The Yarn: Recent Episodes
Centre for Advancing Journalism
The Yarn is a podcast showcasing work from The Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne. It features original reporting by students, content from The Citizen publication, as well as talks and events held by the Centre.
This is the first episode in our new three-part series, Somebody's Watching - and it’s about Screentime. In this episode, we meet people who perform for the screen. But in the economy of attention, both performers and watchers are being surveilled. We meet a streamer who games in front of thousands, we visit a cafe built on viral dessert pastry stuffed with pistachio and wrapped in marshmallow, and we are introduced a cat who has learned to high five for the camera. We also are shown how we can be seduced into loving this surveillance, by a decade of our own data, gift-wrapped and handed back to us.
Stories by Hope Kloppenburg, Yuyao Zhao, Megan Nicole Yin and Siena Kinkela. Hosted by Preeshita Shah.
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On Chinese social media, political influencers risk censorship with every post.
On today’s episode of The Yarn, we speak to feminist content creators from China and Australia about their differing experiences, both online and in real life.
This episode was created by Rachel Liu, Jinghe Huang, Yufei Li, and Zijun Qi.
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Food can provide far more than just sustenance. For many, meals are a pivotal link to memory, identity, and belonging.
On today’s episode of The Yarn, our reporters explore the transformative power of food. They speak to a gardener growing Chinese vegetables in Australia, a baker building community through a cake club, and others who turn to food for multifaceted nourishment.
This episode was created by Kunfan Bai, Zhenxi Zeng, Zhoujun Cai, Qianrui Lu, and Ruiying Tang.
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This week on The Yarn, we explore the benefits of volunteering.
Volunteers from aged care homes, food delivery programs, and elsewhere explain how small contributions can make a big difference in their local communities.
This episode was created by Tianxiao Zhou, Sophie Sewell, Yuqing Hao, Lijing Zhu, and Shumin He.
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Melbourne’s Teddy Bear Hospital might sound childish, but it’s where medical students practice vital skills (albeit with stuffed animals as patients). It’s one of several unorthodox learning methods explored in this week’s episode of The Yarn.
This episode was created by Erielle Sudario, Lewis Weir, Yuxuan Qiang, Zongqi Liu, and Tongfei Zhang.
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Last week, we heard from international students struggling with fee hikes. Today, we explore the ongoing challenges once they finish their studies.
We speak to graduates about the application process for post-study work visas, the completive job market, and the unfair disadvantages they face compared to permanent residents.
This episode was created by Hailing Luo, Sihan Ren, Ashley Cai, and Xiaoyu Liu.
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Today, we talk to international students feeling the crunch of the University of Melbourne’s fee hikes.
For three years running, their enrolment costs have risen by seven per cent. On top of this, they’re dealing with a rental crisis, demanding coursework, and restrictive limits on working hours.
This episode was created by Beatrix Chirnside, Rae Zhang, Harry Robertson, and Fangning Dong.
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In this episode, we’re exploring the motivations behind acts of kindness.
We speak to Victorians working in homelessness support, sex worker advocacy, and other fields about why they’re so dedicated to their causes.
This episode was created by Michael Saliba, Alexandra Nevill, Yunqian Shi, Ruonan Yang, and Hope Kloppenburg.
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In the words of Joan Baez, action is the antidote to despair.
Today on The Yarn, we’re sharing stories of resistance and resilience, from pro-Palestine activists fighting for free speech, to teachers striking for fairer working conditions.
This episode was created by Siena Kinkela, Yiming Liu, Zoe Eyles, Matt Melia, and Lynn Pan.
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To mark World Press Freedom Day, we're dedicating an episode of The Yarn to journalists in danger. We speak to reporters and media experts about navigating war zones, covering authoritarian regimes, and why exposing the truth is often a matter of life and death.
This episode was created by Isaure Duruy, Jiali Hong, Xue Xue, and Olivia Wright.
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This week, we're hearing about what keeps people up at night — and what keeps them hopeful in the face of despair. Student activists, marine ecologists, and other change makers share their tactics for turning fear into action.
This episode was created by Eamon Leggett, Theone Van Der Merwe, Fan Chu, and Yixin Zhang.
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Donating used clothes might seem sustainable, but Australia's textile waste is causing an environmental catastrophe in Fiji.
This week on The Yarn, reporter Shayal Devi explains how “waste colonisation” is harming the pacific nation.
Show Notes:
Shayal Devi's reporting for The Citizen
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To most Melburnians, urban seagulls are noisy pests. But why did these once coastal creatures abandon their seaside habitats in the first place?
This week on The Yarn, reporter Luisa Bonazzoli explains the human-led changes forcing gulls into cities.
Show Notes:
Luisa Bonazzoli's Feature for The Citizen
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For the final episode of our Passion Project series, we’re hearing from trailblazers, trendsetters, and leaders. From a woman motorsport racer smashing her industry’s glass ceiling, to a music teacher rekindling passions for a neglected genre.
This episode features reporting by Aimee Watson, Molly O'Farrell, Nina Bartholomeusz, Katya Ewing, and Vivien Frischknecht.
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Next in our Passion Project series, five stories about communal care. In this episode, a former cult member guides others to freedom, an ICU doctor supports burnt-out colleagues, and an anorexia survivor helps those in recovery.
This episode features reporting by Eliza McIntosh, Celina Lahdo, Sanober Bhavnagri, Charlie Williams, and Jenson Galvin.
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On this week’s episode of Passion Project, we’re entering the DIS-comfort zone.
We’re investigating extreme hikers who rebel against modern life, elite athletes struggling with burnout, and others who push themselves to the absolute limit.
This episode features reporting by Grace Viney, Berit Anna Rojer, Kezia Tan, and Rose Beattie.
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Nude movie screenings might sound perverse, but this one-of-a-kind experience has been selling out Melbourne cinemas. It's just one of the hyper niche interests we're exploring in this week's episode of Passion Projects — our new series about outliers, trailblazers, and the pastimes they love.
This episode features reporting by Lachie Carroll, Cathy Yee, Mia Leys, Cassia Cunningham, and Rachel Ferro.
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Today, we’re sharing a talk from Pulitzer Prize-winning war journalist Chris Hedges, who believes the Western media is complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Chris spent two decades covering war zones in places like Iraq, Sarajevo, and Gaza. He’s also the author of more than a dozen books. His most recent is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.
In front of a live audience at the University of Melbourne, he discussed his wide-ranging career, the history of Israeli violence, and how the media manufactures consent for atrocities.
Show Notes:
The Chris Hedges Report on Substack
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The Labubu craze might be baffling to some, but their relentless popularity has led to a thriving black market for counterfeits, or “Lafufus”.
This week on The Yarn, reporter Ashleigh Wyss explains how these low-quality fakes could be putting kids in danger. Her investigation on this issue was copublished by The Citizen and CHOICE.
Show Notes
Ashleigh's investigation for CHOICE
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From bread tag collecting to rocket building, the first episode of The Yarn’s Passion Project series delves into the world of immersive hobbies. Across five stories, our reporters investigate interests that blur the line between leisure and purpose, and question why women are treated differently in certain fan communities.
This episode features work by Jamille Jayoma, Shaid Sasalu, Aditi Acharla, Jalina Cameron, and Paris Nagorcka.
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Pacific newsrooms are in crisis. US funding cuts, the rise of artificial intelligence, and constraints on press freedom are just some of the threats to the region’s journalists.
On this week's episode of News Bites, Louisa Lim discusses the future of Pacific media with Solomon Islands journalist Dorothy Wickham and Fijian journalist Shayal Devi.
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Who gets to shape the story? That’s what journalist Nour Haydar has been asking in relation to Australian coverage of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
On this week’s episode of The Yarn, we’re sharing her AN Smith lecture from December 2024. It’s a searing critique of the Australian media’s double standards, and its failure to “meet the moment”.
Since then, the Gaza health ministry says the death toll of Israel’s campaign has risen to at least 68,000, and a United Nations commission of inquiry has classified it as a genocide.
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First, Artificial Intelligence took our jobs. Now, it's deciding how we're recruited into the ones that are left.
For today's episode, Sarah Jensz discusses her reporting on this new—and barely regulated—industry practice. She also speaks with legal experts, including Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay, who is pushing for urgent reforms to curb algorithmic discrimination.
Show Notes:
Sarah's reporting for The Citizen
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Thousands of Little Penguins nest along the southwest coast of Victoria, but their colonies are constantly threatened by energy companies pushing to conduct seismic surveys.
Fearing these shockwaves could devastate local marine life, citizen scientist Carli Reeve rallied her community to protect them. Her grassroots campaign ultimately forced the plans to be scrapped, if only for now.
Our reporter Theoné van der Merwe broke this story for Crikey and The Citizen, and in today's episode, The Yarn spoke to her about how this small coastal community took on a multinational energy company - and won.
Show Notes:
Theoné's reporting for The Citizen
Theoné's reporting for Crikey
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Nature is like a time capsule. The cyclical rhythm of healthy ecosystems can outlast entire civilisations.
This week on The Yarn, two environmental stories take us back to postwar Germany and prehistoric Australia. We hear how fragile ecosystems have stood the test of time — and what’s at stake if we lose them forever.
These audio documentaries were originally produced by Thomas Phillips for Short Cuts, a Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4. Follow the link below to hear more Short Cuts stories.
Show Notes
Short Cuts on Apple Podcasts
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In the final episode of Distraction, we explore how a well‑timed distraction, often thought of as a mindless time sink, can become tools for mindfulness, connection, and creativity.
Featuring stories by Guilia Scenna, Ying Wan, and Georgie Preston.
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Whether powered by pixels or pure imagination, gaming offers players a way to forget the outside world. But when the stakes become real, is it really just a game?
This week on The Yarn, we’re bringing you stories about the comforts and consequences of gaming, how it helps some players cope, and how it can leave others more drained than when they logged in.
