Biography summary
Kristy's research focuses on the relationship between journalism, place-making and social order, especially in local and digital settings. She is interested in issues of media power and how everyday media-related practices inform understandings of news sustainability in the digital era. She also examines centre/periphery tensions, especially in regards to perceptions of the rural, local and agricultural issues. Kristy is the co-author of two books (Palgrave, Routledge), co-editor of two published edited collections (Routledge) and is the associate editor of Digital Journalism (Routledge). She is currently a chief investigator on two projects funded by the Australian Research Council. Kristy is especially passionate about education and training of practicing journalists in local/regional settings and encouraging media professionals to pursue life-long learning.
Research interests
local, hyperlocal and community news; media power and society, media, social capital and civic participation, journalistic place-making, media, rurality and agriculture.
Teaching interests
Units taught
ALJ111
ALJ304
Honours supervision
Phd supervision in areas of digital journalism, local, rural and agricultural communication, media and place-making, media, social order and civic participation.
Awards
- Deakin University Faculty of Arts and Education Mid Career Researcher Award - 2019
- Deakin University Faculty of Arts and Education Early Career Researcher Award - 2018
- National Teaching Excellence Award nomination, 2015
- OLT Citation for teaching excellence, 2014
- APA Scholarship PhD University of South Australia 2010-2013
- Deakin University Vice Chancellor Award for Teaching Excellence ,2009
- Deakin University Vice Chancellor Award for Contribution to Rural and Regional Engagement, 2009
- Dean's award for excellence in team teaching 2009
- Deakin University Faculty of Arts & Education teaching award for an early career
teacher, 2008.
Projects
FOR RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS PLEASE VIEW https://deakin.academia.edu/KristyHess
CURRENT ARC PROJECTS
Lead investigator LP18010013 'Media Innovation and the civic future of Australia's country press 2019-2022 (with Prof. Lisa Waller (RMIT), Prof. Matthew Ricketson (Deakin).
Chief Investigator DP190101282 'Breaking Silences: Media and the Child Abuse Royal Commission' 2019-2022 (with Prof. Kerry McCallum (University of Canberra), Assoc Prof Tanya Dreher (UNSW), Prof. Lisa Waller (RMIT).
OTHER CURRENT FUNDED PROJECTS
Chief investigator 'Social impact of war in a regional Australian setting', Department of Veteran Affairs Saluting their Sevice Community Commenorative Grant 2019-2020 (with Dr Sarah Pinto (Deakin)).
Publications
No publications found
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Breaking silences: Media, marginalised voices and the child abuse royal commission
A/Prof Kerry McCallum, Dr Tanja Dreher, Prof Kristy Hess, Prof Lisa Waller, Prof Eli Skogerbo
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2022: $700
- 2021: $9,948
- 2020: $16,344
- 2019: $10,120
Media innovation and the civic future of Australia's country press
Prof Kristy Hess, Prof Lisa Waller, Prof Matthew Ricketson, Bruce Morgan
ARC Linkage - Projects
- 2021: $47,689
- 2020: $72,432
- 2019: $35,025
Supporting the sustainability of Australia's local news ecosystem
Prof Kristy Hess, Prof Matthew Ricketson, Prof Susan Forde, Dr Angela Ross, Mr Hugh Martin
ARC Linkage - Projects
- 2024: $24,505
- 2023: $135,611
Other Public Sector Funding
Taking notice: the social and emotional impact of war in a regional Australian community
Dr Sarah Pinto, Prof Kristy Hess
Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program
- 2019: $2,844
Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub.
Prof Rebecca Lester, Dr Ashley Macqueen, Mr David Downie, Prof Kristy Hess
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- 2024: $125,000
- 2023: $250,000
- 2022: $250,000
- 2021: $375,000
Supporting the sustainability of Australia's local news ecosystem
Prof Kristy Hess, Prof Matthew Ricketson, Prof Susan Forde, Dr Angela Ross, Mr Hugh Martin
Aust Broadcasting Corporation
- 2023: $40,000
Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub - Agri - innovation extension.
Prof Rebecca Lester, Dr Ashley Macqueen, Prof Kristy Hess, Ms Kirsten Diprose
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- 2023: $22,890
- 2022: $549,361
Industry and Other Funding
Naming and shaming: A multi-perspectival view of media shaming for minor crimes and its relationship to the courts
A/Prof Lisa Waller, Prof Kristy Hess
VIC Law Foundation Grant - Research
- 2014: $2,000
- 2013: $3,000
Mixed Fortunes: An examination of circulation rise and decline in two Victorian news communities
Prof Kristy Hess
Country Press Australia Incorporated
- 2016: $4,558
Media innovation and the civic future of Australia's country press
Prof Kristy Hess, Prof Lisa Waller, Prof Matthew Ricketson, Bruce Morgan
Country Press Australia Incorporated
- 2020: $20,000
- 2019: $20,000
Brophy-Deakin Research and Evaluation partnership-key deliverables.
Prof Vincent Versace, A/Prof Kevin Mc Namara, Prof Kristy Hess, Ms Kate Schlicht, Mr Chris Healey, Dr Hannah Beks, Dr Anna Wong Shee
Brophy Family & Youth Services Incorporated
- 2024: $45,000
- 2022: $45,000
Awareness, education and communications for compound natural hazard events.
Dr Gabi Mocatta, Dr Erin Hawley, Prof Kristy Hess, Prof Joshua Newton, A/Prof Timothy Neale
Natural Hazards Research Australia
- 2023: $59,842
Covering the Planet ? Investigating the state of climate and environmental journalism globally.
Dr Gabi Mocatta, Prof Kristy Hess
Internews Network
- 2023: $68,649
Exploring the local news needs of existing news consumers and new residents in the regional city of Mildura.
Dr Alison McAdam, Prof Kristy Hess
Sunraysia Publishing Company Pty Ltd
- 2024: $2,000
- 2023: $8,000
Central Connection: Examining a novel approach to supporting local news diversity in Alice Springs.
Prof Kristy Hess, Dr Alison McAdam
Mparntwe Alice Springs Community Foundation Ltd
- 2023: $10,000
Supervisions
Alison McAdam
Thesis entitled: Against the grain: Exploring the sustainability of Australia¿s traditional rural mastheads
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Marco Magasic
Thesis entitled: Mining for News: Examining the impacts of a local newspaper¿s closure in the Australian town of Lightning Ridge
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Communication and Creative Arts