Contact Information

Phone: +64 6 356 9099, Extension 2368
Fax: +64 6 350 5889
E-mail: M.A.Comrie@massey.ac.nz
Office: Social Sciences Tower 2.22
Postal Address:
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North
New Zealand

Personal Profile

Hi, I'm Margie Comrie and I teach News Media Processes at undergraduate and post graduate levels and also Feature Writing and Freelancing in Palmerston North. I find both subjects great to teach because each week brings examples that raise philosophical and ethical questions about media practice and there are always interesting features to read and talk about. I’ve also taught public relations for many years at Massey and, as a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute, I remain very interested in public relations practice and teaching.
I came to Massey in 1990 after 15 years in the media, largely with public radio, but also with experience in newspapers, freelance writing and communication work.

My PhD showed how TVNZ's news has become more sensational and tabloid because of the pressures of deregulation and competition. I've continued researching and writing on the news media and have worked with former colleagues Judy McGregor and Susan Fountaine on New Zealand's experiments in public journalism.

I've also published articles on the effectiveness of media relations, the ideal of bi-cultural communication with Maori and communication methods for public consultation and participation in decision-making. In a different area I’m one of the Department’s team who’ve worked on outside funded projects on adult literacy and employment aspects of health literacy.

Publications

Vaccarino, F., Murray, N., Comrie, M., Franklin, J., Sligo, F. (2009). A case study exploring the interconnections between literacy, employment and the library in Wanganui Prison’s self-care units. New Zealand: Department of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University. ISBN 978-0-9582892-1-4. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui 0707. ISSN 1176-9807.

2008

Murray, N., Comrie, M., & Sligo, F. (2008). Reflections on the place of adults with low functional literacy in the communicatively integrated community. In Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association 2007 Conference, "Communications, Civics, Industry". Melbourne, Australia, 5-6 July, 2007. Available at http://www.latrobe.edu.au/ANZCA2007/presenters.html.

Murray, N., Comrie, M., & Sligo, F. (2008). Reflections on the place of adults with low functional literacy in the communicatively integrated community. In of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association 2007 Conference, "". Melbourne, Australia, 5-6 July, 2007. Available at

Murray, N., Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., Neilson, D., Watson, B., & Sligo, F. (2008). Teaching beyond literacy: The challenges faced by literacy practitioners. The International Journal of Learning, 15(7), 37-45. Available at http://ijl.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.30/prod.1837.

Comrie, M. (2008). Helengrad and other epithets: Aspects of Helen Clark’s third term media coverage. In Power & Place: Refereed Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Communication Association Conference, Wellington, July 9-11. ISSN 1179-0199. Available at: http://www.massey.ac.nz/?aaac11238s

Sligo, F., Tilley, E., Culligan, N., Comrie, M., & Vaccarino, F. (2008). Place, people, and voice: Creating and communicating expressive content via cartoons. In Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association 2007 Conference, "Communications, Civics, Industry". Melbourne, Australia, 5-6 July, 2007. Available at http://www.latrobe.edu.au/ANZCA2007/proceedings/Sligo.pdf

2007

Mackay, D., & Comrie, M. (2007). Testing times: Kiwi journalists and the military. Pacific Journalism Review 13(2), .46-63.

Sligo, F., Watson, B., Murray, N., Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., & Tilley, E. (2007). Lifelong literacy: Issues of strategy. New Zealand: Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University. ISBN: 978-0-9582766-7-2. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui 0701. ISSN 1176-9807.

Murray, N., Franklin, J., Comrie, M., Watson, B., Shearer, F., Tilley, E., Sligo, F., & Vaccarino, F. (2007). Perspectives of adult literacy learners 2006-2007: A report from the Wanganui adult literacy and employment project. New Zealand: Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University. ISBN 978-0-9582766-6-8. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui 0702. ISSN 1176-9807.

Vaccarino, F., Comrie, M., Murray, N., & Sligo, F. (2007). Action research reflections: The Wanganui adult literacy and employment project. New Zealand: Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University. ISBN 978-0-9582766-5-8. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui 0703. ISSN 1176-9807.

