Former ABC TV presenter Stan Grant – part of a diverse group that controversially discussed the Coronation of King Charles during the broadcaster’s live coverage – has a new role encouraging “constructive” reporting.
And today Monash University arts dean Katie Stevenson made it official, signing the memorandum of understanding which officially establishes the Constructive Institute Asia Pacific at Monash, in partnership with Constructive Institute in Aarhus, Denmark. The ceremony in Canberra was hosted by the Danish ambassador, Pernille Dahler Kardel.
Grant (pictured) left the ABC after what he said were “racist” comments by viewers who criticised his negativity towards the royal event.
Grant – now a Monash professor – was appointed earlier this year to be director of the Asia Pacific Institute, which has as its central mission, to “foster healthier democracies by helping journalists and news organisations apply constructive reporting through fellowship programmes, best practices, reporting projects and independent academic research”.
Or as Monash puts it on its website, to “rebuild media integrity”.
Grant says the Institute has a crucial role to play in promoting democratic conversation, focussing on “a solutions-based, nuanced and constructive approach to journalism, which improves public discourse by steering us away from the sensationalised and polarised narratives prevalent in news reporting today”.
The Constructive Institute Asia Pacific will launch in Melbourne early next year.