new zealand’s pbrf regime: what lessons it holds for the era and journalism research in australia...
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New Zealand’s PBRF regime: New Zealand’s PBRF regime: What lessons it holds for the ERA and What lessons it holds for the ERA and
journalism research in Australiajournalism research in Australia
Paper presented to the Paper presented to the ““The future of journalism research in Australia: The future of journalism research in Australia: Addressing the 2010 ERA round”Addressing the 2010 ERA round” conference
February 19, 2010February 19, 2010University of Technology, Sydney, AustraliaUniversity of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Dr Grant HannisDr Grant HannisHead of Journalism ProgramHead of Journalism Program
Dept of Communication, Journalism and MarketingDept of Communication, Journalism and MarketingMassey University, WellingtonMassey University, Wellington
New ZealandNew Zealand
[email protected]@massey.ac.nz
What I’ll discussWhat I’ll discuss
PBRFPBRF
Performance of Journalism in the PBRFPerformance of Journalism in the PBRF
Journalism as research in the PBRFJournalism as research in the PBRF
How to maximise gradeHow to maximise grade
ConclusionConclusion
The PBRFThe PBRF
The PBRF – Govt funding of research in NZThe PBRF – Govt funding of research in NZ
2003, 2006, all universities involved, some 2003, 2006, all universities involved, some technical institutestechnical institutes
Next round 2012 Next round 2012
Period 2007-2012 PBRF will allocate about Period 2007-2012 PBRF will allocate about $NZ1.5 billion$NZ1.5 billion
The PBRFThe PBRF The TEC allocates PBRF funds to each The TEC allocates PBRF funds to each
institution on the basis of its research activities, institution on the basis of its research activities, particularly the quality of its research output. particularly the quality of its research output.
Each PBRF-eligible staff member prepares an Each PBRF-eligible staff member prepares an evidence portfolio (EP), considered by evidence portfolio (EP), considered by independent assessment panelsindependent assessment panels
Explicit weightingsExplicit weightings
The PBRFThe PBRF Each researcher is graded:Each researcher is graded:
- A (World class)A (World class)- B (High quality, at least national recognition)B (High quality, at least national recognition)- C (Reasonable)C (Reasonable)- C(NE) (Completed a doctorate/equivalent, 2 publications)C(NE) (Completed a doctorate/equivalent, 2 publications)- R, R(NE) (Below C)R, R(NE) (Below C)
Each institution and subject area receives an aggregate Each institution and subject area receives an aggregate numerical score based on these gradesnumerical score based on these grades
Performance of JournalismPerformance of JournalismQuality scores of selected subject areas, 2006 PBRF round
Ranking Subject area (PBRF-eligible fulltime equivalent staff)Quality score
1 Philosophy (68) 5.152 Earth Sciences (137) 4.773= Biomedical (222) 4.653= Physics (106) 4.65
35 Communications, Journalism & Media Studies (132) 1.9940 Education (978) 1.3141 Design (83) 1.2742 Nursing (243) 0.49n.a. Average for Humanities and Social Sciences (1477) 3.46n.a. Average for PBRF (8077) 2.96
Relative success of traditional research disciplines, cf practical courses taught at technical institutes
Performance of JournalismPerformance of Journalism
Performance of JournalismPerformance of Journalism
As a result of PBRF, increasing emphasis on As a result of PBRF, increasing emphasis on production of journal articles, and research in production of journal articles, and research in Journalism programs, at least among the Journalism programs, at least among the universitiesuniversities
Research-active staff have been hired, existing staff Research-active staff have been hired, existing staff encouraged to obtain research qualifications, and encouraged to obtain research qualifications, and research-inactive tutors used more for teaching research-inactive tutors used more for teaching
At same time, cannot sacrifice teaching of At same time, cannot sacrifice teaching of vocational Journalism programsvocational Journalism programs
Journalism as researchJournalism as research
Vexed questionVexed question
Journalism (esp. investigative journalism) can be Journalism (esp. investigative journalism) can be research-intensive, quality assured, lengthy research-intensive, quality assured, lengthy articles, high impactarticles, high impact
But rounds make it clear research typically theory-But rounds make it clear research typically theory-driven, published in journals, not routine driven, published in journals, not routine professional practice. professional practice.
Journalism as researchJournalism as research
In Australia, under ERA, journalism academics arguing In Australia, under ERA, journalism academics arguing journalism is “creative works”. But ARC has graded journalism is “creative works”. But ARC has graded thousands of thousands of academic academic journalsjournals
In NZ, creative disciplines have typically done poorly in In NZ, creative disciplines have typically done poorly in PBRF - eg, Design (1.27), Theatre and Dance, Film, PBRF - eg, Design (1.27), Theatre and Dance, Film, Television and Multimedia (1.82) Television and Multimedia (1.82)
Only Music, Literary Arts and Other Arts did well Only Music, Literary Arts and Other Arts did well (3.34), due to academic research(3.34), due to academic research
Journalism as researchJournalism as research
Calls for assessment panels to give greater weight to Calls for assessment panels to give greater weight to non-academic research, change composition of panelsnon-academic research, change composition of panels
Costly, goes beyond remitCostly, goes beyond remit
Govt’s Govt’s Tertiary Education Strategy 2010-2015Tertiary Education Strategy 2010-2015: PBRF : PBRF must recognise research that has “direct relevance to must recognise research that has “direct relevance to the needs of firms and its dissemination to them” (p. the needs of firms and its dissemination to them” (p. 16) 16)
Maximising grade Maximising grade
Use time wisely – focus on international journal Use time wisely – focus on international journal publication, collect material as you go, mock publication, collect material as you go, mock rounds, performance assessmentsrounds, performance assessments
Produce – turnaround can be >year, coherent Produce – turnaround can be >year, coherent platform of research platform of research
High impact – ARC rankings, impact factors, put High impact – ARC rankings, impact factors, put on your websiteon your website
Maximising grade Maximising grade
Well-presented portfolio: panels has short time, do not Well-presented portfolio: panels has short time, do not bury best work (quality-assured only)bury best work (quality-assured only)
Prizes, JEA could establish research prizesPrizes, JEA could establish research prizes
Research teams, staging conferences, (guest) editing Research teams, staging conferences, (guest) editing journals journals
Lobby institution for support – research time, training in Lobby institution for support – research time, training in preparing evidencepreparing evidence
ConclusionConclusion
Published journalism may not fare particularly well in ERA Published journalism may not fare particularly well in ERA initially, but many journalism skills will serve journalism initially, but many journalism skills will serve journalism scholars well: scholars well:
- InterviewingInterviewing- ResearchingResearching- NetworkingNetworking- Time managementTime management- WritingWriting- PublishingPublishing
New Zealand’s PBRF regime: New Zealand’s PBRF regime: What lessons it holds for the ERA and What lessons it holds for the ERA and
journalism research in Australiajournalism research in Australia
Paper presented to the Paper presented to the ““The future of journalism research in Australia: The future of journalism research in Australia: Addressing the 2010 ERA round”Addressing the 2010 ERA round” conference
February 19, 2010February 19, 2010University of Technology, Sydney, AustraliaUniversity of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Dr Grant HannisDr Grant HannisHead of Journalism ProgramHead of Journalism Program
Dept of Communication, Journalism and MarketingDept of Communication, Journalism and MarketingMassey University, WellingtonMassey University, Wellington
New ZealandNew Zealand
[email protected]@massey.ac.nz