Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · 8d

This is a cause super close to me and my family, and I would appreciate any donations, even a dollar can help!

I’m aiming to raise $1000 over the next month - this will help with services like training teachers in mental wellbeing and advancing clinical trials for depression treatment.

Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · 8d

Hi all, in October I am participating in the One Foot Forward initiative by the Black Dog Institute, to raise money to support Australians impacted by mental illness.

www.onefootforward.org.au/fundraisers/...?

Support my 40km challenge for mental health research!

Together, we can help create better mental health for all.

www.onefootforward.org.au

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

Crikey @crikey.com.au · 22d

Australian media and politicians have taken a huge interest in an overseas figure the vast majority of their constituents would have never heard of prior to September 10, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

Charlie Kirk's martyrdom in the US is to be expected. Here, it's baffling

www.crikey.com.au

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · 23d

It was great to listen to @essideh.com discuss his new book, The Discursive-Digital Link this week! 📖 📚 🎉

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · 23d

After a brief hiatus, the Read Them Sideways podcast is back! In this week's episode, Klaus Groebner (@gklaus.bsky.social) interviews Dr Ehsan Dehghan (@essideh.com) about his new book: The Discursive-Digital Link.

Listen to Klaus and Ehsan chat about the new book below!

Episode 32: The Discursive-Digital Link with Ehsan Dehghan

Read Them Sideways · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · Aug 18

You guys

Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · Aug 18

Laura Loomer, who the president has consulted for decisions on who to fire, is arguing with a chatbot

You want to discuss “facts”? You said I am a problem. @grok, Just admit you’re programmed to behave like a leftist. There is nothing factual about what you just said about me, GROK.

Apologize. Now. And apologize to @elonmusk who wants to crack down on the destruction of the West.

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Aug 18

Some super interesting case studies in this issue - would highly recommend for fandom scholars!

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · Aug 18

Two of our postdoctoral research associates, @svegaard.bsky.social and @vilkins.bsky.social , have guest edited the latest issue of M/C Journal. They have curated some excellent articles around the theme of fandom and politics.

Read the issue here! journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mc...

M/C Journal

M/C Journal - a journal of media and culture, founded in 1998.

journal.media-culture.org.au

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · Aug 3

Apparently a completely peaceful march across Sydney Harbour Bridge today was extremely perilous.

Yet somehow fewer people (i.e. nobody) died today than when NSW Police were asked to assist with a 95-year-old nursing home resident behaving erratically.

Jason Wilson @jasonaw.bsky.social · Aug 3

Never change Australian coppers www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

Jason Wilson @jasonaw.bsky.social · Aug 3

Good shit Sydney

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · Aug 3

NEW: Incredible scenes in Sydney, Australia today as tens of thousands march for Gaza, demanding an end to the genocide.

#MarchForHumanity

(🎥 Ema Franklin)

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Aug 1

Happy publication week! 🎉

I had the genuine pleasure of chatting with @arielbogle.bsky.social and @cameronwilson.bsky.social last week about their new book, CONSPIRACY NATION.

Can confirm, it’s an excellent read.

You can hear their thoughts on the link below: open.spotify.com/episode/00Go...

Episode 31: Conspiracy Nation Book Launch with Ariel Bogle and Cameron Wilson

Read Them Sideways · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · Aug 1

We were lucky to be joined by @arielbogle.bsky.social and @cameronwilson.bsky.social on the Read Them Sideways podcast to talk about their new book with host, @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social.

open.spotify.com/episode/00Go...

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Jul 15

It was fantastic to collaborate with my colleague @phzerosounds.bsky.social on this piece! The Epstein files drama doesn't seem to be going away, so watch this space for further thoughts...

Crikey @crikey.com.au · Jul 15

Trump loyalists have been baying for the release of the Epstein files for years. Now, Trump wants his supporters to forget about them — and MAGA is pissed.

Donald Trump stokes the flames of conspiracy — but the Epstein saga may burn him to the ground

Donald Trump's Justice Department has corroborated the official story of the death of Jeffrey Epstein. MAGA is pissed.

www.crikey.com.au

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Jul 1

Very cool @ashwinnag.bsky.social!

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

David Gilbert @davidgilbert.bsky.social · Jun 25

New research shows that believers in conspiracy theories have no idea how fringe their own beliefs are, and they vastly overestimate their own abilities

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

journals.sagepub.com

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Jun 16

This was one of the most fun (and longest...) episodes we have recorded! Was great to chat 10 years of Trumpism with @phzerosounds.bsky.social, @timothyjgraham.bsky.social, @kkasianenko.bsky.social and our excellent host @svegaard.bsky.social.

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · Jun 16

Ten years ago today, Donald Trump announced his bid for the Republican nomination in the 2016 United States presidential election.

To mark the occasion, the Read Them Sideways team came together to record a roundtable episode of 10 Years of Trumpism.

open.spotify.com/episode/6PoX...

