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  • Professor Trevor Cullen

    Professor Trevor Cullen

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Professor Trevor Cullen

Honorary Professor

Staff Member Details
Email: t.cullen@ecu.edu.au
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6705-0665

Trevor is a Professor of Journalism within the School of Arts and Humanities.

Current Teaching

  • CMM1304 - Writing for the Media
  • CMM5175 - Journalism in the New Media

Background

Trevor has received several university and national teaching and research awards. His research areas include journalism education, health reporting and media coverage of infectious diseases, especially HIV. He is a member of the International AIDS Society (IAS), and he has been described as one of the top researchers in Australia on media and HIV. Trevor conducts workshops in Asia and the Pacific on reporting HIV and he works as a reporter at international AIDS conferences.

In 2015, Trevor received an Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching National Teaching Fellowship, followed in 2016 with the Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT). He is the first journalism educator in Australia to receive these awards. In 2017, he was appointed Associate Dean – Design, Media and Communications and Professor of Journalism.

Professional Associations

  • 2009 - National Advisory Board on the reporting of mental health.
  • 2007 - International AIDS Society, (IAS)
  • 2007 - International Association for Media and Communication Research, (IAMCR)
  • 2006 - Asian Media Information and Communication, (AMIC)
  • 2006 - Amnesty International, (AI)
  • 2005 - Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, (ACIJ)
  • 2003 - Australian Catholic Press Association, (ACPA)
  • 2002 - Australian Journalists Association, (AJA)
  • 2002 - National Tertiary Education Union, (NTEU)
  • 1999 - Australasian Medical Writers Association, (AMWA)
  • 1998 - Journalism Education Association of Australia, (JEAA)

Awards and Recognition

University and National Teaching Awards

  • 2016 - Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT)
  • 2016 - ECU Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
  • 2015 - OLT National Teaching Fellowship
  • 2010 - ECU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Engagement in Learning and Teaching
  • 2009 - ECU Professional Development Scholarship
  • 2008 - Carrick Institute Citation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
  • 2008 - ECU Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
  • 2007 - ECU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

National and International Research Positions

  • Accepted as a member of the European International Research Staff Exchange Program (IRSES)
  • Visiting Professor at the Communication of China Visiting Professor at Landau university in Germany
  • Appointed as an Assessor for the Australian Research Council
  • Appointed Research Fellow at the Pacific Media Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

Research areas and interests

  • Journalism education
  • Curriculum development
  • Developing communication skills
  • Health communications
  • HIV Journalism

Qualifications

  • Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, Edith Cowan University, 2008.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in field of Journalism, The University of Queensland, 2000.
  • Master of Arts in International Journalism, England, 1993.

Research Outputs

2023

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T., Glitsos, L., Burns, A. (2023). Revisiting news editors’ evaluation of journalism courses and graduate employability. Australian Journalism Review, 45(1), 73-92. https://doi.org/10.1386/ajr_00119_1.

2019

Journal Articles

2017

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2017). Capstone units and the transition from university to Professional life. Australian Journalism Review, 39(1), 89-98.

2016

Journal Articles

Conference Publications

  • Cullen, T. (2016). An overview of Tertiary journalism capstone units and the need for agreed principles and standards. Research and Development in Higher Education: The Shape of Higher Education. Refereed papers from the 39th HERDSA Annual International Conference (66-73). HERDSA.
  • Cullen, T., Callaghan, R. (2016). Local community engagement: A pilot project that promotes better understanding of diseases. Proceedings of Teaching and Learning Forum 2016 (8p.). Curtin University.

2015

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2015). A Capstone Unit for Tertiary Journalism Programs That Aims to Facilitate the Demonstration of Graduate Capabilities. Asia Pacific Media Educator, 25(2), 297-304. https://doi.org/10.1177/1326365X15604939.

2014

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2014). News editors evaluate journalism courses and graduate employability. Asia Pacific media Educator, 24(2), 209-224. https://doi.org/10.1177/1326365X14555283.
  • Cullen, T. (2014). Mind the Gap: Health reporting in the Pacific. Pacific Journalism Review, 20(1), 200-212.

Conference Publications

  • Cullen, T., Tanner, S., O'Donnell, M., Green, K. (2014). Industry needs and tertiary journalism education: Views from news editors. Transformative, innovative and engaging. Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Teaching Learning Forum (1-6). Curtin University.
  • Uridge, L., Green, L., Rodan, D., Cullen, T. (2014). A vulnerable community of heart patients re/constructs media stories about cardiovascular disease. Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Annual Conference, 2014 (1). ANZCA.

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Cullen, T. (2014). A tale of two epidemics: media reporting on Ebola. The Conversation. The Conversation.
  • Cullen, T. (2014). Google Doctor: it's popular but is it accurate?. Edith Magazine. Edith Cowan University.
  • Cullen, T. (2014). Perspective: A fresh approach on tacking HIV awareness in WA. Perspectives. Science Network WA.
  • Cullen, T. (2014). Media reports of HIV can be part of the problem - or the solution. The Conversation. The Conversation.

2013

Book Chapters

  • Cullen, T. (2013). Health Reporting: Opportunities and Challenges?. Journalism Research and Investigation in a Digital World (232-242). Oxford University Press.

