QUT Digital Media Research Centre

Hosted by the QUT Digital Media Research Centre and moderated by ABC health and science reporter Tegan Taylor, join leading QUT digital media experts and ABC Commissioning Editor Julie Hanna to discuss the many challenges – trolls, bots, chatbots, misinformation, disinformation and ‘enshittification’ of online information – posed by a post-truth digital world. This special event will feature exce…

Join us for a DMRC Visitor Seminar on Tuesday 24 February, led by visiting fellows Sandrine Chausson & Tom Bidewell from the University of Edinburgh, who will outline their research interests and introduce the Social Media Analysis and Support for Humanity (SMASH) research group at the University of Edinburgh, of which Sandrine and Tom are members. They will discuss the group’s research agenda an…

Join us at the upcoming DMRC Visitor Seminar on Wednesday 18 February, led by visiting fellow Dr Yangliu Fan from Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, who will be presenting a talk that aims to advance the ongoing discussion on how to better leverage the analytical possibilities of digital trace data (DTD) to deepen our understanding of complex communication processes. TIME: 2pm – 4pm …

And that’s a wrap on the 2026 Summer School. Workshops galore on the final day, with topics including network mapping, cross platform digital ethnography, discursive-digital analysis, academic writing, and participatory design methods. We ended formal proceedings with a Bake Your Thesis – Cake Decorating session, and rounded out the social activities with a movie night. Thank you to delegates and…

The DMRC’s 2026 Summer School kicked off today at QUT Kelvin Grove campus featuring inspiring and thought-provoking training by world leading researchers. With over 75 delegates in attendance, today’s sessions explored a range of topics including analyzing large video collections using GenAI, discovering your teaching philosophy, instructions for systematic literature reviews, unpacking social bi…

Exploring participatory approaches to data literacy, civil liberties, and community advocacy How can data and design empower communities to engage more effectively in democratic processes? This event brings together international and local leaders in civic media, data literacy, civil liberties, and community advocacy to discuss... The post Data, Design and Democracy: Civic Engagement in the Digit…

Dewesternizing digital cultures: gender, agency and resistance in Asia Co-hosted by the QUT Digital Media Research Centre and the Itatsu Lab from the University of Tokyo, this workshop examines gendered identities and digital practices across Asian contexts. Through case studies on masculinities, virtual influencers, digital... The post Online Graduate Student Workshop: Dewesternizing digital cul…

Congratulations to QUT DMRC’s Professor Kevin Sanson on receiving the 2025 Prize for Outstanding Book in Media Industry Studies from the Society for Cinema and Media Studies , co-sponsored by the Center for Entertainment & Media Industries at the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Sanson’s book, Mobile Hollywood: Labor and the ... The post Professor Kevin Sanson wins international award for…

By Axel Bruns, Samantha Vilkins, Laura Vodden and Kate FitzGerald. The 2025 Australian federal election is now less than two weeks away. As in previous elections ( 2022 , 2019 ) the QUT Digital Media Research Centre team is tracking how election campaigning is unfolding across the social media landscape, with a particular focus on candidate... The post 2025 Federal Election: Mid-Campaign Update a…

DMRC researchers, Dr. Ruari Elkington and Dr. Tess Van Hemert , have been investigating Australian cinemagoers’ habits and their engagement with local films. Their research highlights a significant disparity between Australian and French cinema success, with Australian films capturing only two per cent of the local box office in 2023... The post How much do we support Australian-made cinema? Mayb…

Political inaction and big-tech’s reluctance to protect users leave Australians vulnerable to a murky world of digital misinformation going into the election. The rise of ‘dark advertising’ — personalised advertisements increasingly powered by artificial intelligence that evade public scrutiny — means Australians face a murky information... The post ‘Dark ads’ challenge truth and our democracy ap…

The DMRC is proud to announce the publication of a vibrant photobook celebrating Townsville’s Creative Underground – a diverse collective of everyday people who play, create, innovate, and socialise in their own time, at their own pace. The book also showcases the places, people, and organisations who support this creative... The post DMRC celebrates Townsville’s Creative Underground: A New Photo…

Join us for Better Future Fridays, a monthly afternoon series where we explore key challenges and opportunities in shaping better digital futures. Each session features expert panels, interactive Q&A discussions, and informal networking over light refreshments on the terrace. With diverse themes and dynamic speakers each month, Better... The post DMRC's Better Future Fridays kicking off in March …

Our final day was packed with creativity, critical insights, and candid reflections. We kicked off with dynamic workshops – Storying Stories explored the art of storytelling as a powerful research method, while Humans vs. Robots delved into audiovisual analysis through engaging TikTok examples. The day continued with thought-provoking... The post Wrapping Up an Inspiring Week at the 2025 DMRC Sum…

Day two of the 2025 DMRC Summer School was filled with dynamic, hands-on workshops designed to deepen participants’ research skills. The morning sessions featured an in-depth exploration of retrieval-augmented large language models and ethnographic approaches for digital media research, offering practical insights into cutting-edge... The post Day 2 Highlights from the 2025 DMRC Summer School app…

The 2025 DMRC Summer School is officially underway! We kicked things off last night with a vibrant Welcome Event at Gardens Point Campus’ Gardens Theatre. Our delegates, from across Australia and around the world were warmly welcomed by DMRC members, with a special ‘In Conversation’ piece from the inspiring Costa Georgiadis , most well... The post DMRC's 2025 Summer School officially underway, wi…

Join us for the launch of DMRC Chief Investigator, Dr. Zahra Stardust ‘s new book, Indie Porn: Revolution, Regulation and Resistance. Zahra will be in conversation with Dr Hilary Caldwell at Avid Reader, West End. DATE: Thursday 21 November TIME: 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start | 60 mins LOCATION: Avid Reader, West End TICKETS: Book your... The post Book Launch of DMRC's Dr. Zahra Stardust's 'Indie Por…

Engaging Panels and Interactive Stall Dive into Online Safety, Cinema, and Children’s Digital Lives For the third consecutive year, the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) will once again be featured in the 2024 Woodford Folk Festival, delivering thought-provoking discussions and an... The post Media Release: QUT Digital Media Research Centre Returns t…

Warning Signs and Distress Signals: What an Uncertain Future for the Global Entertainment Industries Means for Businesses, Workers, and Scholars Date: Friday 11 October Location: QUT Kelvin Grove, Z9 Block, Level 6, Room 607 Time: 9:15am – 3:00pm Program: See full program here For more information, see invitation here. For catering... The post DMRC's Transforming Media Industries Symposium: Warni…

DMRC Chief investigator and Senior Lecturer in the School of Communication of Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Dr Aljosha Karim Schapals highlights how political parties have harnessed TikTok’s power, creating viral content that captures the youth vote in the 2024 UK General Election. Labour’s 8-second clips, such as “POV... The post Winning voters’ hearts and minds… through reels and m…