Melanie James pursues two parallel research paths - firstly a PhD program examining the construction of meaning in public relations campaigns (scheduled to complete end of 2010) and secondly a research program examining the application possibilities of social/new media in public relations teaching and learning.
She currently supervises Honours and Summer Scholarship research students at the University of Newcastle.
Research Grants awarded since 2006:
- 2010 Equity Research Fellowship $24600
- 2009 New Staff Grant $10000
- 2009 IGS Grant $2300
- 2008 RIGB Grant $2,268
- 2008 IGS Grant $4000
- 2008 Travel Grant $1629
- 2007 Travel Grant $1394
Melanie's paper on Intentional Positioning in Government Communication Campaigns has been accepted for Bledcom July 2010. Read more
2007-10 publications:
- James, M. (in press) A provisional conceptual framework for intentional positioning in public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research.
- James, M. (2009) The Heart of Public Relations: the concept of strategic intent. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Relations. 10.
- James, M (2009) “The construction of intended meanings: furthering understanding of the purpose of public relations”. In T. Flew (Ed.) Communication, Creativity and Global Citizenship: Refereed Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Communications Association Annual Conference, Brisbane, July 8-10. ISBN 987-1-74107-275-4. Available at: http://www.proceedings.anzca09.org
- James, M. (2009) Public Relations strategy to proactively manage activity. In J, Chia & G. Synott (eds) Public Relations Theory and Practice. Oxford University: North Melbourne.
- James, M. (2007/8) A review of the impact of new media on public relations: Challenges for terrain, practice and education. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Relations. 8, 137 - 148. (C1)
- James, M. (2008), Driving learning through blogging: Students’ perceptions of a reading journal blog assessment task, in: Prism, V5(1&2):pp.1-12. (C1)
- James, M. (2008) The reading journal blog assessment task: Public relations’ students’ perceptions. Australia New Zealand Communication Association 2008 conference refereed proceedings – ANZCA08, Wellington, New Zealand. 9-11 July 2008. This paper received the Public Relations Stream Coordinator’s commendation for a refereed paper. (E1)
- James, M. (2008) No Longer Playing At The Margins: The journey of refining a PhD research question – part one, in Proceedings of the 2007 RHD Student Congress: School of Design, Communication and IT, Faculty of Science and IT, University of Newcastle, Australia.
Books:
James, M. (2006) Public Relations. Career FAQs: Sydney. ISBN: 1 921106 36 0
See http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/TitleDetail.aspx?TitID=38
James, M. (2007) Careers @gov.au – Shaping Australia’s Future. Career FAQs: Sydney. ISBN: 978 192 1106 48 42007. See http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/TitleDetail.aspx?TitID=70
Presentations include:
2008 - Presentation to the PRIA Academic Forum, Sydney - A review of the impact of new media on public relations: Challenges for terrain, practice and education
2008 - Australia New Zealand Communication Association 2008 conference – ANZCA08, Wellington, New Zealand. 9-11 July 2008. Presented peer reviewed paper: The reading journal blog assessment task: Public relations’ students’ perceptions.
August 2008 “Enhancing Course Assessment” Workshop conducted for university academic staff by the Centre for Teaching and Learning – Melanie James co-presented with Heather Sharp (CTL).
September 2008 “Using Blogs to increase students' preparation for tutorials” – invited presentation to the School of Nursing academic staff, Callaghan campus.
2008 “Achieving Intended Outcomes” a presentation of my doctoral research in progress – presented at the Public Relations Institute of Australia National Conference - Academic Forum, 12-10-2008 Murdoch University, Fremantle.
March 2009 Blogging as an assessment task – guest presentation to 'Follow up session for course design and course conversion' conducted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (Tammy Robinson – coordinator).
April 2009 – Positioning Theory in Public Relations – a presentation of my doctoral research in progress, DCIT Research Seminar.
August 2009 - Is Social media transformational for public relations? Panel member (via Skype webcam) UGConnect: Connect 2009: Integrating Social Media and Traditional PR University of Georgia, USA.
October 2009 - Presentation to the PRIA Academic Forum, QUT, Brisbane, Australia. "The Heart of Public Relations: the concept of strategic intent".
January 2010 - Guest panelist on PRStudentChat
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