Biography

Dr. Melanie James, PhD (UoN), Grad.Cert. PTT (UoN), MA Journalism (UTS), BA Communication (Hons) (UTS), MPRIA joined the School of Design, Communication and IT at the University of Newcastle in November 2006 after working in senior management roles in strategic communication, government communication, public relations and marketing communication.

She has published in the area of strategic communication and positioning theory in journals such as Public Relations Review, The Journal of PR Research, Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal, Public Communication Review and PRism and authored the chapter on strategy in public relations in Public Relations Theory and Practice (Chia & Synnott, 2009 and 2012). She is also the author of the books, Public Relations (2006) and Careers@Gov (2007).

Melanie has presented papers at a number of conferences including the 2011 Barcelona PR Meeting, 2010 Bledcom International PR Research Symposium and the Australian New Zealand Communication Association. Her research interests include positioning theory, strategic meaning construction and social media. She currently supervises Honours and PhD research.

She is currently working on a book for Routledge (UK) on strategic positioning in public relations. She is a member of the Centre for Social Research in Energy and Resources within the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources and is an associate researcher with the Research Institute for Social Inclusion and Well Being.

Melanie is currently a member of the UoN Faculty of Science & IT Research and Training Committee and is Chair of the DCIT Research Committee. She is also a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. Melanie sits on the Editorial Board of journal, Public Communication Review.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 2011
• Graduate Certificate Practice of Tertiary Teaching, University of Newcastle, 2008
• Master of Arts (Journalism), University of Technology Sydney, 1998

Research

Research keywords

• environmental communication
• new media/social media
• positioning
• public relations
• strategic communication
• teaching and learning

Research expertise

Dr Melanie James was awarded her PhD in early 2011. Since taking up an academic career in late 2006, she has published her research on strategic communication and public relations in academic journals and presented her research at conferences in Australia and overseas. She supervises PhD students and honours students pursuing research in communication and public relations. Dr James has developed a conceptual framework for intentional positioning in strategic communication/public relations. She is currently working to apply theory to practice in communication related to policy and programs that drive investment, commercialisation and deployment of low carbon emissions technologies. She is a member of the Centre for Social Research in Energy & Resources within the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, is working with the Priority Research Centre for Energy and is an associate member of the Research Institute for Social Inclusion and Well-being.

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Centre for Social Research in Energy and Resources
• Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER)
• Research Institute of Social Inclusion & Wellbeing

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• member - Public Relations Institute of Australia
• member - Professional Communicators Network

Editorial Board.

• Editorial Board of the Public Communication Review

Awards

Recognition.

Invitations

Administrative

Administrative expertise

Dr Melanie James chairs the School of Design, Communication and IT Research Committee and is the school representative on the Faculty of Science and IT Research and Training Committee. She has past served on the Faculty's Teaching and Learning and Communication Marketing committees.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• communication
• media
• public relations

Teaching expertise

Dr Melanie James is a senior lecturer in the Bachelor of Communication program at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

She currently coordinates subjects including:

* Introduction to Public Relations

* Public Relations Strategy

* Public Relations Campaigns

* Public Relations Writing

* Advanced Public Relations Studies

* Communication Professional Placement

* Audience studies

Other subjects taught include:

* Intro to Communication studies

Programs

• Bachelor of Communication
• Bachelor of Communication (Honours)

Courses

• CMNS1290 - Introduction to Public Relations
• CMNS2290 - Public Relations Issues and Strategies
• CMNS3510 - Advanced Public Relations Studies
• CMNS3500 - Communication Professional Placement
• CMNS1110 - Introduction to Communication Studies
• CMNS2600 - Audience Studies