Research interests
Children's and youth literature and media; digital literacies; television studies; multiplatform textualities; narratology; screen media and children’s environmental and health knowledges and consumption practices; animation and graphic genres; fantasy; nineteenth-century women's poetry and publishing; media and publishing history; empirical social research methods; critical institutional analysis
Affiliations
- Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)
- Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)
- International Association for Communication and Media Research (IAMCR)
- Raising Children Australia
- International Communications Association (ICA)
-
Australian and New Zealand Communications Association (ANZCA)
Teaching interests
- Children's and Youth Literature and Multiplatform Textualities
- Adaptation
- Narrative Theory
- Research led writing projects
Units taught
- ALL228 - The Golden Age in Children's Literature
- ALL230 - Re-imagining literature for Young People
- ALL721 - Writing Fiction for Young Adults
- ALL 784 - Writing and Film
- ALL743 - Foundations in Narrative Theory
Knowledge areas
Children's and youth literature and media; multiplatform textualities; narratology; digital literacies; digital television industry; television studies; longitudinal data analysis; role of media on children's health and behavioural outcomes; nineteenth-century women's poetry and publishing; media and publishing history; empirical social research methods; critical institutional analysis
Research groups
- Leader: Teenagers Reading and Digital Practices Research Group, Affililated with the Strategic Research Centre for Educational Impact
- Crisis Energy Publication Syndicate
- The Warrnambool Collective
Projects
Current Research Projects
- Teen Reading and Digital Practices, http://www.teenreading.net
- Early childhood digital media practices and their health, sustainability and consumption behaviours.
Publications
Beyond the "good story" and sales history: where is the reader in the publishing process?
K Johanson, L Rutherford, B Reddan
(2022), pp. 1-16, Cultural Trends, London, England, C1
Samantha Stephens, Leonie Rutherford
(2021), Vol. 59, pp. 58-68, Bookbird: A Journal of International Children’s Literature, Basel, Germany, C1
The use of reader response in the practice of readers and writers: A case study
Michelle Mcrae, Leonie Rutherford, Geoff Boucher
(2020), Vol. 18, pp. 1-21, Synergy, Melbourne, Vic., C1
Using modernist techniques to promote deep reading in Y.A. fiction
L Rutherford, M McRae
(2019), Vol. 16, pp. 128-138, New writing, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Adolescents' attitudes toward talking about books: implications for educators
M Merga, M McRae, L Rutherford
(2018), Vol. 52, pp. 36-53, English in education, Chichester, Eng., C1
Influences on Australian adolescents' recreational reading
A Singleton, L Rutherford, M Merga
(2018), Vol. 41, pp. 44-56, The Australian journal of language and literacy, Norwood, S. Aust, C1
L Rutherford, Andrew Singleton, Leonee Derr, Margaret Merga
(2018), Vol. 37, pp. 318-340, Public library quarterly, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Heather Morris, Susan Edwards, Amy Cutter-Mackenzie, L Rutherford, Janet Williams-Smith, Helen Skouteris
(2018), Vol. 43, pp. 33-42, Australasian journal of early childhood, Canberra, A.C.T., C1
Countours of teenagers' reading in the digital era: scoping the research
L Rutherford, L Waller, M Merga, M Mcrae, E Bullen, K Johanson
(2017), Vol. 23, pp. 27-46, New review of children's literature and librarianship, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Teen reading in the digital era: Snapshot Report March 2017
L Rutherford, K Johanson, L Waller, M McRae
(2017), Burwood, Victoria, A6
Body consciousness and adolescence in The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011)