Featuring stories by Dylan Claringbold, Olivia Tan, and Bobbi Hewitt.
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For the third episode of Distraction, we explore the psychological benefits of hobbies — and investigate whether leisure time is divided equally.
Featuring stories produced by Elliot Rodriguez, Molly Frew, James Worsfold, and Sarah Jensz.
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They say that if something is free online, then you’re the product. So are we controlling technology, or is it controlling us?
This week on The Yarn, we’re bringing you stories from both sides of the spectrum. From the dangers of social media addiction, to harnessing technology as a tool for good.
Featuring stories by Brandon Kearns, Ellen Cutler, Yuqi Zhao, and Yang Li.
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The first episode of our Distraction series is about wayward attention and the struggle to focus. This week, our producers navigate ADHD, limit screentime, and question whether the solution to distracting technology can come from technology itself.
This series was made in collaboration with the Science Gallery for their new exhibition, which is open now. Today's stories were produced by Ricky Sproule, Shixin Wang, Yeting Gao, and Samuel Irvine.
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Exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar says the Russia-Ukraine war is far from over. He believes Vladimir Putin is prolonging the conflict to fuel propaganda and silence critics.
This week on The Yarn, we’re sharing Zygar’s 2025 AN Smith Lecture—Journalism Against Autocracy. Addressing a sold-out audience at Melbourne University, Zygar recounts covering Putin’s Russia for more than two decades. He also discusses attacks on press freedom, coming out as gay in a deeply homophobic society, and why his new home in the United States is giving him “déjà vu”.
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Who do you think of when you think of an Australian pioneer? Maybe Fanny Finch, the first woman to vote in Australia, who was also a woman of colour. Or perhaps Rosaleen Norton, also known as the Witch of King's Cross. These are the trailblazers whose stories Dr Corey Martin is telling in her podcast, Maiden Australia. In this episode of News Bites, she discusses feminist approaches to storytelling and how podcasting can amplify marginalised voices.
Show Notes
Maiden Australia
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It’s been called “a win for the ages”. Anthony Albanese is Australia’s first prime minster to win consecutive terms in more than two decades. His landslide victory has left the Coalition reeling, especially in major cities like Melbourne.
For the final episode of Voters’ Voices, we’re focusing on Melbourne’s swing towards Labor. We’re also revisiting the key themes of this series — marginal electorates, the youth vote, and civic disillusionment.
Featuring reporting by Ashleigh Wyss, Preeshita Shah, Eva Sementino, and Morgan Reinwald.
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Ahead of Australia's federal election on May 3rd, we’re bringing you another episode of Voters’ Voices.
This week we're focusing on Marginal Melbourne — the city’s most tightly-contested electorates. Our reporters investigated the seats on a knife’s-edge this year and the hot-button issues that could decide their futures.
Featuring pieces by Ruby Perryman, Daniel Gawne, Ashleigh Wyss, and August Mikleus.
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Last week, we focused on young, disaffected voters ahead of the federal election on May 3rd. For episode two of Voter’s Voices, our reporters zoomed out. They went to a broader mix of voters, from retirees to small business owners. They found values were front of mind this year – like political honesty and social and environmental concerns.
Featuring reporting by Maxine Ford, Morgan Reinwald, Kai-wern Koo, Daniel Gawne, and Nicole Wang.
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Ahead of Australia's federal election on May 3rd, we're launching a new series — Voters’ Voices. Episode one is all about what young voters really care about.
Gen Z and millennial voters will outnumber baby boomers for the first time this year. It’s being called a cost-of-living election and our reporters investigated whether that’s true.They learned that young Australians feel poor, alienated, and not represented by major parties.
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After more than a decade apart, a disabled 14 year old in Indonesia will be reunited with his parents in Australia. Despite being born in Melbourne, Jonathan Lumintang was later denied residency due to his cerebral palsy. A ministerial intervention has allowed him to stay — but other families aren’t as lucky.
Our student Kristian Oka Prasetyadi reported on this issue for The Citizen and the ABC. For today’s episode, The Yarn spoke to him about the family’s struggles, and Australia’s ableist migration policies.
Show notes
Kristian Oka Prasetyadi's article for the ABC
Kristian Oka Prasetyadi's article for The Citizen
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Australia's first ever Christian terrorist attack — that's how Queensland police classified the 2022 mass shooting in the rural township of Wieambilla.
This week, producer Kirralee Nicolle revisits the incident in detail. She explores how Christian fundamentalism can turn deadly, especially in tandem with online conspiracies and mental illness.
This episode contains a high degree of violence and references to sexual assault.
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Today we're focusing on the ties between the University of Melbourne and weapons manufacturers. While the University has downplayed these ties, our reporter James Costa has found it’s still pursuing new defence partnerships. In particular, the university is spruiking its forthcoming inner-city campus at Fisherman's Bend. The University’s behaviour during student protests last year has also come under scrutiny, particularly its use of wifi to surveil students; one critic is calling it "twenty-first century McCarthyism".
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We’re continuing our centenary celebrations by revisiting highlights from our News Bites series. Over the last three years, we’ve featured more than 40 of Australia’s top journalism experts. These include newspaper editors, podcasters, war journalists, and our very own staff. Today you’ll hear some of their top tips for aspiring journalists, from making your first pitch to covering conflict zones.
Thanks to Jeff Sparrow, Bernadette Nunn, Louisa Lim, and Sami Shah for conducting the interviews and organising News Bites events.
Show notes:
News Bites playlist
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Today marks the 100th episode of our award-winning student podcast, The Yarn. In the three years since we started, we’ve featured work from 151 emerging journalists and won the Climate Award at the Australian Podcast Awards.
To celebrate our centenary, we’re revisiting the highlights from our environmental reporting. From the centre of a bee swam to a trip along the Murray River, we’re taking you to unexpected places. We're also airing the voices of young Australians as they muse over eco-anxiety — and what can be done to counter global heating.
Show notes:
Making the Murray River Sing
Tales of the Environment Part 2: Our Disappearing Forests
Climate Generation: Eco-anxiety
Swarm Episode 7: Pest or Protected?
Not Natural: Disrupting Decline
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Intimidated, lucky, chaotic: this is the emotional rollercoaster of the first days working in a newsroom. This episode is our survival guide to starting out in journalism, as delivered by three of our graduates. Gwen Liu from the Ballarat Courier, Harry Sekulich from the Daily Aus, and freelancer Wing Kuang speak to Senior Tutor Bernadette Nunn about how to survive and thrive when starting out in journalism. "The only way to do better is just by doing," says Harry, while Gwen's advice is simple, "you need courage, you need to be brave."
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The Baillieu Library is the largest library here at the University of Melbourne. Walking through the library, the shelves are filled with books on everything from philosophy and history, to science and computing, all from a Western Eurocentric perspective. But the library also holds one of the largest collections of Rare East Asian books and materials in the Southern Hemisphere.
Throughout this episode, Jiaxuan Zhu explores how knowledge has been built here at the University of Melbourne and reflects on the importance of diversity and looking past just Eurocentric knowledge foundations.
INTERVIEWEES:
Dr Shiqiu Liu
This podcast is on the exhibition “Learning Beyond Borders: Thomas Chong’s Study and Practice of Medicine”, presented by the Archives and Special Collections of the university.
MUSIC CREDITS
Epidemic Sound: Sowing the Summer Barley by Francis Wells
Epidemic Sound: Shrines by David Celeste
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After President-elect Donald Trump's landslide win and a federal election looming, Australian politicians have lessons to learn from the US election.
The Yarn spoke to two US political analysts, on different sides of the political aisle, to get a breakdown of the Republicans' success.
Tim Lynch is a professor of American politics at the University of Melbourne.
Cory Alpert is a former Biden-Harris White House staffer, now a PhD student at the University of Melbourne.
James Costa is a journalist at The Citizen.
Elliot Rodriguez was the producer of this episode. Louisa Lim was the executive producer.
American Flag image by Gordon Johnson, Pixabay.
Map of Australia image by Free Vector Maps.
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The Harry Brookes Allen Museum is one of many collections at the University of Melbourne. The University has collected artefacts that has contributed to a wealth of knowledge that is vital to Melbourne, Australia and the world.
But the way University scholars collected these artefacts was not always done in an ethical way. Reporter Haoyue Deng learns how a rare marsupial mole is the key to the forgotten people behind some of the University's collections.
INTERVIEWEES:
- Rohan Long, Curator of the Harry Brookes Allen Museum at the University of Melbourne
- Emma Kowal, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Deakin University
Inspiration for this episode was informed by the recently published book Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia by Ross L. Jones, Dr. James Waghorne, and Professor Marcia Langton of the University of Melbourne. If you would like to know more about The University of Melbourne’s response, you can download the book for free here.
MUSIC CREDITS
Bird(Magpie) sound from Freesound
Bush walking from Freesound
Mouse squeak from Pixabay
Snake from Pixabay
Eternality by Nathan Zammit from the Living Instruments Project
Tundra by Jack Burmeister from the Living Instruments Project
Marimba by Olivia Marsh from the Living Instruments Project
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What would Australia look like if we had monkeys swinging around our cities? In the late 19th Century, a number of associations called “acclimatisation societies” sprung up across Australia with the goal of bringing familiar plants and animals to what the British colonists saw as an impoverished landscape.
This episode explores the massive ecological transformation that shaped what the university’s environment looks like today, and how Indigenous knowledge about land preservation was ignored for decades.
