The decisions made in Parliament House affect everyone, yet even decision-makers find it difficult to stay up-to-date with the latest research and access expe...
The Conversation
Public policy editor to provide better information that supports greater civic engagement
GOAL
$150,000
australia > ACT > Metro and regional
03/06/2024 > 30/06/2025
FIELD OF INTEREST
- Civic engagement and leadership
- Environment conservation and climate change
TARGET POPULATION
- General population
- People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
PROJECT SUMMARY
The decisions made in Parliament House affect everyone, yet even decision-makers find it difficult to stay up-to-date with the latest research and access expert analysis. So much political reporting focuses on power games and political horse races, rather than the key issues of public interest. What’s happening in committee rooms and the public sector remains hidden, leaving the public policy debate short of facts, insight and useful ideas.
Bridging media know-how with the deep expertise of the academy, The Conversation is perfectly positioned to bring something new to public policy discourse.
We will hire a Canberra-based Public Policy Editor to follow policymaking and discussions of key issues. The editor will identify opportunities where The Conversation can help inform decisions and work with academics to share their research and expertise with policymakers and a wider audience. Beyond merely informing decision-makers, our objective is to encourage a more engaged and discerning citizenry. Our accessible content, free to read and republish, aims to empower individuals with the information needed to foster greater civic engagement and informed decision-making.
PROJECT OUTCOMES
The work will add an important new dimension to our existing coverage. Already, we know that 14% of our authors are contacted by government or policymakers and 7% are invited to contribute to briefing papers or submissions to parliament. Our journalism has the potential to shape policy discussions and influence legislative outcomes, resulting in tangible improvements to public policy.
We will multiply the impact of our journalism by engaging more closely with the public service and politicians to identify knowledge gaps that can be met with relevant research and expertise.
Our work is free to republish under Creative Commons. Our republishing team will build on existing relationships to seed our articles with broadcast and legacy media, professional publications and other information providers across education, health and the public service.
Additionally, we will access this funding to grow our reach and engagement on new channels to ensure evidence-based news and information is available to people (especially young people) on the platforms they use. To make this happen, we will turn our journalism into regular, engaging short-form video and audio formats, transforming complex policy topics into accessible formats that resonate with younger generations of news consumers.
The rise of AI-generated 'pink slime' websites, which are imitation news platforms created by partisan groups with specific agendas, presents a considerable threat to the integrity of public discourse. By investing in fact-based journalism, we can counteract the spread of misinformation and provide a trusted source of reliable information for our audience. The Public Policy Editor role will be instrumental in elevating the quality and impact of our public policy coverage, ultimately fostering greater civic engagement and informed decision-making among our audience.
The Conversation
The Conversation publishes evidence-based journalism written by experts to explain the news and share research with the public, allowing for better quality public conversations and decision-making. We aim to be the first choice for readers looking for independent, factual news analysis and for academics wanting to translate and share their research. By pairing academics with editors, we help academics learn to better communicate with the public. To reach the widest possible audience, our content is free to read and reproduce. We strengthen journalism by providing content, ideas and talent for other media to follow up.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
TOTAL BUDGET: $225,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Donations from Conversation readers (confirmed) | $25,000 |
| Existing foundation partner (unconfirmed) | $50,000 |
| Funding Gap (unconfirmed) | $150,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Salary and on-costs for editor inc super, equipment and editorial tools | $150,000 |
| Audio and video development including producer, presenter and animation support | $60,000 |
| Marketing campaign to amplify audio/video content including paid ads on social media platforms | $15,000 |
Support Public policy editor to provide better information that supports greater civic engagement
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