Watson, B., Neilson, D., Murray, N., Dempsey, B., Sligo, F., Comrie, M., & Vaccarino, F. (2007). Literacy provision and employment: Perspectives of secondary school teachers, employers, and adult literacy practitioners. New Zealand: Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University. ISBN 978-0-9582892-0-7. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui 0705. ISSN 1176-9807.

Tilley, E., Sligo, F., Shearer, F., Comrie, M., Murray, N., Franklin, J., Vaccarino, F., & Watson, B. (2007). Voices: First-hand experiences of adult literacy learning and employment in Wanganui. New Zealand: Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University. ISBN 978-0-9582646-5-5. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui 0605. ISSN 1176-9807.

Vaccarino. F., Syder, M., Comrie, M., Murray, N., & Sligo, F. (2007). Stepping through the looking glass: A vocational literacy action research project focusing on self-reflection. New Zealand Journal of Adult Learning, 35(2), 61-77.

Vaccarino, F., Murray, N., Comrie, M., Sharp, C., & Sligo, F. (2007). Fostering an action research project to promote family learning in a New Zealand primary school. International Journal of Learning, 14, 8, 235-244.

Vaccarino, F., Culligan, N., & Comrie, M. (2007). Cogitating on our roles as collaborators in participatory action research community-based projects. In Proceedings of the Tertiary Writing Network 2006 Colloquium, "Old text/ Nu txt: Writing for a change". Napier, New Zealand, 7-8 December, 2006.

Murray, N., Comrie, M., Sligo, F., & Vaccarino, F. (2007). Reflections on the place of adults with low functional literacy in the communicatively integrated community. In Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association 2007 Conference, "Communications, Civics, Industry". Melbourne, Australia, 5-6 July, 2007.

Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., & Culligan, N. (2007). Learning from the community: Creating methodology in the adult literacy and employment project. In Proceedings of the Tertiary Writing Network 2006 Colloquium, "Old text/ Nu txt: Writing for a change". Napier, New Zealand, 7-8 December, 2006.

Vaccarino, F., Sligo, F., Comrie, M., & Murray, N. (2007). Adult literacy education: pathways to citizenship in personal communities. In A. Pandian & M. Kell (Eds.), Literacy. Diverse perspectives and pointers for practice. Serdang, Malaysia: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.

Sligo, F.X., Tilley, E.N., Culligan, N., Comrie, M.A., Vaccarino, F., & Franklin, J. (2007). Picturing words: Illustration-based research feedback to persons of low literacy. In Actas I, X Simposio Internacional Comunicacion Social. L.R. Miyares & A.M. Moreno (Eds.). Santiago de Cuba: Centro de Linguistica Aplicada. pp. 168-172.

Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., Fountaine, S., & Watson, B. (2007). Media Literacy Information in New Zealand: A comparative assessment of current data in relation to adults. A report for the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Broadcasting Standards Authority and Massey University.

Culligan, N., Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., Sligo, F., & Tilley, E. (2007). Challenges of adult literacy teaching: Views of training providers and their students. In Proceedings of the Tertiary Writing Network 2006 Colloquium, "Old text/ Nu txt: Writing for a change". Napier, New Zealand, 7-8 December, 2006.

2006

Jordan, A., & Comrie, M. (2006). Txt sux? Texting and other forms of communication in local government consultation. Communication Journal of New Zealand - He Kohinga Korero, 7(1), 1-20.

Sligo, F.X. & Comrie, M. (2006). Towards building a community of common purpose in a research programme exploring the Literacy and Employment nexus. In Linguistics in the Twenty First Century. Eloína Miyares Bermúdez & Leonel Ruiz Miyares (Eds.). Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars’ Press, pp. 387-395. ISBN 9781904303862
Towards building a community of common purpose in a research programme exploring the literacy and employment nexus.pdf [1,660 KB]

Sligo, F., Tilley, E., Culligan, N., Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., & Franklin, J. (2006). Tipping points: Nodes of change for adult literacy and employment. ISBN 0-9582766-4-1. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui 0609 ISSN 1176-9807

Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., Culligan, N., Sligo, F., & Franklin, J. (2006). Common threads: A report for the Wanganui community on the first stages of the adult literacy and employment project. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582766-0-9 (978-0-9582766-0-3 from 2007). Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0606. ISSN 1176-9807.

