Meet the School of Communication and Creative Arts

Today we speak with Kristy Hess: Kristy teaches journalism and is regularly called on as expert to comment on the changing media landscape.

What do you teach at Deakin?

Kristy: I am involved in teaching undergraduate journalism units that provide students with experience in news reporting and feature writing and builds a solid understanding of the news media in Australia and abroad. I also work with graduates and practising journalists who return to study to establish research careers via honours-level pathways. I supervise PhD students who are interested in examining areas of local media, digital journalism and media’s relationship to rural and regional issues and identity.

How would you describe your creative practice?

Kristy: As an academic, I write pieces of journalism and commentary to help explain or engage in complex issues and debates about the future of the news media and its relationship to society or to demonstrate to everyday readers why my academic research matters. Storytelling and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively are very powerful practices. When done well, good journalism can have considerable impact.

Who has been your biggest influence on your career to date?

Kristy: The people who have had the biggest influence on my career are those who help light up the runway towards new and exciting opportunities and who challenge me to do better. I’ve had some excellent school teachers, university lecturers and industry mentors and academic collaborators whom I am very thankful for.

What do you consider your greatest achievement in life?

Book cover image of 'Definitions of digital journalism (studies)

Latest book co-edited with colleagues based in Norway, The Netherlands and Singapore

Kristy: I know these questions are about career aspirations and successes, but my greatest achievement is my family. I have a wonderful circle of family, close friends and colleagues. COVID-19 demonstrated how important our social connections are in life. I’m also very proud to have established a career as a successful academic while living and working from regional Victoria. Technology means I’m able to engage and work with really wonderful and talented colleagues across Australia and overseas while enjoying a rural lifestyle. There’s nothing better! Having opportunities and invitations to travel overseas to destinations like the UK, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam and the US as part of my fieldwork and research/university collaborations has been very rewarding too.

What has been your favourite Deakin experience?

Kristy: My favourite Deakin experience is attending a graduation ceremony. Watching students you have worked closely with over some years step up on stage to receive their testamur is a great feeling.

How would you describe the Deakin learning experience for students?

Kristy:  Deakin’s communication lecturers pride themselves on creating a sense of community within their classes. Students have the opportunities to network with one another, produce journalism as a team and we offer amazing work integrated learning opportunities.

What is your best advice for someone looking to enter a creative career?

Kristy: To take up every opportunity available to them to learn and grow, to be pro-active and actively seek out opportunities. It’s often easy to identify the creative students who are going to succeed in journalism as they are often the ones who are inquisitive, engage in debate whenever they can, put their hand up for new experiences and opportunities and just participate in all that’s available to them to further their studies and careers. It’s important to engage with mentors, teachers and be open to feedback and changes in direction along the way.

What is it like teaching and studying your discipline online?

Kristy: Deakin has a very sophisticated online platform for study. It means you really can study from anywhere you like providing you have internet access and computer. Our outstanding library staff can even get the books you need to borrow delivered to your doorstep if they are not available online. We have students from across Australia and overseas in our online classes. It means you can receive feedback and advice from the best lecturers and researchers in their field and develop new relationships with peers in digital spaces via discussion threads, online classes and interactive workshops. Some of my most productive working relationships are with academics working at International universities. We very rarely meet in person, but we collaborate really well because we share work and interests in common.

Kristy Hess

Associate Professor of Communication Kristy Hess teaches Journalism at Deakin .