Alexandra Wake

Associate Professor Alexandra Wake is an active academic leader, educator and researcher in journalism. Her work sits at the nexus of journalism practice, journalism education, equality, diversity and mental health.

She is currently Program Manager for the Graduate Diploma in Journalism at RMIT University and the elected President of the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia. 

Dr Wake has taught journalism at RMIT, Deakin University, Dubai Women's College, and was a trainer on international aid projects including at the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Before turning full time to the academy, she spent more than 25 years working for broadcast and print international news agencies in Australia, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Dr Wake has been an advisor for Mindframe for Journalists since 2012 and was a Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma Academic Fellow in 2011. She is also part of the team of researchers in "The International UNESCO UniTWIN Network on Gender, Media and ICTs" promoting and developing international co-participative projects together with the National Autonomous University of Mexico. 

Industry experience:
Before turning full time to the academy, she spent decades working for broadcast and print international news agencies in Australia, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Dr Wake has worked for the ABC, ABC Radio Australia, ABC Australia Pacific, Australian Provisional Newspapers, Independent Newspapers (Ireland) and has written extensively for a range of publications including The Conversation, Crikey, The Age, The Interpreter, and 360.

Grants:
Australian Journalism, Trauma and Community (externally led by Monash University). Funded by: ARC Discovery Projects 2023 via Other University from (2024 to 2027)

Mitigating the impact of the media on stigmatising attitudes towards people with severe mental illness (administered by the University of Melbourne). Funded by: NHMRC - Investigator Grants from (2024 to 2028)

Fellowships:
- Visiting Scholar, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

- Academic Fellow, Constructive Institute, Aarhus University, Denmark 

-Academic Fellow, Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma (Asia Pacific), Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

Awards:

2023:
-Dean’s Award for Indigenous Engagement

2022:
-Dean’s Award for Impact and Engagement
-Top Performer, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University

2021:
Commendation, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University

2020:
-Dean’s Award for Award for Indigenous Engagement
-Dean’s Award for Program for Impact and Engagement
-Commendation, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University

2018:
-Top Performer, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University

2017:
-Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University.

2015:
-RMIT University Teaching Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (Graduate Outcomes).
-Long-listed for a Walkley Grant for Innovations in Journalism, from the national association of Australian journalists the MEAA