Hello, blog, it’s been awhile. I’ll dispense with the reflex apologies, and just say that it’s been a busy semester with two unit coordinations and the new role of Convenor of journalism at UC. Yes, yes #firstworldproblems.
Anyway, I have commented recently on Lindsay Tanner’s book, which I found interesting (if flawed) because it overlaps with a particular thread in my research in recent months.
In a bout of self-promotion on Twitter last I mentioned a paper whose concerns overlap with Tanner’s book that’s under peer review for an international journal at the moment. Rather than email everybody who expressed an interest, I thought I’d throw it up on the blog for people to download at their leisure. Here it is!
The very, very short version of the argument is that Rudd’s rise and precipitous fall can be understood in terms of his engagement with celebrity media, and the reaction to that engagement on the part of political journalists. There’s more to it, though, at 8000+ words.
A much shorter version of this argument has just been published at Celebrity Studies for those who are able to access it.
Feedback welcome, as always.
I hope to be back writing a bit more on here in the breather we get from teaching over Winter, when I have lots of research and writing planned.