By Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Communication, Deakin University
Amid the tumult over US President Donald Trump’s latest assault on press freedom, it’s easy to lose sight of what exactly journalism is and why, when done well, it carries real weight. Good journalism provides information that those in positions of power don’t want the public to know. Yes, it’s important to recognise that beyond the president’s habitual bully-bluster schtick, the barring of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House violates the first amendment of the Constitution protecting press freedom. So outrageous is the ban that the three news outlets are suing…
(Full Story)
|
By William Partlett, Associate Professor of Public Law, The University of Melbourne
Wednesday’s opening hearing was short and technical. But the commission signalled it is willing to act fast and extend its inquiry to the very top.
(Full Story)
|
By Charlotte Markowitsch, PhD Candidate in Popular Music Studies, RMIT University
“I’m not a nice boy and I never was,” Angry Anderson sang on Rose Tattoo’s 1978 debut album. It was an effective mission statement for one of Australian rock’s most recognisable vocalists. Gary “Angry” Anderson became a well known figure in Australian popular culture. As frontman of Rose Tattoo, he was central to the hard edged Oz Rock tradition that grew from Australia’s pub circuit. In my research as a rock sociologist, Anderson is a key reference point for how listeners define Australian rock and its values. Much of that influence came from how successfully Anderson…
(Full Story)
|
By Alison Garden, Senior Lecturer and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, School of Arts, English and Languages, Queen's University Belfast
The following story is runner up in The Conversation Prize for writers 2026, a competition run in partnership with Faber and Curtis Brown. Read more about the competition here. A woman is handing out paper cups of squash and flat lemonade at the back of a parochial hall in Belfast. This woman – I’ll call her Charlotte* – is there with her husband, helping out at a disco for the Catholic Church’s teenage congregants.…
(Full Story)
|
By Emily Robinson, Professor in British Studies (Politics), University of Sussex
A medieval island that was home to a wealthy city continues to fascinate 800 years after it disappeared beneath the waves.
(Full Story)
|
By Prachatai
“If you’re a bad student in your school, maybe it’s because you’re rebellious. Maybe it’s because you’re brave enough to question your teacher or challenge their power.“
(Full Story)
|
By Dennis B. Desmond, Lecturer, Cyberintelligence and Cybercrime Investigations, University of the Sunshine Coast
Earlier this week, the ABC reported a cybersecurity expert hacking a BYD Shark 6 hybrid ute. The expert gained control of the Chinese-made vehicle’s locks, headlights, and audio and video, saying the task “was easier than we were expecting”. The ABC also reported concerns that cars made by BYD and
(Full Story)
|
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
The first generation to grow up with AI may also be the last one anyone thinks to ask about it – and that has to change, the UN's top human rights official said on Tuesday.
(Full Story)
|
By Adam Andreotta, Lecturer, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University
WA’s live facial recognition technology was deemed successful. But what happens when it fails, and who bears the burden when it does?
(Full Story)
|
By Adrienne Matthys, Casual Academic (Gerontology and Human Services) and Research Assistant, Charles Sturt University
What do Australians with dementia think about voluntary assisted dying? Until recently, no researchers had thought to ask. Our two small studies change that. These are the first to include Australians with dementia in research about voluntary assisted dying. We found Australians with dementia who are frightened of what’s ahead, and who want a choice in how they…
(Full Story)
|