Dr Johan Lidberg
Senior Lecturer, Journalism
PhD, Journalism; MA, Journalism; BA, Politics and International Studies
View contact details in Monash Staff Directory
Biography
Johan Lidberg joined the journalism program at Monash in 2010. He has taught journalism since 1999. Before the move to Monash, he was Academic Chair of Journalism at Murdoch University in Perth.
He has worked in print and broadcast journalism, most recently for the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (SR) as a senior political reporter. He has previously held positions at SR as reporter, producer, presenter, foreign correspondent and news editor.
Johan has also served two stints in the United Nations Peace Keeping forces: in the United Nations Force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, in 1987 and as a Press and Information Officer with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, in 1992-1993 in Lebanon.
Research
Johan's main research area is Freedom of Information and its impact on journalistic practice. His research projects have laid the foundation for the first International Freedom of Information Index, ranking a number of FOI regimes according to how well they work in practice. He was consulted by the federal government during the reform process of federal FOI in Australia and contributed to a senate hearing on the new legislation.
His secondary research area is the reporting and coverage of climate change and his third area of interest is the ethical self-regulation system governing the journalism industry.
Examples of other research areas where he will supervise postgraduate students:
- public broadcasting
- citizen journalism
- the role of journalism in society
- journalism and democracy
- business reporting
- environmental reporting
- political reporting
- reporting war and conflict
Johan's research blog can be found here.
Keywords
Freedom of Information, FOI, journalism, democracy, climate change, journalism ethics, journalism and self-regulation, citizen journalism, FOI Index, business reporting, war reporting, journalism and society
Current Research Projects
Assessment of the reformed and amended federal FOI system in Australia. The amended federal FOI Act and the new Information Commissioner Act will be active from November 2010. Will they deliver what they promise? Pro-active disclosure of government-held information and greater public access to information held by government agencies?
A Social Contract for Journalism -- how can public trust in journalism be re-built? Is a re-vamp of the current self-regulation system for ethics in journalism one way?
Teaching
Johan's teaching covers the following units:
Publications
Books
The International Freedom of Information Index -- the Promise and Practice of FOI Laws, 2009, VDM Verlag (Germany). ISBN: 978-3-639-12034-9
Books Chapters
‘Freedom of Information Banana Republics and the Freedom of Information Index’, Right to Information, ICFIA (International Chartered Financial Analysts of India) Publications, 2007, ISBN: 81-314-1328-4
Refereed Journal Articles
'A one-stop shop for grievances: Norway’s self-regulation model as a way to rebuild trust in Australian journalism', Australian Journalism Review, Vol 33 (2), 2011, pp. 129-143.
‘The International Freedom of Information Index -- a Watchdog of Transparency in Practice', Nordicom Review, 20, 2009, 1, pp 167-182. Available: http://www.nordicom.gu.se/common/publ_pdf/279_lidberg.pdf
‘The International Freedom of Information Index -- Tracking the Promise and Practice of FOI', Political Communication Studies and the Institute for Democracy (Sweden), Report no 22, 2009. Available: http://www.miun.se/DEMICOM/Publikationer/Demicoms-rapportserie
'The Freedom of Information Index: measuring the gap between the promise and practice of information legislation', co-authored with Gail Phillips and Stephen Tanner, Freedom of Information Review, No 108, December 2003.
'Freedom of Information and Journalistic Content in Western Australia and Sweden', co-authored with Alec McHoul, UTS Law Review, 2003.
'Freedom of Information as a journalistic tool - a comparative study between Western Australia and Sweden' Freedom of Information Review, Number 95, October 2001.
Other Publications
‘Getting information in WA proves a debacle', opinion piece, The West Australian, December 15, 2009.
‘Bush fires in Victoria' -- Summary report for Swedish Broadcasting Corporation Current Affairs, February 9, 2009.
‘Media reporting of global credit crisis', Murdoch News, September 24, 2008.
‘Yes Minister, society needs FOI, The West Australian, opinion piece, November 22, 2007.
‘Pulling the Plug on FOI', New Matilda (online Australian magazine covering politics and current affairs), 28 November, 2006.
