The Citizen –A publication of the Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne

Image: National Fire Ants Eradication Program

Fire ants are on the march – and you’ll know all about it when you get bitten

Despite efforts to halt their spread, fire ant outbreaks outside containment zones in Queensland and northern New South Wales are increasing. Experts are concerned the pest may march further north and south. Filment Ho continues our series on invasive species, Gone Feral.

Story by Filment Ho

Welcome to
The Citizen

We publish independent news, features and analysis. Our reporters are students in the Master of Journalism and Master of International Journalism programs, and our editors are experts drawn from the Centre for Advancing Journalism and industry. Below, check out some of our latest programs and partnerships.

Building Ballarat: Reporting for the Ballarat Courier

Photo: Georgie Preston

Planning, and planting, for humans and animals in a more crowded, warmer future

Story and pictures by Georgie Preston

Image: istock/Kieferpix

As calls for help escalate, motels not the answer for families fleeing violence, crisis workers say

Story by Ashleigh Wyss

Escape to the country, but no escaping city gridlock as public transport lags

Story by Sam Irvine

Photo: Gemma Grant

Affordable housing lures renters, buyers to Ballarat, but squeeze is on

Story by Gemma Grant

Photo: Enduring Domain Architecture

Building for tomorrow: The case for sustainable, smaller, smarter homes

Story by Coco Veldkamp

Photo: Tara Highet

Showdown on Bakery Hill: Heritage versus housing in historic Ballarat

Story and photos by Tara Highet

Gone Feral: Spotlight on invasive species with Cosmos Online

Image: Shutterstock

Elegant and devastating, feral deer stir passions as they chomp through ecosystems and farmland

Story by James Worsfold

Image: Unsplash

Trout are a prized catch for anglers, but experts warn these ‘freshwater rabbits’ threaten native fishes

Story by Brendan Kearns

Photo: Parks Victoria

Sea weeding: how gardening in Port Phillip Bay helps native kelp survive

Story by Ricky Sproule

PHOTO: Shutterstock

In battle of the brumbies, AI may bring new firepower to surveys, but a long way to go, experts say

Story by Harshita Roy

LATEST NEWS

Photo: James Costa

Up in arms: Inside the eight-year battle waged by academics against UniMelb weapons links

Story by James Costa

Photo: RF._.studio

No end to pain of unpaid placements for overseas students

Story by Fatemeh Mirjalili

Image: Shutterstock

For those about to rock, we salute you. We would also like a full refund if you don’t show up

Story by Harlan Ockey

Photo: Ashleigh Wyss

From dog days to golden years: Why aged care homes are opening their doors to pets

Story by Ashleigh Wyss

The Global Citizen

The Global Citizen

Traditional calligraphy meets digital technology

Story and Photos by Meiqi Shao Qianxi Fu Zhiyi Zhao

The Global Citizen

Is live-streaming the answer to China’s youth unemployment crisis?

Story and Photos by Zhenni He

The Global Citizen

The digital revival of street music

Story and Photos by Jiayu Yu Yunpeng Lyu

The Global Citizen

The Globalisation of Chinese food

Story and Photos by Jingke You Vedika Nair Ziyue Ge

The Global Citizen

Street graffiti: vandalism or art?

Story and Photos by Yeting Gao Tuo Meng Jiahui Xu

The Global Citizen

Silent disco, loud energy!

Story and Photos by Mengying Xu Ya Gao

The Global Citizen

Social media and the flat-Earth movement

Story and Photos by Helen Ding Nianjiao Zheng Han Wang

The Global Citizen

EVs: sustainable future or environmental scam?

Story by Yiwen Yu Anqing Deng

CAMPUS PROTESTS

Photo: James Costa

Transparency? Melbourne University disclosures on weapons links stir more questions

Story by James Costa

Photo: Alipriya Biswas

Win or no win? On the last day of a fervid semester, withdrawal and a precarious truce

Story by Alipriya Biswas and Ellen Cutler, additional reporting by Preeshita Shah, Fatehmeh Mirjalil and James Costa

Photo: Kristian Oka Prasetyadi

Deal or No Deal Part #2: Protesters going nowhere as standoff drags on

Report by James Costa

Photo: James Costa

Deal or no deal? Student protesters claim partial victory, vote to pack up. It all swings on an email from uni HQ

Additional reporting by Preeshita Shah, Ellen Cutler, Fatehmeh Mirjalili, Alipriya Biswas and Kristian Oka Prasetyadi James Costa

NO. 19 TRAM TALES: A NEW SERIES BY THE YARN

Introducing Tram Tales: Feeling the Crunch on the Number 19

Reporting by James Worsfold, Yibo Meng, Yingyu Liu, and Elliot Rodriguez

Tram Tales: Odd Jobs along the Number 19 line

Reporting by Longfei Zhou, Ellen Cutler, Fanting Ming and Sam Irvine

Tram Tales: The Show Must Go On

Reporting by Tara Highett, Ying Wan, and Chanchan Wu