Griffith University will be a foundation partner of a new and free Queensland centric digital news service due to launch later this month.
The partnership with InQueensland will help support new independent journalism endeavours and also provide valuable work-integrated learning opportunities for Griffith’s journalism students.
The new site will provide daily digital news and an email newsletter covering various local issues related to politics, business, community, and even arts and culture.
“It is pleasing to see a fresh news service launch in this state and it is an initiative which demonstrates confidence in local audiences and a real commitment to the issues that matter to Queenslanders,” Professor Martin Betts, Griffith deputy vice-chancellor (engagement) said.
“The partnership will build upon Griffith’s strong brand with the business, government and arts communities and will also give Griffith’s final-year journalism students more internship opportunities”.
The new news service’s editorial team will be made up of well-known figures in the industry such as former Australian and Courier-Mail journalist Sean Parnell and Queensland political expert Dennis Atkins.
Also joining the board are Clarion award winner John McCarthy as well as arts and entertainment editor and writer Brett Debritz.
The partnership, which will run for 12 months, also coincides with the start of Griffith’s strategic plan which seeks to make the University’s presence more visible in Brisbane CBD as it nears its 50-year anniversary in 2025.
Professor Carolyn Evans, Griffith’s vice-chancellor and president, said during the announcement of the strategic plan in 2019 that they are particularly targeting journalism among other programs to leverage the University’s presence in the area.
The University is set to spend about $1bn to develop its infrastructure across its campuses. One part of these projects includes a new location in Brisbane CBD in in a bid to improve student access and connectivity with various industry and government stakeholders.