008 - Dr Stephen Harrington - Political Leadership

Who is leading our democratic process? Is it the media, the voting public, or the politicians we elect? Here in Australia we’ve just found ourselves with a brand new prime minister – our 5th in five years. It’s been a fascinating few years– powerful personalities and a revolving door of leadership. It’s been nasty, divisive and hyper-partisan. Whatever the changes have meant to you, we all have one thing in common – it's been incredibly interesting to watch. Dr Stephen Harrington is the perfect person to chat with about all things politics, media and the future of the democratic landscape. He has a PhD in philosophy, he’s a senior lecturer in journalism, media and communication at the Queensland University of Technology. He’s the author of a book - Australian TV News: New Forums, Functions, and Futures. And he has an incredible ability to make the weighty and often bland issue of political discourse relevant and thought provoking. This is not just the story of Australia’s recent political theatre, this is the story of the changing relationship between the political class, the voting public and the media that connects them.