The New Beats book ‘Upheaval: Disrupted lives in journalism’ has been published by UNSW Press, and was launched in Melbourne in July (in a very narrow window between lockdowns) by Lisa Millar, co-host of ABC TV’s News Breakfast program.
The book, which was edited by Andrew Dodd and Matthew Ricketson, which chapters authored by other members of the New Beats team, draws on the stories of more than 50 journalists who were interviewed for the project’s collaboration with the National Library of Australia.
The interviews encompass the stories of those working inside frenetic and vibrant newsrooms across Australia at the peak of their influence, and the difficulties they faced in adapting to ever-accelerating news cycles with fewer resources. Some left journalism altogether after the mass redundancy rounds from 2012 to 2014, while others stayed in the media — or sought to reinvent it.
Upheaval was shortlisted for the 2021 Oral History Australia Book Award and has received substantial media coverage.
You can hear a lengthy interview with Matthew about the book here.
Publications that have reviewed the book so far include Inside Story, ArtsHub, Medium, Australian Policy and History, The Age/Sydney Morning Herald, and Pacific Journalism Review (scroll down to p.311).