Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr. Andrea Jean Baker is an internationally-award winning journalist, accomplished academic, tertiary educator and researcher within the School of Media, Film and Journalism. She is a prominent scholar known for her extensive work in interdisciplinary fields, particularly focusing on feminist journalism studies, criminology, ethnomusicology, and urban studies. Conducting impactful, socially relevant research, Dr. Baker focuses on urban communication, the safety of journalists, media reporting on violence against women in the Global North and Global South from a constructive journalism lens, and the impact of emerging technologies (from net-radio to Artificial Intelligence) on journalism practice.
Academic Background: Dr. Baker earned her PhD in Communications from Monash University, where her research focused on comparing transnational media consumption habits—specifically music, radio, and internet—among journalism students at Monash University (Australia) and City University in New York (USA).
Key Achievements:
- Jan- April 2025, completed a Certificate in Human Centred-Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University in the United States (Global Online Education).
- Since March, 2025: Nominated member of the International Communication Associations' (Journalism Studies), Public Engagment Committee.
- Led significant contributions through teaching, research and engagement, and industry reports, particularly in topics concerning the safety of journalists, media coverage of violence against women.
- Helped to set up Australia's first student-led, net radio station, which was tied to her PhD outcomes.
- Devised and led the first, 4 international journalism field trips for undergraduate and postgraduate journalism students in Australia to the prestigious media units in New York City, London, Brussels and Paris (BBC, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Agence France-Presse, The Times, The Guardian, UN Media Unit, UNESCO Media Unit and the European Commission).
- Contributed to national education modules about improving the media reporting of violence against women for governments and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).
- Awarded prestigious research fellowships to City University of New York and University of Texas at Austin (USA), and Freie Universitat, Berlin (Germany).
- Dr. Baker's research about safety of journalists and #MeToo media is cited in major reports by UNICEF & UN Women and UNESCO.
- Led, edited, and contributed to, influential global books tied to the safety of journalists, sexual violence and #MeToo media, with 35 journalism scholars (Australia, U.K., USA, Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia).
- Secured extramural (Governments, NGOs) and internal university grants, more than $AUD 300,000 for her research projects and initiatives.
Research and Publications: Dr. Baker's significant research contributions is illustrated in over 80 peer-reviewed, academic outputs, including 4 books, 35 chapters, 16 journal articles, co-editor of 2 special journal editions, editior of 2 industry reports, and more than 24 journalism pieces, commentaries and podcasts for mainstream media. Her work has been published in top media, communications and journalism academic journals and in 6 edited-scholarly books (Palgrave; Routledge x 2; Bloomsbury Academic; Oxford University Press; Manchester University Press). Most notable are Dr Baker's 4 books, 2 of which are award winning:
- Violence Against Women in the Global South: Reporting in the #MeToo Era (2023, Palgrave/Springer), as lead editor, nominated for the International Journal of Press/Politics Hazel Gaudet-Erskine Best Book Award 2024.
- Reporting on Sexual Violence in the #MeToo Era (2023, Routledge), as lead editor.
- The Great Music City: Exploring Music, Space, and Identity (2019, Palgrave Macmillan), sole author. Best Education/Academic Book (2019), International Book Festival.
- Virtual Radio Gaga: Youth and Net-Radio: Exploring Subcultural Models of Audiences (2012, Hampton Press), sole author. International Association for Media and Communication Research (2011), prestigious publication award.
In 2025, Dr. Baker is working on 2 more books: leading a 3rd edited collection (with journalism and media scholars from around the globe) and her 4th monograph. The ongoing publications reflect Dr. Baker's deep involvement in addressing complex social issues like gender dynamics and media safety through rigorous scholarly work.
Teaching and Engagement: In addition to her research, Dr. Baker coordinates and develops curriculum for media and communications and journalism studies and journalism practice. Continuing to seek in-depth knowledge of emerging technologies (net-radio and Artifical Intelligence) to enhance her research and teaching practices, tied to media coverage of violence, intersectionality and constructive journalism in the #MeToo era. Dr. Baker has participated in practical workshops about Data Journalism, News Text, Audio and Artificial Intelligence, and has integrated this knowledge into the curriculum (i.e. in 2024, Practice of Journalism; Photojournalism, and Journalism and Global Change). Her dedication to teaching innovations and research-led teaching has led to university teaching awards, and nominations for a national teaching award.
Academic Leadership: With a post-graduate degree in management, Dr. Baker has extensive leadership and administrative experience within the media and health industries and university sectors. She has held key leadership roles, such as the Undergraduate, Honours, Research Coordinator to Acting Head for the Journalism program; co-coordinated of the journalism internship program, and the School-based, Ph.D., and Masters by Research programs and has been a Arts representative on the Faculty board for 2 terms.
Contributions to the Field: Underscoring her commitment to advancing the field of journalism and media studies, Dr. Baker is a member of International Association of Media and Communications (IAMCR); International Communications Association (ICA) and Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC). She serves on editorial boards of high ranking journals, such as Journalism Practice, and is a peer reviewer for other quality journals (Journalism; Feminist Media Studies; Violence Against Women) and for global conference papers (IAMCR; ICA and AEJMC), continually impacting the broader media landscape. Dr. Baker has presented her research in the Global North (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Cardiff, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Washington D.C., Austin (Texas), New York City, Detroit, Montreal, Toronto) and the Global South (Moscow, Cairo, Hyderabad, Mexico City, Kenya).