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2013). Exploring ways to improve online health news stories. eJournalist, 13(2), 59-72.

Conference Publications

  • Cullen, T. (2013). Online health information: shortcomings and challenges. Refereed Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference: Global Networks-Global Divides: Bridging New and Traditional Communication Challenges (10 p.). Australian and New Zealand Communication Association.

2012

Journal Articles

  • Stewart, H., Williams, M., Cullen, T., Johnston, M., Phillips, G., Mulligan, P., Bowman, L., Meadows, M. (2012). Teaching Journalism students how to tell indigenous stories in an informed way: a work integrated learning approach. Asia Pacific Media Educator, 22(1), 55-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/1326365X1202200106.

2011

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2011). Health reporting: The missing links. ejournalist, 11(2), 137-148.

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Cullen, T. (2011). Chinese Christians in Western Australia. Chung Wah Association Centenary Celebration. Chung Wah Association.

2010

Book Chapters

  • Cullen, T. (2010). Reporting HIV and its Broader Impact in Asia: The case of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Liberalizing, Feminizing and Popularizing Health Communications in Asia (43- 58). Ashgate Publishing Limited.

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T., Callaghan, R. (2010). The use of narrative fiction to spread HIV information in Papua New Guinea. ejournalist, 10(2), 32- 44.
  • Cullen, T. (2010). Student journalists learn about Aboriginal communities and culture in Western Australia. Asia Pacific Media Educator, 20(December), 153-162.
  • Cullen, T., Callaghan, R. (2010). Promises, promises: Are Australian universities deceiving journalism students?. Australian Journalism Review, 32(2), 115 - 127.
  • Cullen, T., Callaghan, R. (2010). Reporting HIV in Papua New Guinea: Trends and omissions from 2000 to 2010. Pacific Journalism Review, 16(2), 163-177.

2009

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2009). Health Communication Theories: Implications for HIV Reporting in Asia and the Pacific. Asia Pacific Media Educator, 2009(19), 99-111.

Conference Publications

  • Cullen, T. (2009). The Catalyst Clemente project: Making journalism education accessible to disadvantaged Australians. Journalism Education Association of Australia (JEAA) Conference proceedings (6p.). Journalism Education Association of Australia.

2008

Conference Publications

  • Cullen, T. (2008). Reporting HIV and HIV Communication Theories. Changing Media, Changing Societies: Media and the Millennium Development Goals (21). Asian Media Information and Communication Centre.

2007

Book Chapters

  • Cullen, T. (2007). The Impact of HIV on Development in the Pacific. Development Issues and Challenges for the Media in the Pacific (1-13). South Pacific Books.

Conference Publications

  • Cullen, T. (2007). 25 Years of Reporting HIV: What Lessons Can Pacific Journalists Learn?. Changing Demands on Journalists and the Challenge for Journalism Educators (On line). Massey University, Wellington NZ.

2006

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2006). HIV/AIDS in PNG: A reality check. Pacific Journalism Review, 12(1), 155-168.
  • Cullen, T. (2006). HIV/AIDS: 25 years of press coverage. Australian Journalism Review, 28(2), 187-198.

2005

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2005). Press coverage of HIV/AIDS in PNG: Is it sufficient to report only the news?. Australian Studies in Journalism, 15, 133-150.

2003

Journal Articles

  • Cullen, T. (2003). HIV/AIDS: 20 years of press coverage. Australian Studies in Journalism, 12(Dec), 64-82.
  • Cullen, T. (2003). Press coverage of HIV/AIDS in the South Pacific: A short-term view of a long-time problem. Pacific Journalism Review, 9(Sept), 138-148.

Research Projects

  • Health Reporting in the Pacific Region: Challenges and Opportunities, Edith Cowan University, School of Arts and Humanities Research Grant Scheme 2017, 2017 ‑ 2018, $9,900.
  • A capstone unit for journalism programmes to facilitate the demonstration of graduate capabilities, Office for Learning and Teaching, OLT - Fellowship, 2015 ‑ 2017, $90,000.
  • Narratives in health communication - a multi-disciplinary approach to strengthen understanding of the roles and uses of narratives in conveying health information and changing health behaviours, European Commission, Marie Curie Actions - IRSES, 2013 ‑ 2017, $123,525.
  • Beyond the Red Ribbon: Improving HIV and STI awareness and responses through media and community engagement, Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration Grant - 2014 (Round 1), 2014 ‑ 2015, $37,256.
  • Graduate Qualities and Journalism Curriculum Renewal: Balancing Tertiary Expectations and Industry Needs in a Changing Technological Environment, Office for Learning and Teaching, OLT - Innovation and Development Grant, 2012 ‑ 2013, $10,404.
  • Construction of the subject as heart patient in the context of the gift economy, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (APAI), 2007 ‑ 2012, $110,047.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

No data available

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Charismatic televangelism in India: A case study of Christian Broadcasting Network's impact on the church and community in India.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Representations of obesity in newspapers: A comparative study between China and Australia

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, A study of the emergence, impacts and responses to trolling in the Australian news media
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