2007 brought Phase 1 to a conclusion. This involved comprehensive research into the Student Youth Network (SYN) as a case study for community-based innovation and digital literacy. We used ethnographic methods, including participant observation at SYN, monitoring ‘basecamp’ (an online discussion forum), interviews and focus groups. We also conducted a major online survey of media industries workers, focusing on educational qualifications and voluntary work. The results indicate that a high proportion of media industries workers have undertaken voluntary community media work.
Research Fellow Ellie Rennie has been leading this phase of the research, publishing a series of articles and papers and developing a book proposal and chapter drafts.
Chris Wilson, the PhD student with the project, has been conducting research on at-risk youth, contemporary and historical youth policy, the emergence of teen radio and social partnerships. He conducted a series of interviews with key participants and stakeholders including personnel from Youth Development Australia (YDA), SYN-FM, the Salvation Army and other youth-oriented community media initiatives. He also drafted two thesis chapters and presented a conference paper.