Colleen Murrell

Prof

Profile Photo
Full Professor Colleen Murrell researches international news gathering, crisis reporting, public service broadcasting, news production and digital and social media. She is currently writing a book on women foreign correspondents, and is the research lead for the Reuters Digital News Report (Ireland) 2021-2023. She teaches audio visual broadcasting and international news and has won several prizes for her teaching and research, including an Australian national citation for teaching excellence and a Deakin University VC award for research. She joined DCU in January 2020 after previously working at Monash University, Deakin University and Swinburne University. From 2021-2023 Colleen is an external course and subject examiner for Queens University, Belfast.
Professor Murrell holds a PhD in media and communications from the University of Melbourne and has held research fellowships at the London School of Economics (2015-16); The University of Oxford - Reuters Institute (2011) and City, University of London (2007). In her previous career she worked as a producer, reporter and news editor for a number of international broadcasters including the BBC, ITN, AP, TF1, CBC and ABC Australia. In these roles she travelled extensively in Europe, and the Middle East.
Colleen is the author of a range of scholarly publications, including the book Foreign Correspondents and International Newsgathering: The Role of Fixers (2015: Routledge). She is currently under contract with Palgrave Macmillan for a monograph (publishing date 2024). She has successfully supervised a number of PhD and Masters by research students and has taught postgraduate research theory and methodology. She is on the editorial boards of the following journals: The Australian Journalism Review, Ethical Space- The International Journal of Communication Ethics, and The Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies. Back in Australia she was also on the executive boards of the Journalism, Education and Research Association of Australia (JERAA) organisation, The Junction (a national student journalism platform) and was the executive editor of Swinburne University's journalism output The Standard. Colleen was a judge for the UNAA Media Awards from 2008-17, and in 2020 was a judge for the Canadian Mindset Award for Workplace Mental Health Reporting and the NewsBrands Ireland Journalism Awards (2020). Colleen speaks fluent French, basic Spanish, and has a basic understanding of Italian. 

Book

Year Publication
2015 Colleen Murrell (2015) Foreign Correspondents and International Newsgathering: The Role of Fixers. New York: Routledge. [Link]

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2019 Colleen Murrell (2019) 'Foreign Correspondents and Bureaus' In: International Encylopedia of Journalism Studies. USA : John Wiley and Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118841570.iejs0176
2016 Colleen Murrell (2016) 'The International newsgathering challenge for public service Australian and Canadian 24/7 Channels' In: The Rise of 24 Hour Television: New Directions, New Challenges. Switzerland : Peter Lang. [Link]

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2021 Martin, F.; Murrell, C. (2021) 'Negotiating the Conversation: How Journalists Learn to Interact with Audiences Online'. JOURNALISM PRACTICE, 15 . [Link] [DOI]
2021 Colleen Murrell (2021) 'Reporting Asia: Courtesy of Australian philanthropy'. Australian Journalism Review, 43 (1). [Link]
2021 Murrell, Colleen (2021) 'Reporting Asia: Courtesy of Australian philanthropy'. Australian Journalism Review, 43 (1). [DOI]
2020 Martin, F. & Murrell, C. (2020) 'You need a thick skin in this game: Journalists’ attitudes to resilience training as a strategy for combatting online violence'. Australian Journalism Review, 42 (1):93-111. [Link] https://doi.org/10.1386/ajr_00021_1
2020 Martin, F.R.; Murrell, C. (2020) 'You need a thick skin in this game: Journalists’ attitudes to resilience training as a strategy for combatting online violence'. Australian Journalism Review, 42 . [Link] [DOI]
2019 Murrell, Colleen (2019) 'Fixers as Entrepreneurs'. Journalism Studies, 20 (12):1679-1695.
2019 Rupar, V. & Murrell, C. (2019) 'Ethical Dilemmas in Reporting Terrorist Attacks'. Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics, 16 (4):34-41.
2018 Murrell, C. & Rupar, V. (2018) ''Covering Terrorism Safely in France, Belgium, Russia, Australia the UK and USA'. Australian Journalism Review, 40 (2):37-53. [Link]
2018 Murrell, Colleen (2018) 'The global television news agencies and their handling of user generated content video from Syria'. Media, War and Conflict, 11 (3):289-308. https://doi.org/10.1177/1750635217704224
2018 Baker, Andrea and Murrell, Colleen and Martin, Fiona and others (2018) 'A note from the guest editors'. 40 (2).
2016 Murrell, Colleen (2016) 'The Guardian: Game of Editions'. Media@LSE Working Paper Series, 39 :1-25.
2016 Murrell, Colleen (2016) 'The Guardian: Game of Editions'. Media@LSE Working Paper Series, 39 :1-25. [Link]
2016 Murrell, Colleen (2016) 'The Guardian: Game of Editions'. Media@LSE Working Paper Series, 39 :1-25. [Link]
2015 Murrell, Colleen (2015) ''Fixers, the people behind the foreign correspondents''. :1-1.
2014 Murrell, Colleen (2014) 'Pommy media causing a stir in Australia'. .
2014 Murrell, Colleen and others (2014) 'The vulture club: International newsgathering via Facebook'. 36 (1).
2014 Murrell, C (2014) 'ABC National Television-Guest appearance (live)'. .
2014 Murrell, Colleen (2014) 'ABC Television (ABC1 \& ABC News 24)-Guest appearance (live)'. .
2013 Murrell, Colleen and others (2013) 'ABC News 24 and BBC World: A study of limited resources and challenging newsgathering'. 35 (1).
2013 Murrell, Colleen (2013) 'International fixers: Cultural interpreters or'People Like Us'?'. Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics, 10 (2/3):72-79.
2012 Murrell, Colleen and others (2012) 'Shining a light on TV agency practice [Book Review]'. 34 (1).
2010 Murrell, Colleen (2010) 'Baghdad bureaux: An exploration of the interconnected world of fixers and correspondents at the BBC and CNN'. 3 (2):125-137.
2009 Murrell, Colleen and others (2009) 'Fixers and foreign correspondents: News production and autonomy'. 31 (1).
2008 Murrell, Colleen and Oakham, Katrina Mandy and others (2008) 'Gatekeepers, going, going, gone-challenge of citizen journalism to traditional practice [Paper in themed articles: Citizen Journalism. Bromley, Michael (ed).]'. 30 (2).
1982 Murrell, Colleen (1982) 'Cultural interpreters or People Like Us?'. .