INTERVIEWEES
Dr Pete Minard (historian of colonial science and environmental history)
Prof Lynette Russell AM (historian of Indigenous Australians and colonial anthropology)
SOUND ATTRIBUTIONS
axe chopping (in the forest) by Selector, accessible at www.freesound.org/s/410768, License: Creative Commons 0 1.0
Pied Currawong Strepera graculina by Sunny Tseng, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/871215, License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commerical Share Alike 4.0
Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus by Peter Boesman, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/859826, License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commerical Share Alike 4.0
Australian Raven Corvus coronoides by Zebedee Muller, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/801431, License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commerical Share Alike 4.0
Laughing Kookaburra Daceolo novaguineae by Ken George, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/858185, License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commerical Share Alike 4.0
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis by Greg McLachlan, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/331396, License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commerical Share Alike 4.0
Peace Piano song by Calvin Clavier. https://pixabay.com/music/modern-classical-peace-piano-song-216338/
Birds and Insects near Dam - Cathedral Ranges by Sassaby, accessible at freesound.org/s/427877, License: Creative Commons 0 1.0
180081 Sheep Farm 01 by FST18008, accessible at https://freesound.org/s/441801, License: Attribution 4.0
Cinematic rythmline by SamuelFJohanns from Pixabay
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The Old Quadrangle is one of the most photographed spots on the University of Melbourne campus, with students and tourists alike posing under its iconic archways.
The romantic European architecture feels like you've been transported to the set of Hogwarts, but did you know that the stones used to create this effect were stolen from Indigenous lands in Tasmania?
Reporter Giulia Scenna investigates the history of our campus's architecture and its relationship with Indigenous Australia.
—
Interviewees:
- Dr Philip Goad, Professor of Architecture at the University of Melbourne
- Dr James Waghorne, Senior Research Fellow and University Historian at the University of Melbourne
Inspiration for this episode was informed by the recently published book Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia by Ross L. Jones, Dr. James Waghorne, and Professor Marcia Langton of the University of Melbourne. If you would like to know more about The University of Melbourne’s response, you can download the book for free here.
MUSIC CREDITS (In order of appearance)
Our Fingers Cold from Blue Dot Sessions
Cold Summers from Blue Dot Sessions
Crosswire from Blue Dot Sessions
Temperance from Blue Dot Sessions
La Costilla from Blue Dot Sessions
10 Minutes Past from Blue Dot Sessions
Watercool Quiet from Blue Dot Sessions
Tape Player Sounds -Free for use under the Pixabay Content License
A Common Pause from Blue Dot Sessions
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Between the 1800s to1950s, anthropologists at the University of Melbourne were digging up burial sites of First Nations ancestors who had been laid to rest and collecting, rather stealing, their bodies. And while some of these human remains were returned to land and reburied, one collection remained hidden away at the university in a storage room until 2003.
Uncover the true story of The University of Melbourne’s troubled past of grave robbing and the efforts to repatriate the hundreds of Indigenous ancestors’ skeletal remains back to their land and families.
—
Interviewees:
- Marie Havea, Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
- Rohan Long, Curator of the Harry Brookes Allen Museum
Inspiration for this episode was informed by the recently published book Doombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia by Ross L. Jones, Dr. James Waghorne, and Professor Marcia Langton of the University of Melbourne. If you would like to know more about The University of Melbourne’s response, you can download the book for free here.
MUSIC CREDITS (In order of appearance)
The Lonely Instrument Series -Cello -Played by Natalie Haas - Music by Trygve Larsen from Pixabay
Cold Sad Pianos - Music by Mike Kripak from Pixabay
Meditative Background Mystical Yoga Nature Fantasy Music - Music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay
June - Music by Marcel Pequel from Free Music Archive
Sad Tragic Dramatic Music Slow Melancholic - Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay
Loneliness_Outro- Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay
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On the surface, the University of Melbourne is a historical spectacle – with its grand arches, stone facades, echoing hallways, and the chimes of the old clocktower.
But this university is also home to many secrets, from human remains unearthed on university grounds, to its role in nuclear testing on Indigenous lands.
In an eight-part series, students from the Centre for Advancing Journalism explore the university’s hidden past, revealing stories that reach beyond iconic buildings and the names they bear.
We dive into the colonial legacies tied to these structures, the injustice they represent, and the multicultural narratives that push back against this history.
This series is about truth-telling—illuminating the foundations on which this our university is built.
Join us as we unearth the stories that have been buried for far too long.
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This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism.
Today’s guest is Silvia Montaña-Niño. Silvia is a new CAJ lecturer and was a journalist at El Espectador, one of Columbia’s most important newspapers.
At the start of her career, Columbia was besieged by guerilla warfare and death squads. Drug lords like Pablo Escobar waged brutal campaigns of terrorism. Targets included politicians, the judiciary, and journalists.
Silvia spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about reporting amidst this chaos. They also discussed her current research into global fact checking and misinformation.
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Today’s News Bites guest is journalist and CAJ Lecturer Dr Caroline James-Garrod. Caroline got her start as a cadet at Leader Community Newspapers in Melbourne. Since then, she’s had an expansive career working across the country and abroad.
She’s also seen major industry upheavals, from the rise of the 24/7 online news cycle to the era of mass job cuts. These shifts have left many journalists with too much work and not enough time, an issue Caroline researched as part of her PhD on time poverty.
For News Bites, Caroline spoke with senior tutor Bernadette Nun. She shared advice for starting a career in community news and navigating an industry where jobs are scarce and time is precious.
Shownotes
''No time to think': Overloaded journalists trim practices to save time', Australian Journalism Review
'No bandwidth to think is the cost of being time poor', Pursuit
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This week, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews about the craft of journalism.
Today’s guest is Khalid Amiri, who was a prominent news presenter for the Afghan state broadcaster RTA. He’s known for his courageous reporting and outspoken criticism of the Taliban.
After Kabul fell in August 2021, Khalid and his family fled to Australia, where he’s pursuing a Master of International Relations at the University of Melbourne.
He spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about the challenging but critical role that journalists play in conflict zones.
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In Victorian London, a persistent rumour spread of a murderer who could leap between the city’s alleyways to avoid detection. Newspapers called him spring-heeled jack—one of the first ever urban legends.
He wasn’t real, but the fears that inspired him were. Fears of rapidly changing urban spaces and the upheavals of industrialization.
This week, we’re bringing you stories about similar mythical monsters—and what they reflect about the societies that create them.
Featuring stories by Joseph Sadlier, Milla Richardson, Azka Taruna, and Louis Murdoch.
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A decade before the global internet even existed, William Gibson coined the term "cyberspace". He was describing a realm of pure information in his 1983 novel Neuromancer. The story unfolds in a future where data flows form the arteries of an interconnected world.
It’s one of many inventions that appeared in novels and films yearsbefore they materialised in reality, along with spaceships, Artificial Intelligence, and even credit cards.
This week, we’re bringing you stories about the cutting-edge innovations of todaythat arestraight out of the science fiction of yesteryear.
It’s the fourth episode of Sci-Fi, a series envisioning alternative futures and imaginary realms. These stories were produced for the Science Gallery’s new exhibition — Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed, which is open now.
Featuring stories by Anna Lau, Zaid Dia, Aditi Borooah Thekedath, and Nicholas Quinlan.
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Back in the 13th Century, a catastrophic eruption in Indonesia ushered in a “volcanic winter”. Sulfur smothered the sky, causing crop failure and famine as far away as Europe.
Almost 800 years later, geoengineers are considering replicating this effect on purpose. The theory goes that plumes of aerosols could shield us from the sun and combat climate change. Experts say it could work, but not without a slew of risks.
This week, we’re bringing you stories about the environmental tradeoffs that come with attempts at progress
It’s the third episode of Sci-Fi, a series envisioning alternative futures and imaginary realms. These stories were produced for the Science Gallery’s new exhibition — Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed, which is open now.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When we think of navigation, we imagine satellite imagery mapping our world with laser-point precision. But not all maps are for navigating reality.
"World building” describes the mapping of entire fictional realms. Think the vast continent of Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings, or the expansive galaxies of Star Trek.
But it doesn’t end there. It can extend to complex political systems, ancient histories, and even functional languages.
This week, we’re bringing you stories about how these worlds are fabricated—and what they can teach us about our own.
It’s the second episode of Sci-Fi, a series envisioning alternative futures and imaginary realms. These stories were produced for the Science Galley’s new exhibition — Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed, which is open now.
Featuring stories by Finley Monaghan-McGrath, Matthew Yammouni Jagoda Ziolkowska, Madeline Barrett, and Disha Mehta.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- That’s the date renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil says humans could merge with machines and achieve immortality. He's is a disciple of transhumanism — a movement aiming to cheat death through technological innovations.
We might not get there by 2030, but this week, we’re bringing you stories about the breakthroughs paving the way. Stories about breaking free from human limits.
It’s the first episode of Sci-Fi, a series envisioning alternative futures and imaginary realms. These stories were produced for the Science Galley’s new exhibition — Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed, which opens this weekend.
Featuring stories by Anna Siemering, Vivian Wei, Zi Xuan Kon, and Darcy Towe.
Image by kjpargeter on Freepik.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For Australian whistleblowers, the truth often comes at price.
The Human Rights Law Centre says federal whistleblowing laws have failed to protect a single person since their inception, and those who speak out risk exorbitant fines or even jail time.
Today, you’ll hear from a panel of experts who say reforms are long overdue: Kieran Pender (an expert in legal frameworks for whistleblower protections), Karen Percy (a veteran journalist and leader in media advocacy), and Rick Morton (an investigative journalist who writes for the Saturday paper).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today we're returning to our News Bites series which spotlights the work of staff and students at the Centre for Advancing Journalism.
This week’s guest is podcaster, PhD candidate, and former journalism student Dylan Bird. You might recognise his voice from Triple R’s Future Perfect program, which Dylan hosts. He also works behind the scenes on the CAJ podcast Masterclass.
On top of this, he’s currently completing a PhD about how podcasts can maintain democracy.
He spoke to senior tutor Bernadette Nunn about producing audio stories, hosting live radio, and the political potential of podcasting.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 hours after announcing a partial victory, the pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Melbourne is still intact and students are still occupying the Arts West building.