Comrie, M. & Fountaine, F. (2006). Back to the future in New Zealand: Can a "third way" compromise reinvigorate public service broadcasting?. In Nissen, C.S. (ed.) Public service broadcasting in the European media landscape (pp. 147-162). Eastleigh, UK.: John Libby Publishing.

Comrie, M. (2006). The media and leadership. In R. Miller & M. Mintrom (eds.) Political leadership in New Zealand (pp.175-195). Auckland: Auckland University Press.

Franklin, J., Culligan, N., Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., Sligo, F., & Tilley, E. (2006). Wanganui's Enhanced Task Force Green: Opportunities for seeking work. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582766-2-5 (978-0-9582766-2-7 from 2007). Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0606. ISSN 1176-9807.

Neilson, D., Culligan, N., Watson, B., Comrie, M., Sligo, F., Vaccarino, F., & Franklin, J. (2006). Perspectives of Wanganui and District employers and providers of adult literacy services 2005-2006: A report from the adult literacy and employment programme. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582766-1-7 (978-0-9582766-1-0 from 2007). Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0606. ISSN 1176-9807.

Sligo, F., Culligan, N., Comrie, M., Tilley, E., Vaccarino, F., & Franklin, J. (2006). In their own words: Policy implications from the Wanganui adult literacy and employment research programme. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582646-9-4 (978-0-9582646-9-3 from 2007). Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0604. ISSN 1176-9807.

Vaccarino, F., Comrie, M., Culligan, N., & Sligo, F. (2006). Action research initiatives: The Wanganui adult literacy and employment programme. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582646-8-6 (978-0-9582646-8-6 from 2007). Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0603. ISSN 1176-9807.

Comrie, M., Tilley, E., Neilson, D., Culligan, N., Sligo, F., & Vaccarino, F. (2006). The wider voice: Wanganui community perspectives on adult literacy and employment 2005-2006. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582646-7-8 (978-0-9582646-7-9 from 2007). Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0602. ISSN 1176-9807.

Tilley, E., Comrie, M., Watson, B., Culligan, N., Sligo, F., Franklin, J., & Vaccarino, F. (2006). Perspectives of adult literacy learners 2004-2006: A report from the adult literacy and employment programme. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582646-6-X (978-0-9582646-6-2 from 2007). Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0601. ISSN 1176-9807.

Culligan, N., Comrie, M., Vaccarino, F., & Sligo, F. (2006). Adult literacy providers and lifelong learning: Challenges of delivering the promise in New Zealand. International Journal of Learning, 13(2), 169-176.

Comrie, M., & Fountaine, S. (2006). On screen politics: the TVNZ charter and coverage of political news. Political Science 57(2), 29-42.

Comrie, M. & Fountaine, S. (2005/2006). "Knowing" through the news. International Journal of the Humanities, 3(8), 181-188.
Knowing through the news.pdf [1,809 KB]

Comrie, M.& Olsson, S.C. (2005/2006). Towards and knowledge economy or ‘bottom of the barrel syndrome’? Perceptions of the relationship between employment and literacy in Wanganui, New Zealand. International Journal of the Humanities, 3(2), 139-149.

Comrie, M., & Culligan, N. (2006, April/May). Employees need the write stuff. Employment Today, pp. 26-29.