Published Report

Year Publication
2023 Colleen Murrell; Kirsty Park; David Robins; Dawn Wheatley (2023) Digital News Report (Ireland) 2023. Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, .
2023 (2023) Reuters Digital News Report 2023. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, .
2022 Colleen Murrell; Kirsty Park; David Robbins; Dawn Wheatley (2022) Digital News Report (Ireland) 2022. Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, .
2022 (2022) Reuters Digital News Report 2022. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, .
2021 Colleen Murrell; Kirsty Park; David Robbins; Dawn Wheatley (2021) Digital News Report (Ireland) 2021. Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, .
2021 (2021) Reuters Digital News Report 2021. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, .
2018 Colleen Murrell (multiple contributors) (2018) Senate Select Committee on the Future of Public Interest Journalism. Commonwealth of Australia, . [Link]
2018 Colleen Murrell - Associate Professor & Head of Program, Swinburne UniversityGary Dickson – Researcher, Monash UniversityHeather Jarvis – Senior lecturer, Monash UniversityLouisa Lim – Senior lecturer, Melbourne UniversityDr Alexandra Wake – Senior lecturer, RMIT University (2018) Submission to the Senate Review of Australian Broadcasting Services in the Asia Pacific. Commonwealth of Australia, . [Link]

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2013 Murrell, Colleen (2013) JERAA 2013: Redrawing the Boundaries: Journalism Research, Education and Professional Culture in Times of Change: Journalism Education Association of Australia Conference 2013 International newsgathering in closed communities on Facebook
2012 Murrell, Colleen (2012) JEAA 2012: Critical Times? Changing journalism in a changing world ABC news 24: a study of limited resources and challenging newsgathering
2011 Murrell, Colleen (2011) Audio from the 2011 Reuters Institute Seminar Series Foreign correspondence and fixers: the missing link
2006 Murrell, Colleen (2006) JEANZ/JEA 2006: Journalism downunder: the future of the media in the digital age: Proceedings of the 2006 Journalism Education Association of New Zealand and Journalism Education Association conference Interactive student podcasting: the emerging technology of choice

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2020 Colleen Murrell (2020) JERAA 2020: Journalisms: Plurality, Precarity and Possibilities: Journalism Education Association of Australia Conference JERAA 2020, Melbourne Melbourne, Australia, 02/12/2020-04/12/2020.
2020 Colleen Murrell (2020) 70th Annual ICA Conference ICA Conference, Gold Coast Gold Coast (Virtual), 20/05/2020-27/05/2020.
2019 Colleen Murrell (2019) 5th World Journalism Education Congress 5th World Journalism Education Congress, Paris Paris, France, 08/07/2019-11/07/2019.
2019 Fiona Martin & Colleen Murrell (2019) Journalisms: Plurality, Precarity and Possibilities Annual research conference hosted by JERAA, the Journalism Research and Education Association of Australia - Sydney Sydney, Australia, 03/12/2018-06/12/2018.
2019 Fiona Martin & Colleen Murrell (2019) Future of Journalism, Cardiff 'Innovations, Transitions and Transformations', Cardiff Cardiff, UK, 12/09/2019-13/09/2019.
2018 Colleen Murrell (2018) ICA Conference - 'Voices' Annual research conference hosted by the International Communications Association, Prague Prague, Czech Republic, 24/05/2018-28/05/2018.
2018 Fiona Martin & Colleen Murrell (2018) Journalism from the margins to the mainstream Annual research conference hosted by JERAA, the Journalism Research and Education Association of Australia, Hobart Tasmania, Australia, .
2018 Fiona Martin & Colleen Murrell (2018) IAMCR Reimagining Sustainability, communication and media research in a changing world, Madrid Oregon, USA, 20/06/2018-24/06/2018.

