Michael Bourk is lecturer in the Department of Media, Film and Communication at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Following an introduction to academia at Bond University (Queensland), he studied and later taught at the University of Canberra where he completed a BA, MA and PhD. in Communication. He has a primary research interest in narrative policy analysis, with particular emphasis on media technologies that address issues of access and equity for active participation in society. His Masters argued both charity and rights narratives have been used to frame access to telecommunication services for people with disabilities in Australia. Subsequently, his PhD. used a similar discourse approach, using additional narratives to analyse historical and contemporary contexts of national telecommunication policy development. In addition, I am interested in media analysis of issues, events, and cultural groups using qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
