Media Release

Tuesday, 21 September 2004

In the lead-up to the Federal election, the University of Adelaide will host `Election Forum: Campaign 2004' (Thursday, September 30), as part of an international politics conference in Adelaide this month.

The annual Australasian Political Studies Association Conference will be held in the University of Adelaide's Napier Building, North Terrace Campus, from September 29 to October 1.

Academics from around Australia will be part of a forum panel, with participants discussing key issues, such as communication strategies, polling and market analysis and the professionalism of campaign management.

Speakers include Dr John Roskam (former Executive Director, Menzies Research Centre; former Chief of Staff to David Kemp, Liberal Minister for Education; research fellow, Institute of Public Affairs) and Christian Kerr (crikey.com.au commentator) as well as political analysts from universities around the nation.

Representatives of the South Australian Liberal Party and Labor Party have also been invited to the forum panel.

"The forum will be an opportunity for participants to reflect informally and spontaneously on aspects of the election that go beyond the media election coverage and commentary routinely projected to various audiences," says Dr Paul Corcoran, Associate Professor in Politics at the University of Adelaide.

"Academics will be interested to hear a wide range of professional views about whether, and what, we teach at the universities actually prepares students for key campaigning skills."

WHAT: Election Forum: Campaign 2004
part of the annual Australasian Political Studies Association Conference
WHERE: Lecture Theatre 102, Napier Building, University of Adelaide
WHEN: 4pm Thursday, September 30