curtin and Roosevelt mass media strategies, 1941-5
Coatney, Caryn. 2010. "History is theatre: the secrets to the success of the Curtin and Roosevelt mass media strategies, 1941-5." Melbourne Historical Journal. 38, pp. 39-56.
Great war leaders' successful media strategies for business: how Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Curtin won journalists' support
Coatney, Caryn. 2012. "Great war leaders' successful media strategies for business: how Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Curtin won journalists' support." Jalbert, Mercedes (ed.) Global Conference on Business and Finance (IBFR 2012). Honolulu, United States 03 - 06 Jan 2012 Hilo, HI. United States.
Read all about it: John Curtin's key to generating positive news coverage, 1941-1945
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.
War secrets: how an Australian Prime Minister developed investigative journalism techniques, 1941-1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2014. "War secrets: how an Australian Prime Minister developed investigative journalism techniques, 1941-1945." Resiliency in Investigative Journalism Conference 2014. Springfield, Australia 11 Jul 2014 Springfield, Australia.
Extending news interviews: how John Curtin influenced Australian political journalism, 1941-1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2013. "Extending news interviews: how John Curtin influenced Australian political journalism, 1941-1945." Hanusch, Folker and English, Peter (ed.) Journalism Education Association of Australia Conference (JEAA 2013): Redrawing the Boundaries: Journalism Research, Education and Professional Culture in Times of Change. Sunshine Coast, Australia 02 - 04 Dec 2013 South Australia.
Influencing international news: Robert G. Menzies and wartime journalists, 1939-1966
Coatney, Caryn. 2013. "Influencing international news: Robert G. Menzies and wartime journalists, 1939-1966." Hanusch, Folker and English, Peter (ed.) Journalism Education Association of Australia Conference (JEAA 2013): Redrawing the Boundaries: Journalism Research, Education and Professional Culture in Times of Change. Sunshine Coast, Australia 02 - 04 Dec 2013 South Australia.
John Curtin's forgotten media legacy: the impact of a wartime Prime Minister on news management techniques, 1941-45
Coatney, Caryn. 2013. "John Curtin's forgotten media legacy: the impact of a wartime Prime Minister on news management techniques, 1941-45." Labour History: a journal of labour and social history. 105 (1), pp. 63-78. https://doi.org/10.5263/labourhistory.105.0063
Successful media strategies for business: how Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Curtin won journalists' support
Coatney, Caryn. 2012. "Successful media strategies for business: how Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Curtin won journalists' support." Review of Business and Finance Studies. 3 (2), pp. 55-67.
Public relations techniques for leaders in a crisis: Mackenzie King and John Curtin in the Canadian-Australian War Alliance, 1941-1945
Coatney, Caryn. 2012. "Public relations techniques for leaders in a crisis: Mackenzie King and John Curtin in the Canadian-Australian War Alliance, 1941-1945." Global Media Journal. 5 (2), pp. 5-22.