National Media Engagement Project
Responsible government
- Commonwealth
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Primary prevention is key
- 1 Advance gender equality and respect for women through effective primary prevention initiatives.
What are we doing?
Our Watch will undertake Phase Three of this project, working in collaboration with the media to address the drivers of violence against women, as well as positively influence the way media report on and engage with victims of violence.
For more information, go to the Our Watch website.
- The Commonwealth Government will provide $1.4 million between 2019–20 and 2021–22 to fund the National Media Engagement Project.
What have we achieved so far?
- One newsroom training session was delivered in early 2020, and Our Watch has re designed the training for online delivery.
- Sixteen journalists were selected as Our Watch fellows attended three retreats in 2021 to build and refine their knowledge of best practice reporting on violence against women. One face-to-face fellowship was delivered in April, and two others were delivered virtually in February and June.
- Nine external consultations were conducted from the seven Voices for Change projects across Australia in July 2020 about the Phase Three Sustainability and Engagement Plan.
- Our Watch has engaged with the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia to develop and enhance resources for journalism university students.
- An evaluation of Phase Two of the National Media Engagement project was finalised in December 2019.
- An evaluation plan for Phase Three was developed, which aligns with Counting on Change – a guide to prevention monitoring.
- Website metrics have shown a 200% increase in traffic to the Media Making Change website.
- One Media Making Change newsletter was delivered in early 2021.
What is next?
- Delivery of the project’s activities will continue through to June 2022.
- Our Watch will further develop and continuously update the Media Making Change website and associated resources.
- Our Watch will continue to work with journalists already engaged in the program and explore ways to reach journalists not yet engaged.
- Our Watch will use ‘teachable moments’ including high profile new stories on violence against women, to deliver training or distribute resources.
- An evaluation will be finalised in June 2022.
- Two knowledge and skill-sharing forum events on intersectional representations in the media are on track to be delivered in October 2021.
- Our Watch will deliver additional resources and capacity building with a focus on reporting sexual harassment, in response to Recommendation 13 of the Australian Human Rights Commission Respect@Work report.
What difference will we make?
Relevant outcome indicators may include:
- Proportion of news stories related to violence against women that demonstrate best practice in reporting.
- Number of media organisations with policies on best-practice reporting related to violence against women.