L Rutherford
(2016), pp. 253-274, Children in the films of Steven Spielberg, Lanham, Md., B1
S Edwards, H Skouteris, A Cutter-Mackenzie, L Rutherford, M O Conner, A Mantilla, H Morris, S Elliot
(2016), Vol. 36, pp. 33-50, Early years: an international journal of research and development, London, Eng, C1
H Morris, H Skouteris, S Edwards, L Rutherford, A Cutter-Mackenzie, A O'Connor, A Mantilla, T Huang, K Lording, J Williams-Smith
(2016), Vol. 186, pp. 1752-1764, Early child development and care, London, Eng., C1
L Rutherford, E Bullen, L Prater
(2016), Vol. 8, pp. 66-88, Jeunesse: young people, texts, cultures, Winnipeg, Man., C1
H Morris, H Skouteris, S Edwards, L Rutherford
(2015), Vol. 185, pp. 1283-1313, Early child development and care, London, Eng., C1
L Rutherford, J Brown, H Skouteris, M Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M Bittman
(2015), Vol. 9, pp. 22-39, Journal of children and media, Abingdon, England, C1
Re-imagining the literary brand
L Rutherford
(2015), Vol. 18, pp. 1-11, M/C Journal, Brisbane, Qld., C1
Promoting obesity prevention together with environmental sustainability
H Skouteris, R Cox, T Huang, L Rutherford, S Edwards, A Cutter-Mackenzie
(2014), Vol. 29, pp. 454-462, Health promotion international, Oxford, England, C1
Forgotten histories: ephemeral culture for children and the digital archive
L Rutherford
(2014), pp. 66-71, Media International Australia, Incorporating Culture and Policy, St Lucia, Qld., C1
L Rutherford
(2014), Vol. 151, pp. 5-15, Media international Australia, incorporating culture and policy, Brisbane, Qld., C1
H Skouteris, S Edwards, L Rutherford, A Cutter-MacKenzie, T Huang, A O'Connor
(2014), Vol. 14, pp. 1-6, BMC Public health, London, England, C1
L Rutherford, A Brown
(2013), Vol. 19, pp. 201-221, Convergence : the international journal of research into new media technologies, London, England, C1
TV viewing behaviour among preschoolers : implications for public health recommendations
R Cox, H Skouteris, D Dell'Aquila, L Hardy, L Rutherford
(2013), Vol. 49, Journal of paediatrics and child health, Chichester, England, C1
R Cox, H Skouteris, L Rutherford, M Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, D Dell' Aqulia, L Hardy
(2012), Vol. 23, pp. 58-62, Health promotion journal of Australia, Maroochydore, Qld., C1
R Cox, H Skouteris, L Rutherford, M Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
(2012), Vol. 6, pp. 198-220, Journal of children and media, Abingdon, England, C1
It's all about Ben10TM : children's play, health and sustainability decisions in the early years
S Edwards, H Skouteris, L Rutherford, A Cutter-Mackenzie
(2012), pp. 1-14, Early child development and care, Abingdon, England, C1
Digital natives? : new and old media and children's language acquisition
M Bittman, L Rutherford, J Brown, L Unsworth
(2012), Vol. 91, pp. 18-26, Family matters, Melbourne, Vic., C1
H Skouteris, L Rutherford, S Edwards, A Cutter-Mackenzie
(2012), Melbourne, Vic., A6
L Rutherford, J Brown, H Skouteris, M Bittman
(2012), pp. 1-13, ANZCA 2012 : Communicating Change and Changing Communication in the 21st Century, Adelaide, S. A., E1
L Rutherford, M Bittman, J Brown
(2012), pp. 1-19, ICA 2012 : Communication and Community : Proceedings of the 62nd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, Phoenix, Ariz., E1
Postcolonial play : constructions of multicultural identities in ABC children's projects
A Brown, L Rutherford
(2011), Vol. 14, pp. 1-6, M/C : a journal of media and culture, Brisbane, Qld, C1
Children's content regulation and the 'obesity epidemic'
L Rutherford, D Biron, H Skouteris
(2011), pp. 47-60, Media international Australia incorporating culture and policy, St Lucia, QLD, C1
L Rutherford, A Brown
(2011), Vol. 2, pp. 44-65, Citizenship and Globalisation Research Papers, v.2, no.3, Burwood, Vic., C1
Digital natives? New and old media and children's outcomes.
