Sharon Smith

Dr. Sharon Smith is a Lecturer in Journalism at RMIT University's School - Media & Communication. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) from Monash University (1999) and has held academic positions including Associate Lecturer at the University of Sydney (2020–2021). Her research focuses on journalism trauma, emotional labor, and the intersection of personal involvement in news events with occupational stressors. She has extensive non-academic experience as a reporter for networks like ABC News and Seven News, contributing to significant societal changes such as the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse.

• Research Interests: Journalism trauma, emotional labor in media, news values, investigative reporting.
• Awards: Walkley Foundation recognition (2003), state-level media excellence awards, and academic achievement honors.

Teaching expertise includes radio, television, and multimedia journalism theory/practice, with recent focus on newswriting pedagogy.