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Journal article
Media actors as policy entrepreneurs: a case study of "No Jab, No Play" and "No Jab, No Pay" mandatory vaccination policies in Australia
Policy sciences, Vol.57(1), pp.29-51
2024
Abstract
The media's central role in the policy process has long been recognised, with policy scholars noting the potential for news media to influence policy change. However, scholars have paid most attention to the news media as a conduit for the agendas, frames, and preferences of other policy actors. Recently, scholars have more closely examined media actors directly contributing to policy change. This paper presents a case study to argue that specific members of the media may display the additional skills and behaviours that characterise policy entrepreneurship. Our case study focuses on mandatory childhood vaccination in Australia, following the entrepreneurial actions of a deputy newspaper editor and her affiliated outlets. Mandatory childhood vaccination policies have grown in strength and number in recent years across the industrialised world in response to parents refusing to vaccinate their children. Australia's federal and state governments have been at the forefront of meeting vaccine refusal with harsh consequences; our case study demonstrates how media actors conceived and advanced these policies. The experiences, skills, attributes, and strategies of Sunday Telegraph Deputy Editor Claire Harvey facilitated her policy entrepreneurship, utilising many classic hallmarks from the literature and additional opportunities offered by her media role. Harvey also subverted the classic pathway of entrepreneurship, mobilising the public ahead of policymakers to force the latter's hand.
Details
- Title
- Media actors as policy entrepreneurs: a case study of "No Jab, No Play" and "No Jab, No Pay" mandatory vaccination policies in Australia
- Authors/Creators
- Katie Attwell - The University of Western AustraliaAdam Hannah - The University of QueenslandShevaun Drislane - The University of Western AustraliaTauel Harper - University of CanberraGlenn C. Savage - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment AuthorityJordan Tchilingirian - University of Bath
- Publication Details
- Policy sciences, Vol.57(1), pp.29-51
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 23
- Grant note
- University of Western Australia
- Identifiers
- 991005680136707891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2024
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Media and Communication
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.27 Political Science
- 6.27.489 Public Administration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Public Administration
- Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
- ESI research areas
- Social Sciences, general