Online Article

Year Publication
2019 Colleen Murrell (2019) Media chiefs unite on press freedom, but will it result in any action?. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]
2019 Colleen Murrell (2019) Sydney stabbing shows reporters should not censor what they report on Twitter - as long as it’s verified. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]
2019 Colleen Murrell (2019) Why news outlets should think twice about republishing the New Zealand mosque shooter’s livestream. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]
2018 Colleen Murrell (2018) ‘A time of anxiety’: The depressing new reality for local journalists in conflict zones. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]
2017 Colleen Murrell (2017) Manchester and the media: what coverage of the terrorist attack tells us about ourselves. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]
2017 Colleen Murrell (2017) Le Pen vs Macron: after an acrimonious debate, the French will now choose their next president. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]
2016 Colleen Murrell (2016) The Guardian’s costly gap between traffic and profits. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]
2016 Colleen Murrell (2016) Islamic State is quick to claim Orlando shooting, but media should be careful in reporting those claims. Melbourne: ELEA [Link]

Podcast

Year Publication
2017 Colleen Murrell (2017) Speaking with: The Daily Beast’s Christopher Dickey on reporting on and living through terrorism in Paris. Melbourne: PODCAST [Link]

Other Publication

Year Publication
2011 Murrell, Colleen (2011)
2011 Murrell, Colleen (2011)
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
International Communications Association Member Journalism Studies Division & Global Communication and Social Change Division 01/01/2017 -
Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia Vice-President (Networks); Co-Secretary 01/01/2014 - 06/12/2019

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/07/2007 Deakin University Award for Teaching Excellence Deakin University
01/01/2011 Research Fellowship at Oxford University Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
01/10/2023 Reuters Digital Research Award 2024-2026 Coimisiún na Meán
01/07/2010 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research: Early Career Researcher Deakin University
01/01/2015 Senior Visiting Research Fellowship at The London School of Economics and Political Science London School of Economics and Political Science - Media & Communications Dept
01/01/2008 Australian Award for University Teaching Australian Learning and Teaching Council
01/01/2007 Erasmus Mundus Journalism Research Fellow European Union

Committees

Committee Function From / To
The Conversation UK https://theconversation.com/uk 01/01/2024 -
Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communications Ethics http://www.abramis.co.uk/ethical-space/aims.htm 06/06/2019 -
Australian Journalism Review (Academic Journal) 01/10/2019 -
Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-of-applied-journalism-media-studies 01/01/2018 -

Languages

Language Reading Writing Speaking
Italian Functional Basic Basic
Spanish Fluent Functional Functional
French Fluent Fluent Fluent

Media

Title Year Type Authors
More Irish consumers getting their morning news from a smartphone 2022 Radio Interviews Colleen Murrell
More Irish consumers getting their morning news from a smartphone 2022 Other Colleen Murrell
Trust in news media increased over past year 2021 Radio Interviews Colleen Murrell

Research Interests

  • - International newsgathering and crisis reporting
  • - Public service broadcasting
  • - Public interest journalism
  • - Digital news and social media
  • - Global news agencies
  • - Foreign correspondence
  • - Reporting in Europe and the Middle East
  • - Women foreign correspondents
  • - Online violence against women reporters



Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Reuters Digital News Report (Ireland) Lead Researcher We research, analyse and write the annual Reuters Digital News Report (DNR) for Ireland. Authors: Colleen Murrell, Kirsty Park, David Robbins and Dawn Wheatley 01/01/2021 31/12/2023
Reuters Digital News Report (Ireland) 2021-2023 DCU PI 01/01/2021 31/12/2023

Internal Collaborators

Type Name Company Role
Internal Dawn Wheatley DCU Academic
Internal Kirsty Park DCU Academic
Internal David Robbins DCU Academic

Teaching Interests

During my time as an academic I convened and taught the broadcasting modules (radio, television and documentary) at Monash University, Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology. I have also taught modules in International News, Law for Journalists and Media and Society. My main interest is in  internationalising curricula and I have won university and Australian national teaching awards. At DCU I convene and teach radio, podcasting, video and studio modules.

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2020 Video Journalism CM3740
2022 Radio Reporting CM262
2020 The Radio Newsroom CM146
2022 Video Journalism CM3740
2021 Video Journalism (PG) CM509
2022 INTRA CM372
2020 Newsdays CM368
2022 Radio Journalism (PG) CM5039
2021 Radio Journalism (PG) CM5039
2023 CM30120
2020 Video Journalism CM374
2022 Radio Journalism CM5039
2022 Video Storytelling CM3012
2020 Radio Journalism (PG) CM5039
2021 Video Storytelling CM3012
2020 Video Journalism (PG) CM509
2024 CM5967
2022 Video Journalism CM509
2021 CM3016
2022 The Radio Newsroom CM146
2021 Radio Reporting CM262
2024 CM5971
2023 CM2991