It’s not what they were anticipating yesterday. During a press conference last night, a pro-Palestine spokesperson said the university had agreed to a deal that could end the encampment.
The protesters were set to pack up and go home — but only if the university sent an email confirming the agreement to all staff and students.
Today, that email didn’t arrive (although the university has updated its research transparency page).
Even if the deal does go forward, the protesters stressed that their campaign is far from over and expressed concern that protesters could still be disciplined.
In today's episode, you'll hear from journalist James Costa about his reporting on the student protesters risking suspension.
Thanks to journalists Preeshita Shah, Kristian Oka Prasetyadi, and Ellen Cutler for additional reporting.
Show notes:
James Costa's reporting for The Citizen
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Wednesday, dozens of pro-Palestine protesters occupied the University of Melbourne’s Arts West building. They say this sit-in will last until they are either forcibly removed or their demands are met. They’re calling for the divestment of university funds from weapons manufacturers.
The university has threatened those involved with severeconsequences. Last night, police were given the green light to evict protesters.
It’s an escalation of the ongoing Gaza solidarity camp on the university’s south lawn, where tents popped up over three weeks ago.
The Yarn spoke to The Citizen’s James Costa about his reporting on the sit-in.
Show notes:
James Costa's article about the sit-in
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Coming up to its third week, the Gaza solidarity camp at the University of Melbourne is growing — It’s almost quadrupledto at least ninety tents.
But the encampment is coming under increasing pressure. Last Thursday, pro-Israel demonstrators marched across campus, culminating in a face off with pro-Palestine students amid a heavy police presence.
And this week, Petter Dutton called for encampments across the country to be forcibly removed. He also proposed new laws to fine Universities who don’t comply.
But protesters say they’re staying put until their demands are met. They’re calling for the university to cut ties with weapons manufacturers.
In today's episode, you'll hear interviews about life at the encampment over the last two weeks.
Featuring reporting by Ellen Cutler, Preeshita Shah, and Ricky Sproule.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On ANZAC Day last week, protesters set up camp at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. Since then, the “Gaza solidarity encampment” has been the epicentre of several peaceful demonstrations attracting hundreds of participants.
On Monday, more than 300 protesters marched on campus demanding the university to cut ties with weapons manufacturers and take an “ethical stance” against Israel’s rising death toll in Gaza.
In this special episode, you'll hear from The Citizen’s cadet James Costa and student journalist Fatemeh Mirjalili about their reporting on this issue.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
I’m Thomas Phillips
Melbourne’s status as Australia's live music capital is under threat. Since the start of the pandemic, one third of small and mid-sized venues nation-wide have closed their doors for good.
This week we’re bringing you stories about how performers along the number 19 tramline are getting by.
It's the third episode of Tram Tales. Our new series about Melbournians who live, work, and travel along the number 19 route — the city’s central artery.
Featuring stories by ara Highett, Ying Wan and, Chanchan Wu.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ask a group of teenagers about their dream jobs and you’ll likely hear a familiar list: doctor, lawyer, architect, psychologist...
According to an OECD survey, these are some of the most desired jobs among students worldwide.
But what about all the jobs they don’t even know exist?
This week, we’re bringing you stories from off the beaten career path. Stories about people along the number 19 tramline finding fulfilment in unconventional workplaces, from cemeteries to adult stores.
It's the second episode of Tram Tales. Our new series about Melbournians who live, work, and travel along the number 19 route — the city’s central artery.
Featuring stories by Sam Irvine, Longfei Zhou, Ellen Cutler, and Fanting Ming.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The number 19 tramline is Melbourne’s backbone, taking passengers all the way from Coburg north to Flinders Street Station. Our new series, Tram Tales, shares the stories and struggles of people who, live, work, and travel along this central artery.
For our first episode, we're focusing on an issue that’s top of mind for most Australians — the cost-of-living crisis.
Energy, housing, and food costs have skyrocketed, the price of bread is up 24% since 2021, and many are barely getting by. A recent New York Times article even said happy-go-lucky Australia is feeling neither happy nor lucky.
So we’re investigating how people along route 19 are coping.
Featuring reporting by James Worsfold, Yibo Meng, Yingyu Liu, and Elliot Rodriguez.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the days of hunter-gatherers, social exclusion meant certain death. Humans have evolved with a primal need for belonging — and we still suppress our differences so we can fit in. But what happens when we buck this trend?
This week, we’re bringing you stories about embracing our differences.
It’s the sixth episode of Not Natural, a series about the tension between the natural and the artificial. These stories were produced for the Science Galley’s new exhibition — Not Natural. It’s open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
Featuring stories by Amelia Davies, Adeline Johnston, Eleanor Dean, and Alexander McGuire.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
According to an old urban myth, a frog suddenly dropped in boiling water will instantly leap out to safety. But if the water is tepid and gradually heated, the oblivious frog will slowly boil to death. This process is a metaphor for human psychology — especially when it comes to ecological decline.
Over time, gradual changes can make unprecedented catastrophes feel normal.
This week, we’re bringing you stories about revolutionary attempts to reverse these abnormalities — from resurrecting extinct species to unlearning the colonial mindset.
It’s the fifth episode of Not Natural, a series about the tension between the natural and the artificial. These stories were produced for the Science Galley’s new exhibition — Not Natural. It’s open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
Featuring stories by Simon Sinnot, James Italia-Prasad, Liliana Jaques, and Zuva Goverwa.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Every day, our brains take cognitive shortcuts.
Our limited time and attention make it easy to fall back on familiar biases.
Among the most deeply ingrained is the assumption that “natural” always means “healthier”.
This week, we’re interrogating this idea with stories about “natural” andsynthetic remedies.
It’s the fourth episode of Not Natural, a series about the tension between the natural and the artificial. These stories were produced for the Science Gallery’s new exhibition — Not Natural. It’s open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
Featuring stories by Harriet Thorpe, Ruby Clayton Dowling, Holly Larkspur and Meagan Hansen.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the throes of addiction, people can enter a time warp. The clock seemingly stops when cravings are met and dopamine floods the brain.
But I’m not talking about drugs. I’m talking about social media.
Heavy users can squander hours per day on TikTok binges. And the App’s developers see this as a feature, not a flaw.
This week, we’re bringing you stories about how social media is rewiring our brains and reshaping real life.
It’s the third episode of Not Natural, a series about our ability to control nature. These stories were produced for the Science Galley’s new exhibition — Not Natural. It’s open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Social media feeds can make Botox and fillers seem as commonplace as getting a haircut. On TikTok alone, the plastic surgery hashtag has 22 billion views.
Is this newfound acceptance democratising beauty, or making beauty obligatory? And who gets to decide what counts as beautiful?
This week, we’re binging you stories about our increasingly narrow beauty standards.
It’s the second episode of Not Natural, a series about our ability to control nature. These stories were produced for the Science Galley’s new exhibition — Not Natural. It’s open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
Featuring stories by Jessica Cheong, Zserhyn Jose, Kel Thai, and Sabine Lynch.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There’s this phrase God Mode that was born out of the gaming world. It refers to a notorious cheat code in the 1993 shooter game, Doom. Once activated, a player becomes invincible and vanquishes opponents with ease.
Nowadays, God mode is a slang term for achieving superhuman feats in real life, and in our era of artificial intelligence and cybernetic implants, it’s becoming more and more pertinent.
This week, we’re bringing you stories that delve into this issue – asking whether AI should continue an artist’s legacy after death and how medical breakthroughs and cloning can improve nature.
It’s the first episode of Not Natural, a series about the friction between what we consider natural and artificial.
These stories were made for the Science Gallery which has just opened its new exhibition — Not Natural. Go and see it now to explore de-extinction, see live jellyfish, and duck from a machete-wielding houseplant.
Featuring stories by Annie Siriphattrasophon, Kaspar Vissar, Jemma Mitchell, and Ainsley Paton.
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Since July, the cost of living crisis has gotten a whole lot worse for international students. Thanks to the reinstatement of pre-pandemic work restrictions, their maximum working hours have been limited to 24 hours per week. Experts call it a return to "normal", but those facing financial peril say otherwise.
This week, Wuxi Fan talks to three students whose lives have been turned upside down by this U-turn.
Credits:
Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu
Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu
Host: Cissy
Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez
Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang
Executive Producer: Sami Shah
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rules have been following us from the moment we were born. Children follow the rules set by parents, students follow the rules set by schools, workers follow the rules set by companies, and citizens follow the laws set by governments.
But what happens when international students face rules in different countries and cultures?
This week on Subclass 500, Xuyang Liu investigates the stories of two international students who feel trapped by rules and explores the deeper relationship between rules and the individual.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode explores long-distance relationships for international students. Part one is about the problems faced by a couple who are dating long distance. The second part introduces the phenomenon of life partners based on the story of a Melbourne-based Chinese student's relationship.
Credits:
Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu
Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu
Host: Cissy
Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez
Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang
Executive Producer: Sami Shah
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The number of international students in Australia is rapidly increasing, and some of them want to stay here to work and live. But they will face various difficulties and challenges. They have all put in a lot of effort. However, their future is still uncertain. The first interviewee, Michael Zhao, studies engineering and will graduate at the end of this year. He is very dissatisfied with the employment environment in his own country and is considering better education for the next generation. He wants to stay in Australia, but he is worried that it’s difficult to find a job after graduation due to his working experience. He got an internship opportunity, but the company is far from home, he even spent over 3 hours on the way to the company. The second interviewee is Arthur Chen, whose major is Arts. However, he has not yet found a job and is waiting for a working visa. He doesn't like the fierce competition among young people in his country. However, he felt that the Australian working visa didn’t bring him any advantages. Moreover, his long-distance relationship makes him upset. The third interviewee, Shell Wang, graduated in 2011 and currently works for an investment company. Before, she did copywriting work in a small company with a low salary. After quitting, she spent hard months to find a new job. But her working visa is about to expire. She wants to continue working here, so she is considering applying for a new visa. However, the Australian visa policy often changes, which makes her worried. Finally, Dr Yu Tao analyses the difficulties and reasons faced by international students.