Episode 27: Ten Years of Trumpism DMRC Roundtable

Read Them Sideways · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · Jun 13

BREAKING: Judge Breyer orders Trump to return control of the National Guard back to California, saying the call-up was illegal. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · May 16

Great work from my co-host @svegaard.bsky.social and my good colleague Vish on the most recent episode of the podcast! They chat #Netflix Adolescence, #radicalisation, and the manosphere. Definitely worth a listen for everyone who also binge watched this show!

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · May 16

Some weekend listening from the Read Them Sideways podcast team and guest Vish Padinjaredath Suresh!

@svegaard.bsky.social chats with Vish about Netflix's recent miniseries Adolescence and how it relates to their work on the manosphere and radicalisation.

open.spotify.com/episode/4YJv...

Episode 25: The Manosphere and Netflix's "Adolescence" with Vish Padinjaredath Suresh

Read Them Sideways · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

Cayteya @cayteya.bsky.social · Apr 30

🚨 “Would the Coalition’s plan reduce energy bills by more than Labor’s?”

The Conversation asked five experts, and all of them said “no”. Here are their detailed responses. ⤵️
#auspol

theconversation.com/would-the-co...

Would the Coalition lower energy bills by more than Labor? We asked 5 experts

Both Labor and the Coalition say their energy policies are the best way to bring household power costs down – but which side is right?

theconversation.com

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Apr 29

Also a plug for @pwik.bsky.social's TikTok data donation project; the details to anonymously donate your TikTok data and become a 'citizen scientist' are in the show notes, or can be found here: www.foryouparticipate.net/tiktok/

What Shapes Your TikTok Feed?

www.foryouparticipate.net

Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Apr 29

I had the opportunity to have a quick chat with @vilkins.bsky.social for the Read Them Sideways podcast about our recent work on the Australian federal election campaign. We talk about the trends we've observed on Facebook and Instagram so far. #ausvotes #auspol

open.spotify.com/episode/2eHG...

Episode 24: Social Media Trends During the Australian Federal Election Campaign with Sam Vilkins

Read Them Sideways · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Apr 28

So good to be surrounded by talented colleagues doing such innovative work in our field. :)

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · Apr 27

New article from an excellent group of QUT DMRC researchers, presenting a novel analytical method that will be of benefit to the field as a whole: practice mapping!

We have already started used this method in various conference presentations, so read the below paper to learn more. 🧠 📖

Axel Bruns @snurb.info · Apr 25

💡 NEW ARTICLE ALERT 💡

My article with @qutdmrc.bsky.social colleagues @kkasianenko.bsky.social, @vishneww.bsky.social, @essideh.com, and @voddenlaura.bsky.social is now out in Social Media + Society.

We introduce a new analytics method: #PracticeMapping.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Apr 23

Some interesting insights we've observed so far in the election campaign! #auspol

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · Apr 23

Researchers from our Laureate team, @snurb.info, @vilkins.bsky.social, @voddenlaura.bsky.social, and @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social have written a mid-campaign update on the Australian Federal Election.

research.qut.edu.au/dmrc/2025/04...

2025 Federal Election: Mid-Campaign Update - QUT Digital Media Research Centre

As in previous elections the QUT Digital Media Research Centre team is tracking how election campaigning is unfolding across the social media landscape, with a particular focus on candidate and party ...

research.qut.edu.au

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Apr 16

It was great to have @carlylubicz.bsky.social on the Read Them Sideways podcast this week!

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · Apr 16

💡 A new episode of the Read Them Sideways podcast for your long weekend! 💡

PhD researcher Carly Lubicz-Zaorski @carlylubicz.bsky.social chatted with @phzerosounds.bsky.social about energy and climate debates in the lead up to the 2025 Australian Federal election. 🗳️

open.spotify.com/episode/3FEc...

Episode 23: Debating Energy and Climate in the Australian Election with Carly Lubicz-Zaorski

Read Them Sideways · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Apr 16

Can't wait to read this! My research looks largely at international conspiracy theories, so can't wait to see what Cam and Ariel have uncovered here at home.

CAMERON WILSON @cameronwilson.bsky.social · Apr 16

Our secret plot has finally been revealed:

Ariel Bogle and I have written a book: 'CONSPIRACY NATION: Exposing the dangerous world of Australian conspiracy theories'

We have a lot to share about what we uncovered, but for now you can pre-order it here: bio.to/ConspiracyNation

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Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Apr 8

QUELLE SURPRISE

Crikey @crikey.com.au · Apr 8

The five politicians whose personal share portfolios took the biggest hit in the wake of the Trump tariff chaos were all Coalition MPs. Anton Nilsson reports.

The biggest losers in Australian politics (in the sharemarket, of course...)

With the sharemarket in turmoil and the dollar tanking, there's a lot of money to be lost. We crunch the numbers on which Aussie politician is the biggest loser.

www.crikey.com.au

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Reposted by Kate FitzGerald

QUT Digital Media Research Centre @qutdmrc.bsky.social · Apr 7

We have just updated our Starter Pack to include some of our new additions to the DMRC and incoming PhD students - make sure you are following to keep up to date on everything coming out of the DMRC! 💪👀

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