Vaccarino, F., Culligan, N., Comrie, M., & Sligo, F.X. (2006). School to work transition; Incorporating workplace literacy in the curriculum for individuals with disabilities in New Zealand. International Journal of Learning, 13, 8, 69-82. Available at http://ijl.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.30/prod.1134

Comrie, M., Vaccarino. F., Sligo, F., Culligan, N., & Tilley, E. (2006). Adult literacy and employment in Wanganui: An initial exploration of the dimensions. New Zealand Journal of Adult Learning, 34, 48-68.
Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui_An Initial Exploration of the Dimensions.pdf [2,679 KB]

2005

Comrie, M., & Fountaine, S. (2005).Through a distanced lens: New Zealand’s coverage of the Iraq conflict. In S.A. Nohrstedt and R. Ottosen (eds). Global war- local views: media images of the Iraq war (pp.245-261). Gotteberg University, Sweden: Nordicom.

Comrie, M. (2005). Gaining government support: Life Sciences Network and the GE Issue. In C. Galloway, & K. Kwansah-Aidoo (eds.). Public relations issues and crisis management (pp.25-40). Australia: Thomson Social Science Press.

Comrie, M., & Fountaine, S. (2005). Who is making the news? Refereed paper presented to ANZCA 2005 Conference: Communication at Work, University of Canterbury, July 4-7, 2005. www.mang.canterbury.ac.nz/ANZCA/MediaAtWork.shtml

McLeay, E., & Comrie, M. (2005, Spring). Women and the election: Policies and perceptions. Women Talking Politics, pp.11-13.

Fountaine, S., Comrie, M, & Cheyne, C. (2005) Empty heartland: The absent regions on New Zealand television. Media International Australia 117, 100-109.

Cheyne, C., & Comrie, M. (2005). Empowerment or encumbrance? Exercising the STV option for local authority elections in New Zealand. Local Government Studies, 31(2), 185-204.

Franklin, J., Olsson, S., Comrie, M., Sligo, F., Culligan, N., Tilley, E., Vaccarino, F., (2005). Wanganui and Districts Employers' Perspectives on Literacy and Employment. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, N.Z.

Olsson, S., & Comrie, M. (2005). The unacknowledged divide: Perceptions of literacy and communication needs in the workplace. Refereed paper presented to ANZCA 2005 Conference: Communication at Work, University of Canterbury, July 4-7, 2005. www.mang.canterbury.ac.nz/ANZCA/CommAtWork.shtml

Norris, P., & Comrie, M. (2005). Changes in radio news: 1994 to 2004. In K. Neill & M. H. Shanahan (eds.) The great New Zealand radio experiment (pp.174-194). Palmerston North: Thomson Learning/Dunmore Press.

Comrie, M. (2005). Public relations, In F. Sligo & R. Bathurst (eds.). Communication in the New Zealand workplace (pp. 131-143). Wellington: Software Technology New Zealand.

Comrie, M., & Fountaine, S. (2005). Knowing through news: The information content of TVNZ news. Refereed paper presented to the Third International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities, University of Cambridge, August 2-5, 2005.

Comrie, M. & Fountaine, S. (2005). Retrieving public service broadcasting: Treading a fine line at TVNZ. Media, Culture and Society, 27 (1), 101-118.

Olsson, S., & Comrie, M. (2005). Towards a knowledge economy or "bottom of the barrel" syndrome? Virtual paper prepared for the Third International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities, University of Cambridge, August 2-5, 2005.

Sligo, F.X. & Comrie, M. (2005). Towards building a community of common purpose in a research programme exploring the Literacy and Employment nexus. In Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Social Communication, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 25 January 2005, pp. 515-518.

Sligo, F., Comrie, M., Olsson, S., Culligan, N., & Tilley, E. (2005). Barriers to adult literacy: A discussion paper. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582646-0-0. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0502. ISSN 1176-9807

Comrie, M., Olsson, S., Sligo, F., Culligan, N., Tilley, E., Vaccarino, F., & Franklin, J. (2005). Perceptions, needs, and issues: A discussion paper. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, New Zealand. ISBN 0-9582646-1-9. Series: Adult Literacy and Employment in Wanganui, 0502. ISSN 1176-9807

2004

Comrie, M. & Fountaine, S. (2004). Under investigation: The fate of current affairs under a public service charter. Refereed conference paper presented at the Second International conference on New Directions in the Humanities, Monash University Centre in Prato, Italy 20-23 July 2004.
Under Investigation.pdf [282 KB]