‘FOI as a journalistic tool', Scoop (Australian Journalism Association, WA, Magazine), 2005.
Community impact of research (citations and interviews in media and in reports) -- sample:
‘Rights groups condemn SA internet law', The West Australian, February 4, 2010, p 12.
‘Information access in WA', Interview for the ‘Nightline' program on Perth radio station 6PR, January 19, 2010.
‘State FOI charges "too costly"', The West Australian, January 21, 2009.
‘Court ruling strengthens case for media shield laws', The West Australian, November 11, 2008.
‘FOI and the Haneef case', World View, SBS Radio, October 16, 2008.
‘No need to know cause of gas blast: Logan', The West Australian, August 27, 2008.
‘Minister keeps key gas crisis evidence secret', The West Australian, August 26, 2008.
‘Seven months on, public sector still favours secrecy over disclosure', The West Australian, June 30, 2008.
‘WA plans for new freedom laws dated', The West Australian, June 12, 2008.
‘Spin fears as health workers are told to report "sensitive" FOI bids', The West Australian, comments on Health department FOI directives , June 5, 2008.
ABC, 720, Perth, Morning Show - discussion panel on FOI in WA with Acting WA FOI Commissioner, John Lightowler and Keryn McKinnon, FOI Editor, The West Australian, June 3, 2008.
Interview on Twin Cities FM, Perth, Drive program on FOI, October 30, 2007.
‘FOI -- Sigh', ABC Television Media Watch, research quoted, 11 September, 2006.
‘Tangled in a legal web', Media Report, ABC, interview on FOI research, 12 December, 2002.
‘The privacy bar', The Australian, by Stephen Brook, research quoted, December 20 2001.
Advisory
| 2010 | Invited to submit comments on the functionality of the Western Australian FOI Act as part of the Information Commissioner's review |
| 2010 |
Called as witness in the Senate hearing on the FOI reform bills |
| 2010 | Invited to submit comments on the reform Freedom of Information Bills to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration |
| 2009 |
The Australian Parliamentary Conference. Invited to the panel: I'm logging on: The Media Revolution. The conference had participants from all state and federal legislatures |
| 2009 | ‘Future of Journalism', invited to moderate one of the panel discussions on this event co-arranged in Perth by the Media and Entertainment Alliance and ABC Perth, August 21 |
| 2008 | Consulted by the Office of Special Minister for State, Senator John Faulkner, on changes and amendments to the Federal Freedom of Information legislation |
| 2008 | Asked to contribute to the Australian Press Council's annual ‘State of the media' report |
| 2008 | Invited to partake in UNESCO organised meeting in Paris, France: ‘Freedom of Information and Sustainable Development |
| 2007 | Invited submission to on Freedom of Information to the Australian Right to Know Coalition report on FOI |
| 2007-- | Expert adviser on Freedom of Information to Civil Liberties Australia |
Professional Memberships
Journalism Education Association of Australia
Society of Environmental Journalists (based in the US, academic member)
International Association of Media and Communication Research
Major Productions
| 2006 | THREE YEARS OF PRIVATE HEALTH -- WHAT'S THE OUTCOME? Swedish Broadcasting Corporation |
| 2006 | THE DEMOGRAPHIC BOMB PART I Swedish Broadcasting Corporation |
| 2006 | THE DEMOGRAPHIC BOMB PART II -- THE WORKERS MARKET? Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (This and the two radio documentaries above where broadcast in the lead-up to the general Swedish election in 2006. I was contracted in as a Senior Political Reporter to produce them.) |
| 2000 | ECOLOGIGAL LIVING GOES MAINSTREAM -- ECOLOGICAL VILLAGES IN SWEDEN Earthbeat, Radio National, ABC |
| 1998 | AUSTRALIA AT THE CROSSROADS -- THE FEDERAL ELECTION 1998 Swedish Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1996 | TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAN'T BE UNDERSTOOD -- radio documentary on Swedish High School students visiting Auschwitz Swedish Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1995 | OPALS -- radio documentary on passion in Coober Pedy, Australia Swedish Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1990 | THE ICE ROAD - radio documentary on Arctic transport during the Second World War YLE - Finish Public Service Radio |