Topic #1 [0:00] Michael Zhao’s story: his incredible internship experience, and his reasons why he wants to stay in Australia.
Topic #2 [4:21] Arthur Chen’s story: he can’t find a job at this stage, he feels a working visa is not helpful for him, and the long-distance relationship bothered him.
Topic #3 [8:18] Shell Wang’s story: she had a hard period of time when she just graduated, although she has a stable job now, she worries about her future visa.
Topic #4 [11:43] Dr Yu Tao’s explanation
News articles
Resource #1: https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/life-is-about-to-get-tougher-for-the-record-1m-foreign-students-here-20230711-p5dnd4
Resource #2: https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/australia-must-join-global-race-to-settle-international-students-20221216-p5c70u
Resource #3: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/international-graduates-earn-substantially-less-than-other-graduates-heres-by-how-much/17zkvb249
Resource #4: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/hindi/en/podcast-episode/australian-immigration-victoria-opens-its-skilled-migration-program-for-2023-24/yjfhytpwh
Email address
ruofengn@student.unimelb.edu.au
Credits:
Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu
Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu
Host: Cissy
Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez
Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang
Executive Producer: Sami Shah
sami.shah@unimelb.edu.au
Theme music is "Political Test" by Igor Dvorkin (PRS) | Ellie Kidd (PRS). Audio Rights Network Limited.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When international students first set foot in Melbourne, they often feel alienated due to the absence of a sense of home and may feel apprehensive due to the cultural differences. They yearn for resonance and familiarity. In this episode, two Chinese students join the university's Chinese martial arts club, while another student from China blends Chinese music with various other genres. An Indonesian student, on the other hand, joins the Indonesian society to promote the culture of traditional Indonesian festivals within the school. Through their involvement in diverse communities and the pursuit of their passions and professional interests, they not only find joy but also showcase their native cultures to the multicultural city of Melbourne. Meanwhile, local Australian students discuss how they have come to embrace the cultures of other countries. For international students, such acceptance and appreciation from their peers can be the greatest source of encouragement.
Topic#1[2:18] Barry’s music story
Topic#2[6:08] Sany’s story
Topic#3[7:12] Unimelb Chinese wushu club story
Resources
Unimelb orientation week
https://students.unimelb.edu.au/new-students/melbourne-orientation
Interviewees
Barry: a Chinese international student studying music projection and composition and the Australia Institute of Music.
Sany: An Indonesian international student at Unimelb
Pakto: a Chinese international student of the Chinese Wushu Kongfu Club at Unimelb
Changfa: a Chinese international student of the Chinese Wushu Kongfu Club at Unimelb
Nathaniel: an Australian student of the Chinese Wushu Kongfu Club at Unimelb
contact email
Yuxuan Liu: yuxuanl19@student.unimelb.edu.au
Credits:
Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu
Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu
Host: Cissy
Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez
Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang
Executive Producer: Sami Shah
sami.shah@unimelb.edu.au
Theme music is "Political Test" by Igor Dvorkin (PRS) | Ellie Kidd (PRS). Audio Rights Network Limited.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Subclass 500, Elliot Rodriguez speaks with fellow international students about struggles with language barriers. At the University of Melbourne professors are strict about translation rules for assignments, making it even harder for some students to do their assessments. However, the language barrier doesn't just affect non-native English speakers, Elliot discovers throughout the episode that he too has faced similar problems with the Australian accent since arriving from Miami, Florida.
Contact:
Elliot Rodriguez : errodrigue@student.unimelb.edu.au
Credits:
Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu
Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu
Host: Cissy
Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez
Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang
Executive Producer: Sami Shah
sami.shah@unimelb.edu.au
Theme music is "Political Test" by Igor Dvorkin (PRS) | Ellie Kidd (PRS). Audio Rights Network Limited.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From the rule changes that make hard to earn a living, to the challenges of a long-distance relationship, from the freedoms of being a woman in Australia, to the cage made by paperwork designed to keep you out, all while learning to speak in a new language. These are some of challenges faced by international students at the University of Melbourne, and this is a podcast revealing those stories.seven-part series coming very soon from the Centre for Advancing Journalism. Episode 1 will be released on October 20.
Credits:
Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu
Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu
Host: Cissy
Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez
Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang
Executive Producer: Sami Shah
sami.shah@unimelb.edu.au
Theme music is "Political Test" by Igor Dvorkin (PRS) | Ellie Kidd (PRS). Audio Rights Network Limited.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the first time in four years, Australia is facing an El Nino — a weather pattern that can cause extremeheat.
These increased temperatures would make Bendigo especiallyvulnerable to droughts. But an adaptation plan to restore the region’s waterways will provide a much-needed safeguard.
Today, we’re bringing you an interview with journalist Sasha Gattermayr about her reporting on Bendigo’s waterways. Her article was co-published by The Citizen and The Bendigo Advertiser. It’s part of an ongoing Regional Reporting project focused on Greater Bendigo, or Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This weekend, millions of Australians will vote on whether to enshrine an Indigenous voice to Parliament in the constitution.
For most young Australians, it will be their first ever referendum. It’s also the first to take place in the era of social media — and misinformation has been rife.
Today, we’re taking a break from our Regional Reporting series to bring you a special report on the referendum from CAJ journalist Gwen Liu. She spoke to University of Melbourne Students about how they’re making an informed decision.
This report was produced and edited by Gwen Liu. Sami Shah was the supervising producer.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fires and droughts are only the flashpoints of rising temperatures. Heat-induced health issues, though less conspicuous, are also a risk.
Bendigo’s socio-economic landscape makes it especially vulnerable to this creeping problem, and its residents are suffering — both physically and mentally.
Today, we’re bringing you an interview with CAJ student Jerome Des Preaux about his reporting on health and heat. His article was co-published by The Citizen and The Bendigo Advertiser. It’s part of an ongoing Regional Reporting project focused on Greater Bendigo, or Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, we’re investigating a controversial strategy to control Bendigo’s pests by reintroducing an apex predator — the dingo.
It’s a response to Victoria’s growing Kangaroo population, which has increased by approximately one million since 2017.
The national icon is decimating crops, causing car accidents, and destroying ecosystems. Hundreds of thousands are culled by hunters every year, but critics say this ignores the root of the problem, and Bendigo is now considering a more innovative solution.
In today's episode, you'll hear from Jade Murray about her reporting on the controversial proposal. Her article was co-published by The Citizen and The Bendigo Advertiser and is part of an ongoing Regional Reporting project focused on Greater Bendigo, or Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
Show notes:
Jade's article on the Bendigo Advertiser
Jade's article on The Citizen
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When we encounter unexpected information, our brains enter what psychologists call “the surprise sequence”.
Whether positive or negative, the sequence begins with a state of heightened emotions and extreme curiosity. After this, our points of view shift to make sense of a new reality. Sometimes fundamentally.
This week, we’re bringing you three stories about being humbled by new information and fresh perspectives.
It’s the third episode of Dark Matters. A series about the fundamental essence of life and how so much of it remains a mystery to us.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show — Dark Matters. The exhibition is open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
This episode features stories by Timothy Evetts, Chung-Yun Hsu, and Filment Ho.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Back in January, China’s education ministry made a snap decision. Effective immediately, online study at foreign universities was banned.
Tens of thousands of students scrambled to secure visas and book flights to Australia in time for semester one. To make matters worse — their new home was in the midst of a rental crisis.
This week, we’re bringing you two interviews about The Citizen’s coverage of Melbourne’s housing shortage. And how international students are especially vulnerable to rental exploitation.
Featuring interviews with Gwen Liu and Hannah Vandenbogaerde.
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Blind spots are easy to see in others. It’s much harder to see our own.
This discrepancy is called the blind spot bias, and psychologists believe almost all of us suffer from it.
This week, we’re bringing you three stories about blind spots and misunderstandings. Stories about biases clouding our judgment and making us blind to nuance.
It’s the second episode of Dark Matters. A series about the fundamental essence of life and how so much of it remains a mystery to us.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show — Dark Matters. The exhibition is open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
This episode includes stories by Nuoxin Li, Laura Bishop, and Guangao Li.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When we imagine great mysteries we think of distant galaxies or unexplorable ocean depths. But one of the greatest mysteries is a lot closer to home. It’s in our heads.
The human brain is the most complex data processor in the known universe. But we still have very little idea how our own consciousness actually works.
This week, we’re bringing you three stories that shed light on the intricacies of our minds.
It’s the first episode of Dark Matters. Our new series about the fundamental essence of life and how so much of it remains a mystery to us.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show — Dark Matters. The exhibition is open now and includes a listening station where you can hear work from our students.
Featuring stories by Valentina Boulter, Amelia Costigan, and Angelina Maroulis.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, we’re bringing you three student-produced stories about a topic close to home — The University of Melbourne itself.
Stories about how global issues like the rise of AI are playing out on campus, as well as stories more specific to the university.
It’s the third and final episode of Hyperlocal. A series about the big issues impacting small communities in Melbourne.
Featuring stories by Yongxin Yu, Nuoxin Li. and Runren Zeng,
See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.
Today, we’re bringing you three stories about the shortcomings of Melbourne’s roadways and how to fix them. Stories about the life-changing — and even life-saving — potentials of transport engineering.
It’s the second episode of Hyperlocal. A series about the big issues impacting small communities in Melbourne.
Featuring stories by Timothy Evetts, Bridget Collier, and Xiyan Wang.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, we’re bringing you three stories about neighbours banding together — either to help each other out or unite against a mutual adversary.
It’s the first episode of Hyperlocal, our new series about the big issues impacting small communities in Melbourne.
Featuring stories by Filment Ho, Jerome Des Preaux, and Amelia Costigan.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the last seven years, producers from All the Best have mentored audio journalism students from Melbourne University.
