James Mahoney

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James Mahoney is an Adjunct professor in professional communication in the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra. He is a former Head, Discipline of Communication and former Convenor of the Master of Strategic Communication, and Public Relations degrees at the University of Canberra. He taught public relations practice and strategy and public relations writing at undergraduate level and strategic issues analysis and management at postgraduate level. James holds a PhD (Canberra) Master of Arts in Communication (Research) (Canberra) and a Bachelor of Arts (ANU). He is a Life Fellow of Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA), a member of CPRA's Fellows Council, and a former Hon. National Secretary.

Prior to joining the University of Canberra, James had a career as a senior public relations practitioner and manager in private industry, for Federal government agencies, and in the tertiary education sector.

His books are Strategic Communication and the 2022 Australian Federal Election Campaign: A Brutal Business (2024, Routledge), Strategic Communication: Campaign Planning, 3rd ed. (2023, Routledge), The Strategic Communication Imperative for Mid-and Long-Term Issues Management (2022, Routledge), Public Relations Writing, 4th ed. (2025, Routledge, in press), and (ed.) A Bushman Remembers (2003, Central Queensland University Press).

James' research interests include the implications of the three horizons of business planning on strategic communication, issues management, public relations evaluation, and public relations education. His doctoral research and thesis examined issues management and strategic communication. His Masters research examined employee communication during organisational change, using a major Australian government agency as the case.

Experience

  • 2018–present
    Adjunct Professor in Professional Communication, University of Canberra

Education

  • 2015 
    University of Canberra, PhD
  • 2005 
    University of Canberra, Master of Arts in Communication (Research)
  • 1979 
    Australian National University, Bachelor of Arts

Publications

  • 2025
    Public Relations Writing, 4th ed. , Routledge, London & New York
  • 2024
    Strategic Communication and the 2022 Australian Federal Election: A Brutal Business, Routledge, London & New York
  • 2023
    Strategic Communication: Campaign Planning, 3rd ed. , Routledge, London & New York
  • 2022
    The Strategic Communication Imperative For Mid- and Long- Term Issues Management, Routledge, London & New York
  • 2014
    ‘Issues that prevent anti-smoking campaigns from working,’ in T. Jaques, Issues and Crisis Management: Exploring Issues, Crises, Risk and Reputation., Oxford Unversity Press
  • 2014
    Horizons in Strategic Communication: Theorising and Paradigm Shift, in R.L. Heath and A. Gregory (2014), Strategic Communication. , Sage
  • 2011
    ‘Horizons in strategic communication: theorising a paradigm shift.’ International Journal of Strategic Communication, 5(3), pp. 143-53.,
  • 2010
    ‘Strategic communication and anti-smoking campaigns,’ Public Communication Review, 1(2).,
  • 2009
    Balnaves, M. & Mahoney, J. ‘The illusion of control in public relations’. PRism 6(2): http://praxis.massey.ac.nz/global.html,
  • 2008
    Public Relations Writing in Australia , Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
  • 2006
    ‘Learnt heaps: second year public relations students’ experiences of television and radio interviews as a contribution to learning,’ Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal, 6(1).,
  • 2003
    A Bushman Remembers, Central Queensland University Press
  • 2001
    ‘A seat at the table: performance measurement,’ in Albrighton, F., and Thomas, J., (eds), Managing External Relations, Open University Press, Buckingham, UK
  • 2000
    ‘Accountable to the Death: A Model for Evaluating Public Relations,’ The CASE International Journal of Educational Advancement, June.,
  • 2000
    ‘The Accountability Game,’ Currents, Vol. 26, No. 2, February., Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Washington, DC

Professional Memberships

  • Life Fellow, Communication and Public Relations Australia

Honours

Life Fellow, Communication and Public Relations Australia

Contact James for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision