Media & Communications - Projects

The new services industry model: implications for audio-visual media

ARC Discovery grant

Julian Thomas is working on a three-year project, commencing in 2002, examining important current changes in the understanding of audio-visual media. This project is a collaboration with Professor Tom O'Regan (Griffith University), Professor Stuart Cunningham (Queensland University of Technology), and Professor Elizabeth Jacka (University of Technology, Sydney).

The project is concerned with a new "services industry model", developed by governments, academics, industry players and international organisations to map future directions and policies for audio-visual industries. However, little attention has been given to how this model may apply to the complex cultural and social role of audio-visual media.

The planned research aims to fill this gap through a series of substantial publications on four key problems: the conversion to digital transmission platforms; public broadcasting and its future role; international policy dynamics; and the re-evaluation of longstanding domestic social and cultural policy objectives.