It’s an initiative that teaches emerging storytellers the ins and outs of audio production, culminating in a series of short documentaries broadcasted across the country.
Recently,All the Best aired three of their all-time favourite audio stories from Melbourne Uni in a special episode commemorating our seven-year relationship.
Today, we’re bringing you a collection of All the Best’s all-time favourite audio stories from Melbourne uni. They recently aired these stories on an episode commemorating our seven-year relationship.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, we're bringing you another episode of News Bites — a series of live interviews showcasing the work of local journalists.
This week’s guest is Erik Jensen, the editor-in-chief of Schwartz Media.
Erik’s career has been multipronged. He began working as a music critic when he was only fifteen. After high school, he went on to join the Sydney Morning Herald and won a Walkley Award.
Later, he became the founding editor of the Saturday Paper. Since 2018, he's also overseen the Monthly and Schwartz media’s podcasts like 7am — the most popular news podcast in Australia.
On top of this, he’s released a poetry collection and written an award-winning biography of the artist Adam Cullen. The latter was adapted into the film Acute Misfortune, which is on Netflix.
For News Bites, he spoke to Senior Lecturer Louisa Lim about podcasting, editorial decisions, and crucial skills for storytellers.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Pacific island of Kiribati could be completelysubmerged by rising sea levels in just seventy years, but the nation is among the world’s lowestemitters of C02.
Australia, on the other hand, is among the highest. In 2019, we emitted twenty-one times more C02 per capita than Kiribati.
Today, we’re bringing you three stories about climate injustice — stories about the world’s richest countries accelerating climate change, and the developing countries paying the price.
Reporting by Timothy Evetts, Nuoxin Li, and Jerome Des Preaux.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Eco-anxiety is the chronic fear of environmental doom.
While the American Psychiatric Association acknowledges its existence, it doesn’t classify it as a pathology. It’s a rational response to the world around us. And it’s especially prevalent among young people.
At best, eco-anxiety can motivate collective action. But it can also lead to paralysis and despair.
This week, we’re bringing you stories from both sides of the spectrum.
It’s the first episode of Climate Generation. A two-part series about uncertain futures, impending crises, and the generation forced to navigate them.
Reporting by Georgina Sebar, Filment Ho, and Amelia Costigan.
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Victoria’s coastlines are receding, inland waterways are flooding more frequently, and things are only expected to get worse.
This week, we’re bringing you two more interviews about The Citizen’s environmental reporting. One about Gippsland abandoning fossil fuels in the face of a coastal climate crisis. Another about the beachside suburbs of Port Phillip unprepared for rising seas.
The articles are part of a special series called Neighbourhood Watch, which puts a local spotlight on burning issues.
NeighbourhoodWatch is a collaboration between The Citizen’s student reporters and Right Now — a not-for-profit online magazine focused on human rights.
Thank you to interviewees Amelia Costigan and Gideon Cohen.
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Melbourne’s West has a pollution problem and residents are fed up with government inaction.
This week, you’ll hear about original reporting from students working on two separate projects — one looking into freight truck exhaust fumes, another investigating years of fires at a landfill near residential properties. Both issues are severely affecting local health.
The projects are part of a special series called Neighborhood Watch, which puts a local spotlight on burning issues.
Student reporters from The Citizen collaborated on these articles with The Age and Right Now — a not-for-profit online magazine focused on human rights.
Thank you to interviewees Jade Murray, Violet Li, and Marilyn Tan.
You can read their reporting here:
https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/the-breathtaking-state-of-truck-pollution-in-melbournes-west
https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/it-consumes-your-life-landfills-rotten-smells-and-toxic-history
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The moral panic about gender has been dominating conservative headlines lately, but gender nonconformity is nothing new.
The Hijra people of South Asia have been recognised as an additional gender for centuries, as have the Faʻafafine of Samoa, and the Femminielli of southern Italy.
This week, we’re bringing you three stories about people challenging gender norms just as they’ve always done. Stories about being gender diverse, as well as people rebelling against their expected gender roles.
It’s the fourth episode of Breaking the Binaries, a series about the intersections that blend, blur, or break society’s binary codes.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show, an immersive exhibition about breaking binaries which is open now.
Reporting by Xin Meng, Qinyuan Zhang, and Yinuo Jiang.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There’s this word — “Solastalgia”. It describes homesickness when you’re still at home... because that home is changing in ways you can’t control.
This week, we’re bringing you three stories about our relationship to place. Places in flux and places that aren’t what we thought they were.
It’s the fourth episode of Breaking the Binaries, a series about the intersections that blend, blur, or break society’s binary codes.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show, an immersive exhibition about breaking binaries which is open now.
Reporting by Meghan Dansie, Nick Harvey Doyle, and Zhixin Zhang
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today we're bringing you another episode of News Bites, a series of live interviews showcasing the work of local journalists.
This week, we’re joined by Matilda Boseley, The Guardian’s TikTok queen whose videos often garner tens of thousands of views.
We’re also joined by Zara Seidler, the co-founder of Instagram-focused news service The Daily Aus. It’s one of the fastest growing news sites in Australia, with 430 thousand followers, and thirty-seven million impressions a month.
For News Bites, Matilda and Zara spoke to lecturer Sami Shah about TikTok, Instagram, and the future of news.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, we're returning to our News Bites series. It spotlights the work of staff and students at the Centre for Advancing Journalism.
This week’s guest is Lecturer and audio journalist Sami Shah.
Sami got his start in a Pakistani newsroom. Since then, he’s moved to Australia where he’s hosted the ABC Melbourne Breakfast show and made radio documentaries on free speech and race for ABC’s Earshot series. Most recently, he’s produced a thrilling audio drama for Audible called The Missed.
For News Bites, he spoke to senior lecturer Louisa Lim about honing one of the most crucial journalistic skills — pitching.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In medieval times, humans were confident they knew how the universe was ordered. One fourteenth century illustration – known as the Great Chain of Being – depicts God at the top of the heap, sitting amongst the clouds. Below him is a tier of humans. Below them, is a lowly tier of animals swimming, flying, or grazing. And below them, plants and minerals.
But nowadays, we’re often humbled by evidence that our dominion over non-humans isn’t as self-evident as we once thought. And that doesn’t even account for the possibility of intelligent life beyond the stars.
In today’s episode, we’re bringing you three stories that question the differences between humans and their animal counterparts.
It's the third episode of Breaking the Binaries, a series about the intersections that blend, blur, or break society’s binary codes.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show, an immersive exhibition about breaking binaries which is open now.
Reporting by Gemma Grant, Christopher Harley, and Ann Khorany
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, The Yarn is confronting taboos. We're bringing you four stories about what happens when doing the right thing means breaking the rules.
It’s the second episode of Breaking the Binaries, our new series about the intersections that blend, blur, or break society’s binary codes.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show, an immersive exhibition about breaking binaries which is open now.
Reporting by Sean Ruse, Aania Tandon, Serena Raza, and Sasha Gattermayr.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“From chatbots and virtual assistants to self-driving cars and smart homes, AI is becoming an increasingly pervasive presence in our lives, raising questions about privacy, ethics, and the future of work.”
So pervasive that the sentence you just read wasn’t written by a human. It was written by Chat GPT, an AI chatbot.
In today’s episode, we’re bringing you three stories about the boundaries between machines and humans, the real and virtual.
It's the first episode of our new series, Break the Binaries. Over the next four weeks, we’ll explore the intersections that blend, blur, or break society’s binary codes.
These stories were produced in collaboration with All the Best mentors for the Science Gallery’s new show, an immersive exhibition about breaking binaries which is open now.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, tens of thousands of refugees fled their country to start a new life in Australia. Many of them found jobs as outworkers — fashion workers who sewed from home instead of at garment factories. Although they played an important role in Australia's fashion industry, their work was often overlooked, unregulated, and deeply exploitative.
This week, we're bringing you the first episode of the Critical Fashion Studies Podcast, a series about how sustainability and diversity are shaping Australia's fashion industry. To hear the rest of the series, subscribe here.
For episode one, lecturers Harriette Richards and Anissa Beta spoke with Emma Do and Kim Lam about their book, Working from Home: Stories of Vietnamese Outworkers in the Australian Fashion Industry.
Shownotes:
The Critical Fashion Studies Podcast
Emma Do's Instagram
Kim Lam's Instagram
Working from Home
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Our fifth News Bites guest is Jenny Cai, a former University of Melbourne journalism student who now works in the ABC's Asia Pacific newsroom.
She spoke to Louisa Lim about getting a foot in the door, covering the war in Ukraine, and how to survive and thrive in a fast-paced newsroom.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our fourth News Bites guest is Louisa Lim, a senior lecturer who spent a decade as an audio journalist in China for the BBC and NPR.
During that time, she was on the ground for some of the region’s most consequential events, including the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake.
More recently, she published a book about Hong Kong called Indelible City and produced a related podcast series for the ABC called The King of Kowloon. The latter tells the story of a Hong Kong folk hero whose distinctive graffiti turned him into a revered outsider artist.
She talked to Jeff Sparrow about reporting from China and her process for audio storytelling and longform writing.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our third News Bites guest is Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, a journalist who has spent over 20 years reporting on climate change, human rights, and other issues affecting the Pacific Islands.
She spoke about Australia's coverage of the Pacific with Petra Stock, a Citizen reporter, and Kate Lyons, the Pacific editor for Guardian Australia.
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A thesis, glass tubes, a bronze plaque. This is the evidence left to remember world-class atmospheric physicist Jean Laby. She was the first woman to achieve a PhD in the School of Physics in 1956. But on a campus that lacks recognition of historically significant women, this prompts the question: how would Laby have been commemorated if she was a man?
In this week's episode, Jade Murray explores the University of Melbourne Parkville campus to search for the forgotten stories of women in science.