Research interests
Research interests: Andrea has supervised or examined 12 PhDs and Masters theses and 16 Honours research projects to successful completion. She welcomes Masters by Research and PhD supervisions in journalism and communications studies in the following areas:
- Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Journalism Practice
- Journalism Studies
- Traditional PhD or PhD by exegesis.
- Radio studies
- Music cities
- Safety of journalists
- Global South media
- #MeToo media
- Feminist Media Studies
- News Cultures
- Digital Media Cultures
- Sexual violence in the media or music industries
- Intersectionality
- Constructive journalism
- Arts journalism
Teaching Commitments:
Unit Coordinator, Lecturer in 2025: ATS3645: Journalism and Global Change; ATS3324. Lifestyle Journalism.
Post-Graduate supervision: Accepting Masters by Research and PhDs.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
City of Melbourne’s Music Cities advisor
31 Aug 2013 → 31 Dec 2017
City of Port Phillip’s Music Taskforce
28 Feb 2012 → 31 Dec 2012
Research area keywords
- Journalism studies
- Intersectionality
- Constructive journalism
- Gender and media
- Safety of journalists
- Radio Studies
- #MeToo media
- Digital Media Studies
- Sexual Violence
- Mixed methods research
- Arts Journalism
- Feminist Media Studies
- News Cultures
- Digital Media Cultures
- Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Journalism Practice
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 5 Finished
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SVIMCM: Examining Sexual Violence in the Music City of Melbourne
Baker, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
Melbourne City Council (City of Melbourne)
11/06/21 → 17/12/21
Project: Research
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Sexual Violence and the Music Industry
Baker, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
15/01/18 → 17/12/20
Project: Research
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City of Melbourne, Music Planning Committee
Baker, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
9/07/13 → 15/12/17
Project: Consultancy
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Music Cities (Melbourne, Austin and Berlin)
Baker, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
15/01/13 → 29/04/16
Project: Research
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Net Radio and the Music Industry (Melbourne and New York City)
Baker, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
7/04/09 → 13/03/12
Project: Research
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Antiracist journalism: the challenge of creating equitable local news, Andrea Wenzel (2023)
Baker, A. J., Dec 2024, In: Australian Journalism Review. 46, 2, p. 279-280 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Short Review › Other › peer-review
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Australia’s hidden musicians: education and training in rural and regional areas
Watt, P., Green , B., Baker, A., Bennett, A. & Long, P., 2024, In: Music Education Research. 26, 2, p. 127-139 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Believability: Sexual violence, Media, and the Politics of Doubt, Sarah Banet-Weiser and Kathryn Claire Higgins (2023)
Baker, A. J., Jun 2024, In: Australian Journalism Review. 46, 1, p. 144-146 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Short Review › Other › peer-review
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Examining sexual violence in Greater Melbourne, a renowned music city
Baker, A., 4 Jul 2023, 1 ed. Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (Victorian State Government). . 134 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report › Other
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Intersectionality and hashtag journalism: Scandals giving women and girls of color a voice in the united states’ media coverage of the r. kelly
Baker, A., 2023, Reporting on Sexual Violence in the #MeToo 2.0 Era. Baker, A. & Manchanda Rodrigues, U. (eds.). 1 ed. Abingdon Oxon UK: Routledge, Vol. 1. p. 103-121 19 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Bool launch of The Great Music City, Journalism Research and Education section at the International Association of Media and Communications Research Conference
Baker, A. (Recipient), 8 Jul 2019
Prize: National/international honour
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Entry into Jane Jacobs Book Award (2019) for contribution to Urban Communication (for The Great Music City)
Baker, A. (Recipient), 31 Aug 2019
Prize: National/international honour
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Entry into the US-based, Robert E. Park Book Award (2020) for contribution to Community and Urban Sociology (for The Great Music City)
Baker, A. (Recipient), 1 Apr 2020
Prize: National/international honour
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Finalist, International Book Awards, Best Education/Academic Book (for The Great Music City) at the American-based, International Book Festival 2019
Baker, A. (Recipient), 12 Jun 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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International Association for Media and Communications Research and the Hampton Press (New York) prestigious publishing award for Virtual Radio Ga Ga: Youths and Net-Radio
Baker, A. (Recipient), 1 Mar 2012
Prize: National/international honour
Activities
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Journalism Practice (Journal)
Baker, A. (Editor in chief)
12 Jan 2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
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Journal of Black Studies (Journal)
Baker, A. (Peer reviewer)
2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
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International Communication Association annual conference 2023 (Event)
Baker, A. (Peer reviewer)
2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
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Finnish Journal of Music Education (Journal)
Baker, A. (Peer reviewer)
2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
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Feminist Media Studies (Journal)
Baker, A. (Peer reviewer)
2021 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
Press/Media
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It’s me, hi!: The visibility of women in music
26/03/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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The media’s role on eliminating gendered violence must include addressing their own newsrooms
Baker, A., Fielding , V., Thompson, J. & Bafhen , N.
24/11/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Musical city: Why is Melbourne Australia’s coolest city?
4/07/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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