Andrea Carson

Andrea Carson is Professor of Political Communication at La Trobe University, where she serves as Associate Dean, Research, Industry and Engagement with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She specializes in the news media's role in politics and quality of information in the public sphere. Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Melbourne as Lecturer in Political Science and Academic Coordinator for the Pathways to Politics program.

• PhD in Political Science from the University of Melbourne (2013)
• MA in International Politics from the University of Melbourne
• BA from Deakin University

Professor Carson's research examines media trust, political communication, gender politics, and regulating digital platforms. Her work focuses on both high-quality information (such as investigative journalism) and low-quality information (misinformation and disinformation). She has conducted comparative research on regulatory approaches to handling misinformation and disinformation, with particular attention to electoral contexts. Her research has been widely published in leading journals, and she has authored and co-edited several important books including Investigative Journalism, Democracy and the Digital Age (2020) and Undercover Reporting, Deception, and Betrayal in Journalism (2023).

Her recent work has focused on electoral disinformation, particularly during the 2023 Australian Voice to Parliament referendum, gender representation in media and politics, and the impact of digital platforms on journalism. She has analyzed how misinformation spreads during elections, the effectiveness of fact-checking, and the relationship between social media platforms and news organizations.

Professor Carson has received numerous accolades for her research excellence:

• La Trobe University's 2023 Vice Chancellor's Overall Research Excellence Award
• Leon Weaver Award for Best conference paper in the 'Representation and Electoral Systems' Section, American Political Science Association
• AFR Higher Education Awards, Emerging Leader, National Finalist (2023)

She holds multiple Australian Research Council grants, including one focused on political trust, and has received industry funding from organizations like Meta to study misinformation and digital journalism. Professor Carson advises governments and think tanks on misinformation issues and is a research fellow with the Women's Leadership Institute Australia (WLIA), where she examines women's political participation. She has served as an expert witness on communications legislation and misinformation issues before parliamentary committees.

Professor Carson is also the creator of "Below the Line," a 2022 election podcast with The Conversation featuring political commentators. Her work bridges academic research and public engagement through media appearances, podcast creation, and direct policy advice.