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Interviewees:
- Elisabetta Barberio – Professor of Physics and Director of the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence
- Katie Wood – Senior Archivist at the University of Melbourne Archives
- Em Bawden - Immunologist from the Peter Doherty Institute
- Joe Pascoe - Poet and co-curator of the Jean Laby exhibit
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Music and sound effects for this episode of Uncurated were sourced from Pixabay
‘Order’ - ComaStudio
‘Space Chillout’ - penguinmusic
'Tuesday' - amaksi
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This week on Uncurated, Caitlin Duan and Isabella Vagnoni go on a road trip to learn about the forgotten history of Percy Lindsay. Along the way, they discover stories about the Chinese-Australian experience from the gold rush era to the present day.
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Interviewees:
- Alyssa Bunbury - Curator of the Grimwade Collection at the Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne
- Juanita Kwok - History and Heritage consultant with an interest in local histories in Australia and Chinese communities in rural Australia
- Charles Zhang - Committee member of the Chinese library and President of the Chinese Australian Cultural Society of Ballarat
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Music and sound effects for this episode of Uncurated were sourced from https://www.purple-planet.com and https://www.FesliyanStudios.com under relevant licensing agreements.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For First Nations people, art has been a vehicle to tell personal and universal stories for over 60,000 years. Ngarrindjeri artist Trevor Nickolls’ story is complex, exploring the history of dispossession and loss, and the hope and beauty of finding a way back to knowing. Breaking free of the assumptions and prejudices placed on First Nations artists by white society, his ground-breaking career inspired artists across the country to express their own identities. This week on Uncurated, Sean Ruse and Prealene Khera explore Nickolls’ life and legacy through his long-lost painting “Tightrope Walking”.
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Interviewees:
- Judith Ryan - former Senior Curator of Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Victoria
- Angelika Tyrone - Director and Owner of Australian & International Arts
- Tiriki Onus - Head of the Wilin Center for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development at the University of Melbourne
- Richard Bell - Renowned Artist and Activist
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Music and sound effects for this episode of Uncurated were sourced from freesound.org, freemusicarchive.org, Blue Dot Sessions and ABC News under relevant licensing agreements.
Dany Pkl by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).
Piano Tape Loop by Daniel Birch (https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
Trevor Nickolls’ interview with Emma Sleath on ABC (https://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2009/11/27/2754081.htm)
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The thylacine, better known as the Tasmanian Tiger, remains one of Australia’s most identifiable animals despite having gone extinct almost 100 years ago.
In its time, it was hunted, mishandled and neglected, yet people are still captivated by it today. They desperately hope the animal still exists in hiding, and one scientist at the University of Melbourne is on the brink of a discovery unlike any other...one that could reverse the fate of the thylacine and right the wrongs of the past.
This week on Uncurated, Aania Tandon and Sasha Gattermayr explore the story of this mystical animal and why it has not been forgotten.
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Interviewees:
- Rohan Long - Curator, Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology at The University of Melbourne
- Professor Andrew Pask - Professor in Epigenetics at The University of Melbourne
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Music and sound effects for this episode of Uncurated were sourced from SoundCloud, Incompetech, Adobe Sound and Youtube under relevant licensing agreements:
Ethereal - "Ethereal Relaxation" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Galvanic Birds by Jade Then - https://soundcloud.com/user-839269279/jade-then-galvanic-birds
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Our city streets are filled with statues of men who did things, with little permanent reminder of the women who have shaped Australian society. Julia Bella Guérin is one of these women.
Famous in her time for her achievements as Australia’s first female university graduate and a noted teacher, writer, orator and political organiser, Guérin has been all but forgotten by the history books.
This week on Uncurated, reporter Meghan Dansie sets out on a journey to examine the power of legacy and the politics of forgetting.
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Interviewees:
- Katie Wood – Senior Archivist at the University of Melbourne Archives
- Professor Clare Wright – Award-winning historian, author, broadcaster and public commentator. Current Professor of History and Professor of Public Engagement at La Trobe University.
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Music and sound effects for this episode of Uncurated were sourced from Purple Planet (https://www.purple-planet.com/), Pixabay, BBC Sound Effects (https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/), and SoundCloud under relevant licensing agreements.
- “Hope”/ Charlotte Chew/ Living Instruments/ https://soundcloud.com/user-839269279/charlotte-chew-hope
- “Forward Thinking”/ Purple Planet/ https://www.purple-planet.com/tracks/forward-thinking
- “Bright Ideas”/ https://www.purple-planet.com/tracks/bright-ideas
- “Crowd, interior, twenty men, club atmosphere”/ BBC Sound Effects/ https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/search?q=07039082
- “Audience in hall, cheers and applause” /BBC Sound Effects / https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/search?q=07047090
- “Harp Flourish”/ Nathan Manaker/ Pixabay/ https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/harp-flourish-6251/
- “Inspiring Piano”/ Purple Planet/ https://www.purple-planet.com/tracks/inspiring-piano
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An oil painting lost in a storeroom for decades, a dusty student card, a misplaced animal skull; these are some of the objects in the University of Melbourne's twelve museums. Each was forgotten in a different way.
Join students from the Centre for Advancing Journalism on a journey of unforgetting as they ask why some objects—and even people—were lost to history, and what this says about Australia.
Uncurated is a new six-part series coming very soon from the Centre for Advancing Journalism. Subscribe now to make sure you never miss an episode.
Episode 1 will be released on October 12.
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This week's News Bites guest is Jeff Sparrow, who has been writing opinion pieces for the past two decades. His new book, Provocations, brings together his best writing from this period.
Over the years, Jeff has written on topics as diverse as geological time and Australia’s history of slavery. He’s also seen countless media outlets close down, making it harder and harder to work as an opinion writer in Australia.
He spoke about his craft with The Yarn’s executive producer, Louisa Lim.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we're launching a new series called News Bites. It spotlights the journalism of staff and students at the Centre for Advancing Journalism.
Our first guest is lecturer Jo Chandler, who’s reported extensively on Australia's closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.
It's a place that's hard to report from. Many areas can only be reached by plane or boat. There's also political violence and corruption, with deadly brawls often spilling into the streets during election season
Jo's reporting often focuses on climate and health issues, as well as gender. For News Bites, she was interviewed by her colleague Jeff Sparrow.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Swarms of animals can wreak havoc. Just think of piranhas swarming their prey or locusts descending on farmland. But sometimes swarming behaviour can be benign, even beneficial.
This week, we’ll hear about hordes of animals from both ends of the spectrum. From pests running amok to endangered species swarming to fuel biodiversity.
Reporting by Die Hu, Harry Sekulich, and Bec Pridham.
These stories were produced for the Science Gallery and were developed with mentors from All The Best.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From ants to mice to locusts, we’ve looked at swarms of animals. Now we’re turning our attention to what happens when humans swarm. When our baser instincts take over, we can become irrational, even threatening. Especially en masse.
In our three stories this week, we’ll hear from victims, onlookers, and even someone who was part of a menacing horde.
Reporting by Chloe Macmillan, Lishan Chen, and Ying Wei.
These stories were produced for the Science Gallery and were developed with mentors from All The Best.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our bodies are incomprehensibly complex systems made up of tens of trillions of cells. But what happens when those cells become combatants on microscopic battle fields?
This week, we’re taking both micro and macro perspectives on human health with three stories about medical issues and the advocates trying to cure them. From what happens when cells swarm to whether medical collectives can improve your health.
Reporting by Jenny Cai, Pema Monaghan, Mustafa Nuristani.
These stories were produced for the Science Gallery and were developed with mentors from All The Best.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
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As smart phones, smart appliances, and even smart homes become more ubiquitous, it’s easy to lose track of where our data goes and who’s benefiting from it. Data swarms – and how they’re being used and abused – are part of our reality.
This week, we’re celebrating the opening of the Science Gallery’s new Swarm exhibition with three stories about data swarms – and how the collection of data is changing life as we know it.
Reporting by Clancy Balen, Fiona Wang, and Claudia Su.
These stories were produced for the Science Gallery and were developed with mentors from All The Best.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A government report has exposed a healthcare system pushed tobreaking point in rural New South Wales.
In the state’s central and far west, overworked nurses are taking on the roles of doctors, hospitals don’t have enough free beds, and vulnerable children aren’t getting the specialist care they need.
Today our guest is Jordyn Beazley, The Citizen’s former cadet journalist. She used a grant from the Michael Gordon Foundation to investigate this crisis. In a three-part collaboration between The Citizenand The Guardian, she reported on the rural communities hit hardest.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Australia’s new prime minister Anthony Albanese put indigenous affairs front and centre in his victory speech by committing to the Uluru statement—a petition that calls for a First Nations voice enshrined in the constitution.
But what impact will this have on the mainstream media’s blind spots when it comes to reporting on Aboriginal issues?
This week, our executive producer Louisa Lim explores these issues with Madeline Hayman-Reber, a Gomeroi woman and award-winning Indigenous affairs journalist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's the week after a federal election and we've got a new government. But as the dust settles on the mainstream media’s pre-election reporting, some of their oversights are becoming more visible.
This week our executive producer Louisa Lim unpacks the election coverage with Ruby Jones, the host of 7am, one of Australia’s most popular daily news podcasts.
She also tells Louisa about making 7am’s election miniseries and the ins and outs of producing a daily news podcast.
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Over the past month, we’ve heard from The Citizen’s reporters about their interviews with the residents of Chisholm in the lead up to the election.
In 2019, the electorate was one of the most marginal seats in the entire country but things were a little different this time around.
In our fourth and final episode, we’ll hear some post-election analysis from reporter Petra Stock and reflect on what it means for Chisholm to have both a new Prime Minister and a new MP.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been covering how ordinary Australians feel about the political candidates competing for their votes. We’ve been focussing on the constituency of Chisholm, one of the most marginal of all electorates.
This week, we’re flipping our focus to the election media coverage itself.
We’re bringing you a live panel discussion with some of the country’s top editors about how the coverage has unfolded and how the public is responding.
