Postgraduate Profile

Mr Mitchell J. Hobbs

PhD Candidate (Sociology and Anthropology)
Casual Lecturer/Tutor

Faculty/Division:        Education and Arts
Phone:                        + 61 2 4921 5552
Email:                          Mitchell.Hobbs@newcastle.edu.au
Location:                    General Purpose Building, Room GP217
Campus:                    Callaghan Campus, Newcastle

Current Research

PhD Thesis: Paper Cuts: Newspapers, the Iraq War and the Politics of Rupert Murdoch

This thesis explores issues of representation, ideology, and the manifestation of bias, ultimately considering the news media’s role in democratic nation-states. It seeks to understand the modus operandi of the modern commercial media through case studies that focus on the operations of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and the press coverage devoted to the Iraq/weapons of mass destruction crisis’ of early 2003. In terms of the dissertation’s original contribution to the field of media/cultural inquiry, it provides empirical evidence which strongly suggests Rupert Murdoch’s personal political views became manifest in his Australian newspapers. Furthermore, the thesis offers a new model for conceptualising the power and the role of the mass media, a model which considers both the macro realm of elites (‘primary definers’ and ‘secondary definers’), and also focuses on the micro level of the individual and the text, considering the position and the perspective of the audience in the interpretation of ‘the message’.  

Prizes & Scholarships

  • 2004 Awarded a University of Newcastle PhD Scholarship (UNRSE) 
  • 2003 Honours Research Grant — La Trobe University, Melbourne 

Qualifications

  • 2004: Bachelor of Arts with Honours (First Class) (Sociology and Anthropology) — La Trobe University

Publications

Journal Articles

Hobbs, M. (2007) ‘“More Paper Than Physical”: The Reincorporation of News Corporation and Its Representation in the Australian Press’, Journal of Sociology, 43(3), 263-283

Refereed Conference Publications

Hobbs, M. (2008) ‘On Discourse and Representation: Reflections on Michel Foucault’s Contribution to Studying the Mass Media’, The Refereed Proceedings of the Australian Sociological Association’s Annual Conference, the University of Melbourne, 2-6 December (approved/forthcoming)

Hobbs, M. (2007) ‘Reflections on the Reality of the Iraq Wars: The Demise of Baudrillard’s Search for Truth?’ Refereed Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Sociological Associations’ Joint Conference (TASA & SAANZ:  the University of Auckland 4-7 December)

Conference Papers

Hobbs, M. (2007) ‘The Pen and the Sword: The Australian Press and the War Against Iraq’, Joint Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Sociological Associations, the University of Auckland, 4-7 December

Hobbs, M. (2005) ‘Searching for “Murdochization”: A Sociological Interpretation of the Rupert Murdoch Effect’, The Australian Sociological Association’s Annual Conference, the University of Tasmania, Hobart, 10-15 December

Hobbs, M. (2004) ‘More Paper than Physical: News Corporation and the Australian Press’, The Australian Sociological Association’s Annual Conference, La Trobe University, Beechworth, 8-13 December

Commissioned Reports

Hobbs, M. (2003) ‘Boys and Academic Achievement’. Submitted to The Working Committee of Parents and Teachers, Albury High School.

Teaching Areas

  • Media Studies
  • Sociology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Political Science

Employment History

July 2008 – Nov. 2008 Course Coordinator/Lecturer
School of Design, Communication and IT (University of Newcastle)
Subject Taught: Media Ownership and Control CMNS2620
 
July 2007 – Nov. 2008 Research Assistant
School of Economics, Politics and Tourism (Uni. of Newcastle)
Project Supervisor: Dr Jim Jose (Head of Politics)
Project Description: This project investigates the media coverage and representation of indigenous affairs and the book Divided Nation

Feb. 2008 – July 2008 Casual Academic
School of Humanities and Social Science (University of Newcastle)
Subject Taught: Sociology: Society and Culture SOCA1010

July 2007 – Nov. 2007 Casual Academic
School of Economics, Politics and Tourism (Uni. of Newcastle)
Subject Taught: Australian Politics and Government POLI1010

July 2007 – Jan. 2008 Research Assistant
School of Humanities and Social Science (University of Newcastle)
Project Supervisor: Dr Shane Homan
Project Description: This project investigated the development of music radio in Australia.

Feb 2007 – July 2007 Casual Academic/Guest Lecturer
School of Humanities and Social Science (University of Newcastle)
Subject Taught: Media Structures and Practices CULT2130

Feb 2006 – July 2006 Casual Academic/Guest Lecturer
School of Social Sciences (University of Newcastle)
Subject Taught: Media Structures and Practices CULT2130

Feb 2005 – July 2005 Casual Academic/Guest Lecturer
School of Social Sciences, (University of Newcastle)
Subject Taught: Popular Culture and Society CULT3140

Feb 2004 – July 2004 Casual Academic
School of Social Sciences (University of Newcastle)
Subjects Taught: Media Structures and Practices CULT2130 and Popular Culture and Society CULT3140

Jan 2004  Research Assistant
School of Social Sciences (La Trobe University)
Project Supervisor: Dr Brian Furze
Project Description: This project was a sociological exploration of the myths of Northern India and Nepal

Feb 2001 – Oct 2002 Casual Teacher/Tutor
Campus Support Services — Wodonga Institute of TAFE
Tutor for Disability Support Services

Membership of Professional Networks

  • 2004-2009 Member, The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)