Tynan, Elizabeth (2011) Maralinga and the journalists: covering the bomb tests over generations. LiNQ, 38 (Dec). pp. 131-145.

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Abstract

The remarkable story of the British nuclear tests at Maralinga not only is a little known tale of Cold War era nuclear colonialism. It also shows generational development of an important part of Australia's media capacity, the ability to report on complex scientific stories of national importance and interest. Media coverage of the British nuclear tests took place in two distinct eras: the first during the time of the tests and later when the Australian media rediscovered the nuclear test series and re-opened it for enquiry. The strong contrasts that emerge in Australian media output at the time of the tests, from 1952 to 1963, compared with the later era of media rediscovery from 1978 to 1993, suggest that between the eras the media developed greater capacity to undertake informed and investigative coverage of science-based topics. In the first era, the tests were largely unreported, and the most dangerous of the associated nuclear experiments was not reported at all. Later, superb examples of Maralinga journalism showed that the times had changed, a new generation of well-informed investigative journalists had arisen and the story of Maralinga was finally placed on the national record.

Item ID:	27896
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	0817-458X
Keywords:	Maralinga, journalists
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2013 23:44
FoR Codes:	21 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 2103 Historical Studies > 210399 Historical Studies not elsewhere classified @ 50% 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2001 Communication and Media Studies > 200199 Communication and Media Studies not elsewhere classified @ 50%
SEO Codes:	95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9505 Understanding Past Societies > 950503 Understanding Australias Past @ 90% 89 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES > 8999 Other Information and Communication Services > 899999 Information and Communication Services not elsewhere classified @ 10%
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