M Bittman, L Rutherford, J Brown, L Unsworth
(2011), Vol. 55, pp. 161-175, Australian journal of education, Camberwell, Vic., C1
Call for research - the consuming child-in-context in unhealthy and unsustainable times
H Skouteris, M Do, L Rutherford, A Cutter-Mackenzie, S Edwards
(2010), Vol. 26, pp. 33-45, Australian journal of environmental education, Bellingen, N.S.W., C1
Industries, artists, friends and fans : marketing young adult fictions online
L Rutherford
(2009), Vol. 14, pp. 1-9, First Monday, Copenhagen, Demark, C1
Communication outside the humanities in media 'effect' research
L Rutherford
(2009), Vol. 6, pp. 133-142, International journal of the humanities, Altona, Vic., C1
Adolescence and abuse : trauma and the socio-sexual abject in John Duigans lawn dogs
L Rutherford
(2008), Vol. 158, pp. 136-140, Metro, Melbourne, Vic., C1
The consumer socialisation of children
P Corrigan, L Rutherford
(2007), pp. 297-302, Media and communications in Australian families 2007, Belconnen, A.C.T., B1-1
Hearth and Hotmail : the domestic sphere as commodity and community in cyberspace
D Brien, L Rutherford, R Williamson
(2007), Vol. 10, pp. 1-7, M/C journal, Brisbane, Qld., C1-1
L Rutherford
(2004), pp. 29-40, Teen TV : genre, consumption, identity, London, U. K., B1-1
Negotiating masculinities : 'Yolngu Boy'
L Rutherford
(2004), pp. 62-69, Metro, St Kilda, Vic., C1-1
(Pan-)animal magics : ecofeminist ethics and aesthetics in the Web
L Rutherford
(2004), pp. 128-133, Metro, St Kilda, Vic., C1-1
Australian animation aesthetics
L Rutherford
(2003), Vol. 27, pp. 251-267, The lion and the unicorn : a critical journal of children's literature, Baltimore, Md., C1-1
L Rutherford
(2001), Vol. 11, pp. 5-13, Papers : explorations into children's literature, Burwood, Vic., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Digital Natives: Growing up with new and old media in Australia
Prof Michael Bittman, A/Prof Leonie Rutherford, Prof Len Unsworth
ARC Linkage - Projects Rnd 2
- 2012: $10,000
- 2011: $10,000
- 2010: $10,000
Promoting healthy eating, active play and sustainability awareness in early childhood curricula: Addressing the Ben10 problem
Prof Helen Skouteris, A/Prof Suzy Edwards, A/Prof Leonie Rutherford, A/Prof Amy Cutter-McKenzie
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2016: $73,619
- 2015: $73,845
- 2014: $72,236
Discovering a 'good read': Pathways to reading for Australian teens
A/Prof Leonie Rutherford, Dr Michael Dezuanni, Prof Katya Johanson, Prof Andrew Singleton, A/Prof Donald Matheson, Dr Susan La Marca
ARC Linkage - Projects
- 2022: $31,059
- 2021: $102,849
- 2020: $95,045
- 2019: $51,907
Other Public Sector Funding
Evaluation of a Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Targeting Young People Living in Out-of-home Care
Prof Helen Skouteris, A/Prof Leonie Rutherford, Miss Rachael Cox
NHMRC Scholarship
- 2015: $18,782
- 2014: $23,411
- 2013: $26,904
Industry and Other Funding
Australian Teenagers' Reading Behaviour in the Digital Era
A/Prof Leonie Rutherford, Prof Katya Johanson, A/Prof Lisa Waller, Dr Elizabeth Bullen, Dr Margaret Merga
Copyright Agency Limited
- 2019: $1,346
- 2016: $16,000
Australian adolescents and reading: discoverability, social enablers, and digital inclusion
A/Prof Leonie Rutherford, Prof Katya Johanson
Copyright Agency Limited
- 2022: $29,051
- 2020: $24,264
- 2019: $26,506
Supervisions
Samantha Stephens
Thesis entitled: From Conflict to Kinship: Renegotiating Age in Youth Fantasy Fiction
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Michelle McRae
Thesis entitled: Textual Strategies for Promoting Deep Reading in Adolescents
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Gabrielle Anne Ryan
Thesis entitled: The Gothic as Transgressive Mode of Representation in Australian Women's Historical Fiction
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Heather Marie Morris
Thesis entitled: Fostering knowledge connections between healthy eating, active play and sustainability in early childhood education
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), School of Psychology
Mitchell David Cunningham
Thesis entitled: Performing the 'Fiction-Writer's Reader': David Foster Wallace and Critical Rhetoric
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Catherine Sly
Thesis entitled: A Narratological Investigation of Australian Graphic Novels for Children
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Grady Clare Hancock
Thesis entitled: Re-visioning Australian social realism through a feminine lens
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Katrina Hansord
Thesis entitled: 'spirit-music' Unbound: Romanticism and Print Politics in Australian Women's Poetry (1830-1905)
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Joanna Walkden Harris
Thesis entitled: Feminist Perspectives on Gender Ideology in Recent Young Adult Literature
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts