28 March 2012
The Conversation, a website featuring the work of academics and researchers turned one. Since then the site has had more than 2.5 million unique visitors, almost 4 million total visits, and 8 million page views. Over 300 websites and newspapers have republished its content, which is free under a Creative Commons licence. When The Conversation launched a year ago it had a simple stated goal: to improve the quality of public debate by getting more people with real knowledge and expertise to take part. With 15 commissioning editors, The Conversation claims to have built the largest virtual newsroom in Australia. More than 2,500 academic authors have registered as contributors to the site and it has become a well-known resource of ideas, contacts and new talent for the newspapers, TV and radio. The Conversation also hosts a paid advertising Job Board, ”a place where smart organisations and clever people meet.”