You’ll hear from Gay Alcorn of The Age, Lenore Taylor of The Guardian, Tom Zaunmayr of The National Indigenous Times, James Campbell of News Corp, and Misha Ketchell of The Conversation.
The panel is moderated by Associated Professor Andrew Dodd, the director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The electorate of Chisholm is not only the most marginal seat in Victoria, it’s also one of the most diverse. Almost half its residents were born overseas and almost one in six have Chinese ancestry.
The week, we’ll hear from reporters Jenny Cai and Caitlyn Duan about two of those residents and the concerns they’ll be taking to the ballot box later this month.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, we’re zeroing in on one of the most heated battlegrounds in this month’s election: the electorate of Chisholm in Victoria.
We’ll hear from reporters Meghan Dansie and Sean Ruse about two very different Chisholm voters and the issues they’re most passionate about. One is a teenager voting in her first ever federal election, the second has been voting for over a decade, but began questioning his political beliefs during the pandemic.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ahead of Australia’s general election on May 21, 2022, we’re launching a new miniseries about a key battleground in Victoria. It's called Chisholm, and it's one of the most marginal electorates in the country.
In today's episode, we're joined by reporter Petra Stock who explains why Chisholm's is so important.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As concerts halls cleared out and people cancelled their holidays, COVID dried up revenue streams for most leisure industries.
In today’s episode of generation COVID, our journalists investigate how workers got creative in their efforts to move their jobs from the stage and streets to their bedrooms.
Reporting by Chenyang Han, Christopher M. Harley, Jade Murray, and Zhixin Zhang
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
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During the world's longest lockdown, Melbournians yearned for their lives to return to normal. Now that restrictions have eased, some are finding that things aren't quite as normal as they'd hoped.
From the way we’re getting married, to how the most vulnerable people have slipped through the cracks, it's becoming clear that things may never go back to the way they were before.
In our first episode of Generation Covid, four reporters look into our our post-lockdown society.
Reporting by Meghan Dansie, Sasha Gattermayr, Ann Khorany, and Nick Doyle.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If there’s one thing humans love, it’s doing things en masse.
From fashion to collecting data, building algorithms, and social contact, we always seem to demand more. Sometimes, finding the balance is difficult. And we don't always get it right. This week on Swarm our journalists investigate the dark side of swarm behaviour.
Reporting by Yue Jiang, Maya Pilbrow, and Julie Barman.
These stories have been produced as part of an upcoming exhibition with the Science Gallery Melbourne. They were developed together with mentors from All The Best.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Have you ever looked at a group of ants carrying food back to the colony, and wondered how they know how to work together so well? Or pondered how storks know how to migrate from Europe to North-Africa for the winter? Well, there’s a word for it: Stigmergy.
From the behaviour of insects to, jellyfish blooms and mice plagues, our reporters investigate what drives animals to band together, and how our changing environment may be affecting them. Reporting by Angus Thompson, Amalyah Hart, and Matthew Hall.
These stories have been produced as part of an upcoming exhibition with the Science Galley Melbourne. They were developed together with mentors from All The Best.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at The University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We all desperately want to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Instinct tells us when we band together, we can achieve amazing things. But our desire to belong can drive us – and our environment – to strange places.
In part one of our new series Swarm, we present three stories about the lengths we go to for connection, and the hidden price we sometimes pay. Reporting by Julie Fenwick, Nyima Lhamo Wangchuk, and Josh Nevett.
These stories have been produced as part of an upcoming exhibition with the Science Gallery Melbourne. They were developed together with mentors from All The Best.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at The University of Melbourne
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What if the Murray River could sing? Well, it turns out that it can.
In this special edition of The Yarn, a co-production with ABC Radio National, outgoing 2021 Citizen graduate cadet Jordyn Beazley reports on what the river song tells about the history and health of this vital waterway, its ecology, and its troubled future.
This audio feature was developed for Radio National’s Science Friction program, where it was originally produced and presented by Natasha Mitchell. It was supported by a fellowship grant awarded by the Science Journalists Association of Australia.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at the University of Melbourne.
Original audio and other great Science Friction episodes can be found here: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/sciencefriction/murray-river-sound-sonification/13647928
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Last semester, one of our journalist students – Josie Hess – pitched an idea about life in Victoria’s coal country. That’s in Gippsland, around 160 kilometres east of Melbourne. They wanted to know: what does life after coal look like in a nation still reliant on fossil fuels? And who’s fighting for it?
Today, a preview of Coal Face episode two, After The Smoke – The Hazelwood Mine Fire. Coal Face is created and presented by Josie Hess and Steph Sabrinskas. This episode also features activist Wendy Farmer. Full episodes of Coal Face can be found at coalfacepodcast.com.
The Yarn is produced by the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at the University of Melbourne.
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How far would you go for the perfect body?
Mounting scientific evidence points to alarming health risks associated with taking bodybuilding supplements at a young age. But the question remains: why are so many young men turning to potentially harmful supplements in such large numbers?
In part two of Hulk Pressure, reporter Harry Sekulich investigates male body image, and the pressures young men face in trying to achieve the perfect body.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at the University of Melbourne.
The following episode contains descriptions of mental health struggles, and experiences of eating disorders. If this episode brings up anything for you, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 334 673.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What’s the cost of a perfect body? For some young Australian men, it could be lifelong liver damage.
Under-regulated and readily available straight off the shelf, bodybuilding supplements are being consumed in growing numbers by adolescent males. But many of them haven’t been tested on teenage bodies, and no one knows the true extent of what the damage may be.
In part one of our two-part series Hulk Pressure, Harry Sekulich investigates supplements, male body image, and the hidden toll this is taking on young men.
The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at the University of Melbourne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Minds are messy, complicated things. But we can make them work for us...not against us. This week we focus on catharsis.
From emotional support animals, to conquering seasonal affective disorder and finding peace with the grieving process, our reporters investigate the capacity for emotional and mental healing.
Reporting by Anthony Marsicotevere, Stephanie Zhang, and Sean Goodwin.
This episode is made in collaboration with All the Best Radio and the Science Gallery Melbourne. Their new exhibition MENTAL: Head Inside is a welcoming place to confront societal bias and stereotypes around mental health. It runs from 20.01.22 -18.06.22
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Birds, small spaces, holes – our phobias don't always have to make sense for them to control our lives. But is there a way to break free from the anxieties we carry with us?
From a fear of getting pregnant, to deep water, and the thrill of horror movies, our journalists dig down into what terrifies us and why we might sometimes even enjoy scaring ourselves.
Reporting by Alyssa Herr, Li Yongrong,and Chenlu Chen.
This episode is made in collaboration with All the Best Radio and the Science Gallery Melbourne. Their new exhibition MENTAL: Head Inside is a welcoming place to confront societal bias and stereotypes around mental health. It runs from 20.01.22 -18.06.22
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We all carry baggage of some kind, in one way or another. In part two of our series MENTAL, we look at the neurological nuances that define us, separate us, and bring us together.
From epilepsy in Russian literature to Heavy Metal therapy and learning to live with Aphasia, we look at the beauty and complexity of neurodivergence.
Reporting by Zoe Stinson, Jesse Turland, Anthea van den Bergh, and Sophie Berrill.
This episode is made in collaboration with All the Best Radio and the Science Gallery Melbourne. Their new exhibition MENTAL: Head Inside is a welcoming place to confront societal bias and stereotypes around mental health. It runs from 20.01.22 -18.06.22
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Our brains are fickle things.
This week we bring you four stories that explore our stigmas, fears, and fantasies as we take a look under the hood and ask: why do we do what we do?
This week is all about the new you – from behaviour shaping algorithms to 'smart' pills, our journalists investigate how the ‘you’ in your head might not always be making the decisions. Reporting by Nell Gereats, Xiyu Zha, Daniel Pfaender,and Peter Quattrocelli.
This episode is made in collaboration with the Science Gallery Melbourne. Their new exhibition MENTAL: Head Inside is a welcoming place to confront societal bias and stereotypes around mental health. It runs from 20.01.22 -18.06.22
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While Australia becomes increasingly infamous for being a laggard on climate action, many everyday Australians have decided to break ranks and take action into their own hands. From the picket line to the court room, on our final episode of Tales of the Environment we hear how three Australians are pushing for a greener future. Clancy Balen, Thomas Phillips, Jenny CaiandJordyn Beazley report.
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Forests are among the most biodiverse places in the world and are crucial to regulating the planet’s weather and hauling back the climate change. But so much has been cleared that scientists warn a sixth mass extinction event has been triggered on earth. In our second episode our Tales of the Environment podcast, we hear how three Australians are fighting tooth and nail to save Australia’s forests. Clancy Balen, Thomas Phillips, Jenny CaiandJordyn Beazley report.
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In Australia, where the mercury now sometimes nears 50 degrees Celsius - or 122 degrees Fahrenheit, people are grappling with a confronting question: what happens when their country becomes too hot to live in? Kicking off part one of our new three-part series Tales of the Environment, we hear how a doctor is looking to Indigenous knowledge, why heat is becoming a wealth issue, and the hopeful story of an endangered fish that walks along the ocean floor.
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"If you're not cynical about the rhetoric on climate change, then you're not paying attention."
This episode is a live panel on the future of climate reporting beyond COP26 addressing journalistic responsibility and the Murdoch media's U-turn on climate change. It brings together Jo Chandler and Jeff Sparrow from the Centre for Advancing Journalism; the co-editor of Overland Evelyn Araluen; and Guardian Australia editor Lenore Taylor, and Environment Writer Adam Morton. The Yarn is the Centre for Advancing Journalism's podcast showcasing journalism from students and staff at the University of Melbourne.
Episode notes:
The Guardian Australia's podcast series is called Australia Vs the Climate. Jeff Sparrow's new book, just out, is Crimes Against Nature; Capitalism and Global Heating, published by Scribe.
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