The intersection of national and transnational news reporting in the new media environment will be a major focus of a journalism conference at the University of Melbourne on July 16 and 17.

Organised by Associate Professor Ingrid Volkmer, of the University’s Media and Communication Program, the conference Journalism in the 21st Century: Between Globalization and National Identity, will explore the role of journalism in a globalised news sphere.

"Not only is traditional media being transformed, but the role of national media has completely changed," explains Associate Professor Volkmer.  "With instant 24/7 digital communication, Australian media outlets are available worldwide, and a local newspaper can be accessed from around the world.  This is not trivial as it has consequences for covering stories, particularly in times of crisis."

Associate Professor Volkmer says current debate on how the internet is affecting media organisations is superficial, focused mainly on business models and the effect of loss of funding from print advertising.

"Of course, journalism and news outlets do not function without money. However, what is at stake here are, in my view, two related issues: The first is the massive transformation of the role of new forms of transnational journalism within societies, and the second is the issue of quality in reportage.

"The Internet is having a huge effect on journalism through a new form of ‘communicative power’, and even creating new forms of ‘global’ legitimacy of national governments and even national political systems. You see these developments in the current debate about national strategies to handle the global economic crisis. National approaches are discussed in a global context.

"You see this also in election campaigns.  When you follow the election crisis in Iran, it is interesting to see how trans-national communication has gained ‘local’ influence within such a conflict - and may even end up helping to legitimise a change of government."

The conference Journalism in the 21st Century: Between Globalization and National Identity, presented by the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, will be held July 16 and 17.

More information: http://www.culture-commun...

Keynote speakers include: Philip Seib (USC Annenberg, California), Barbie Zelizer (Annenberg School, Philadelphia), Ralph J Begleiter (University of Delaware & former CNN World Affairs Correspondent), Sarmila Bose (Dept of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford), Michael Gawenda (Centre for Advanced Journalism, University of Melbourne).