New research shows how Australia’s newsrooms are failing minority communities
A new Deakin University report reveals over a third of hard news stories contained negative sentiments towards minority communities. Lecturer Usha M. Rodrigues unpacks what that means.
Australians from culturally diverse backgrounds often feel frustrated about media coverage of news events and issues that portray them in a negative light. A new study analysing media coverage of issues related to multicultural Australia found that more than a third of stories reflected a negative view of minority communities.
Traditionally, so-called “hard news” stories are straight reports of “what happened”. This means they are reported in an objective and balanced manner, taking in diverse views on the issue.
Our study analysed 1,366 media articles, examining the sentiment towards minority communities in them. We found that over a third of hard news stories contained negative sentiments towards minority communities, while more than half of the editorials and commentary pieces portrayed minority communities in a negative light.
Could it be (and it is ) that identifiable minorities are over represented in newsy items because they disproportionately feature in negative social actions that make the daily flow of news.(e.g. violence, bribery and corruption, government services abuse, visa and educational qualification untruths, targeted killings, drugs and gangs). Incarceration rates are a good final indicator of seriously qualifying news items. On my last look at the 2011 ABS incarceration rates by country of birth, most identifiable minorities are seriously over represented. Having had a judge or some adjudicator already ruling on these sorts, one does not always need an additional alternative view. Let’s take India, a country with, in the 2017 Transparency International corruption index, ranked 81st in the world for corruption, with Australia at 12th. Australia was 7th in 2012 but has been dragged down by increasingly corrupt behaviour of the rapidly expanding minority populace. if the Indian migrants who come to Australia behave as they do in India, and get caught in the news, as they could do, they will feature in negative news stories. It’s all in proportion.
“Let’s take India, a country with, in the 2017 Transparency International corruption index, ranked 81st in the world for corruption, with Australia at 12th. Australia was 7th in 2012 but has been dragged down by increasingly corrupt behaviour of the rapidly expanding minority populace. ”
Did you even bother reading what Transparency International Australia chief executive Serena Lillywhite said?
“The misuse of travel allowances, inadequate regulation of foreign political donations, conflicts of interest in planning approvals, revolving doors and a culture of mateship, inappropriate industry lobbying in large-scale projects such as mining, and the misuse of power by leading politicians have no doubt had an impact,” Ms Lillywhite said
http://www.abc.net.au/news/201.....nk/9472114
pretty sure almost all of that is not due to the ‘rapidly expanding minority populace’. But then again that does not help make your blinkered point of view
You say – “Let’s take India, a country with, in the 2017 Transparency International corruption index, ranked 81st in the world for corruption, with Australia at 12th. Australia was 7th in 2012 but has been dragged down by increasingly corrupt behaviour of the rapidly expanding minority populace.”
Have you read what Transparency International Australia chief executive Serena Lillywhite has said about the drop?
“The misuse of travel allowances, inadequate regulation of foreign political donations, conflicts of interest in planning approvals, revolving doors and a culture of mateship, inappropriate industry lobbying in large-scale projects such as mining, and the misuse of power by leading politicians have no doubt had an impact,” Ms Lillywhite said.
source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/201.....nk/9472114
Can’t remember there being too many Indians specifically in Australian Politics, but then again that would not support your unique world view
You certainly don’t need a study to see how minorities are treated by the politicians and powerful media companies in Australia.
It’s visible every day in the headlines and blame-shifting finger pointing.
Great article. Thanks for writing and publishing.