2003

Olsson, S., & Comrie, M. (2003). Talking the talk? Reconfiguring narratives of consultation in local government. Refereed conference paper presented at the Australian New Zealand Communication Association annual conference at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, 9-11 July 2003

Comrie, M. & Fountaine, S. (2003). Chartering change? The potential and pitfalls of reintroducing public service broadcasting to TVNZ. Refereed conference paper presented at the Australian New Zealand Communication Association annual conference at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, 9-11 July 2003

Cheyne, C., & Comrie M. (2003). Empowerment or encumbrance: Exercising the STV option" . Paper presented to the New Zealand Political Studies Association Conference, Auckland 12-13 April.

Comrie, M., Gillies, A, & Evans, A. (2003, August). Responses to the Māori Electoral Option campaign: A report for sponsors and participants. Department of Communication and Journalism, Massey University, Palmerston North.

2002

Cheyne, C.Comrie, M. (2002). Enhanced legitimacy for local authority decision making: Challenges, setbacks and innovation. Policy & Politics, 30 (4), 469-482.

Cheyne, C.Comrie, M. (2002). Involving citizens in local government: Expanding the use of deliberative processes. In J. Drage (Ed.), Empowering communities?: Representation and participation in New Zealand's local government (pp. 156-186). Wellington, NZ: Victoria University Press.

Comrie, M. (2002). Spin in the news. In J. McGregor, & M. Comrie (Ed.), What's news?: Reclaiming journalism in New Zealand (pp. 158-172). Palmerston North, NZ: Dunmore Press.

Comrie, M.Gillies, A.Day, M. (2002). The Maori electoral option campaign: Problems of measuring 'success'. Political Science, 54 (2), 45-57.

McGregor, J.Comrie, M. (Eds.) (2002). What's news?: Reclaiming journalism in New Zealand. Palmerston North, NZ: Dunmore Press.

McGregor, J.O'Leary, E.Fountaine, S.Comrie, M. (2002). Local government and news. In J. Drage (Ed.), Empowering communities?: Representation and participation in New Zealand's local government (pp. 98-115). Wellington, NZ: Victoria University Press.

Williams, J., Comrie, M. & Sligo, F.X. (2002). Walking the path with new parents: Information provider interaction to foster change. In T. Eardley & B. Bradley (Eds.). National Social Policy Conference "Competing Visions." Sydney: University of New South Wales, 4-6 July. www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/nspc2001/refereed/index.htm

2001

Comrie, M. (2001). CompuChip. In G. Elkin (Ed.), Human resource management in action (pp. 158-159). (Contemporary New Zealand Cases 2). Palmerston North, NZ: Dunmore Press.

Cooper-Chen, A., Comrie, M., Kanayama, T., Nordenstreng, K. & Coeli da Sileira e Silva, R. (2001). The death of Dianna: A multi-national study of values and practices. International Communication Bulletin, 36 (Fall), 2-15.

2000

Cleland, J., Comrie, M., Pajo, K. & Podd, J. (2000). Taking to technology: implications for second chance distance education. Distance Education: an open question, (Vol._CD Rom: Paper 10-1.HTM) September, Adelaide, Australia. Adelaide University.

Comrie, M. (2000). Mussel-bound: The New Zealand media and the launch of Lyprinol. International Communication Bulletin, 35 (3), 12-16.

Comrie, M. (2000). Communication and community: Two experiences of consultation. Asia Pacific Public Relations Review, 2 (1), 21-34.

Comrie, M., Pajo, K. & Podd, J. (2000). Opportunities and obstacles: Web-based technology and distance education. Conference Proceedings of the International Conference on Learning with Technology, March, Philadelphia, USA.

McGregor, J., Fountaine, S. & Comrie, M. (2000). From contest to content: The impact of public journalism on New Zealand election campaign coverage. Political Communication, 17 (2), 133-148.

Page authorised by Head of Department, Department of Communication, Journalism and Marketing (Manawatu and Wellington)
Last updated on Tuesday 10 November 2009