Academic takes the road less travelled
Dr Mia Lindgren and Michelle Rayner
A senior lecturer is treading the rarely-trekked path from academia into industry, leaving her teaching duties to undertake a placement with ABC Radio National.
Dr Mia Lindgren, from Monash University's School of Journalism, Indigenous and Australian Studies, is currently completing a one-semester secondment with Radio National’s Social History and Features Unit at the ABC’s Melbourne headquarters.
“It has always been easy for journalists to move into academe, but there is no clear pathway for academics who want to return to industry,” Dr Lindgren said.
“Being able to practice journalism is really important for me as a journalism academic. My professional practice informs both my teaching and my research. When this position became available I saw it as an opportunity to continue to participate.”
Michelle Rayner, Executive Producer on ABC radio's Hindsight program, said Radio National was a perfect fit for academics, and gave the ABC the opportunity to recognise and develop the skills of those coming from the tertiary education sector.
“Dr Lindgren is the first academic we have had undertaking hands-on program production for a sustained period, - instead of as a one-off project - within the unit and we would love to be able to offer this opportunity for a production-based secondment in the future,” Ms Rayner said.
“We need to develop more outcome-based collaborations with people currently in the university sector with the craft skills for documentary making; if we don’t find ways to engage with journalism and other humanities-based academics then the industry is in danger of a drainage of skills.”
The secondment has allowed Dr Lindgren to exercise her creativity, and she has developed two radio documentaries, one on C. Y. O’Connor, the man responsible for the construction of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme between Perth and Kalgoorlie, and the other on identity and citizenship.
Dr Lindgren said her time at the ABC highlighted the need for academics to maintain relationships with those working in the industry.
“It is important to stay relevant especially as the media is changing so fast,” Dr Lindgren said.
“This opportunity with the ABC has enabled me to build strong bonds with the industry and develop relationships that will benefit my students.”
Dr Lindgren will return to lecturing at the University in Semester 2.