Alexandra Wake

Alexandra Wake is Professor of Journalism in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT.  She is an active academic leader, educator,  researcher, and journalist serving currently as the Program Manager for the Graduate Diploma in Journalism, and the elected President of the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia. She has a particular interest in the intersection of policy and governance and is in her third term on the RMIT University Academic Board.

Over the past 40 years, Dr Wake has published books, journal articles, provided expert commentary and practiced journalism while also teaching  at RMIT, Deakin University, and Dubai Women's College. She has worked as a trainer on international aid projects in a range of countries (from South Africa, to Solomon Islands and Myanmar)  and worked to support local and First Nations media in Australia.  As an award winning educator, who has combined both practice with theory at one of Australia's most prestigious journalism programs, she is regularly asked to review journalism curricula for universities inside and outside Australia.

Before turning full time to the academy, Professor Wake was an award winning journalist and broadcaster working in Australia, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. She has taken on senior roles in a range of news organisations including at the ABC, ABC Radio Australia, ABC Australia Pacific, Australian Provisional Newspapers, Independent Newspapers (Ireland) and continues to write for a range of publications such as The Conversation, Crikey, The Age, The Interpreter, and 360. 

Professor Wake is the Oceania co-leader for the UK-based Journalism Education Trauma Research Group,  a member of the Dart Centre Asia Pacific, and an advisor for Mindframe for Journalists. She is 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. 

Grants:

Professor Wake is working on a range of Australian Government funded projects, but is equally happy working with small industry partners on significant projects.

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:

Professor Wake has received multiple awards for industry, teaching, service and research including:  RMIT School of Media and Communication Dean’s Award for Indigenous Engagement (2023); Dean’s Award for Impact and Engagement (2022);  Top Performer, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context) RMIT University, (2022);  Commendation, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University (2021); Dean’s Award for Award for Indigenous Engagement (2020); Dean’s Award for Program for Impact and Engagement (2020); Commendation, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University (2020); Top Performer, Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University (2020); Media Star Award (Design and Social Context), RMIT University. (2017); RMIT University Teaching Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (Graduate Outcomes). (2015); Long-listed for a Walkley Grant for Innovations in Journalism, from the national association of Australian journalists the MEAA (2015).