John Tebbutt

Dr. John Tebbutt is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Media & Communication department at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia (2019–2026). With over 20 years of academic experience, his research focuses on Southeast Asia's media relations with Australia, music studies, and cultural policy. He has secured over $1M in ARC grants as a Chief Investigator and supervised doctoral students from Thailand and Indonesia. Formerly a radio journalist and audio producer for the ABC, he contributed to programs like Continuum, a top-tier media journal, as Managing Editor for 12 years until 2024. His work bridges media history, cultural studies, and transnational communication.

Research Interests: Music and media intersections, screen/digital media dynamics, communication policy, and Southeast Asia-Australia media relations. His recent articles analyze radio production histories, cultural consumption in China, and music's role in national identity formation.

Grants & Impact: Secured ARC grants for projects on media relations and cultural policy, totaling over $1M. Advised on emergency communication strategies for government bodies. Active in community roles, including political campaign contributions for a local independent candidate in the 2025 federal election.

Labs/Teams: Former Managing Editor of Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, fostering interdisciplinary research in media and cultural analysis. Collaborates with regional organizations on civic media initiatives.