‘Parochial Internationalism’: Publication in Australia

This paper serves as an introduction and scene-setter to a series of four papers (including this) that examines the different facets of scholarly publication in the area of media and communication (as well as its various cognate disciplines) in the ‘region’ that comprises Australia and New Zealand. The authors of these papers are active members of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA), the peak professional and scholarly association of the region, and have all delivered a version of these papers at a plenary panel on ‘Publication in Australia and New Zealand’ at the International Communications Association (ICA) Regional Conference held at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane during 1–3 October 2014. This paper begins by looking at the role ANZCA plays in supporting and mentoring scholars, especially postgraduates or aspiring academics and early-career researchers, towards commencing their publication journey. It then turns its attention towards the globalising strategy of ‘parochial internationalisation’ that has defined much of Australia’s attempt to gain relevance and recognition in the global publications environment. The second part of the paper details the growth trajectory of one of Australia’s oldest and most reputable media and communications journal, Media International Australia, offering insights on how scholars and journal editors might think and operate more strategically in order to thrive in a new and demanding publications era.