This report provides a snapshot of the wide-ranging work that has been undertaken for the Breaking Silences: Media and the Child Abuse Royal Commission project. Funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Projects grant (DP190101282), over the past four years the Breaking Silences team has been researching the role of journalism and social media advocacy in triggering, reporting on, and keeping alive the recommendations of the groundbreaking Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013-17) (RCIRCSA).

The research has concluded and the output has been added to the ANROWS library. Please visit https://www.anrows.org.au/register-of-active-research/ for more information on the RAR.

Project title

Breaking silences: media and the Child Abuse Royal Commission

Aim

This project aims to analyse the role of media, journalism and social media activism in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013 to 2017). By focusing on the nexus between media and commissions of inquiry in the digital era, the project is investigating the impacts of a rapidly changing media environment on this national "listening" exercise.

Methods

This project uses a case study approach to critically analyse the role of transitioning local, national and social media in triggering, reporting on and keeping alive the findings of the Royal Commission.

Significance

This project will contribute to ensuring victims of institutional child sexual abuse are heard, and justice is upheld.

Funding body

Australian Research Council (Project ID: DP190101282)

Funding budget

$298,319

Project start date

August 2019

Expected completion date

August 2022