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SBS’ director of Indigenous content on the Voice, media agendas and why she worries about her team
How are First Nations journalists feeling as they cover the historical referendum? For SBS' director of Indigenous content, Tanya Denning Orman, it is a question she thinks about daily.
A proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman from Central and North Queensland, Denning Orman has been overseeing SBS’ Indigenous-focused division, NITV, in various capacities since it began in 2007.
Some may remember that the channel, run mainly by First Nations employees, archived its Twitter (now X) account back in May, citing increased racism and hate. The move came around the same time as ABC’s celebrated Indigenous host, Stan Grant, stepped down from Q&A for similar reasons.
Speaking of NITV’s decision, Denning Orman tells Mumbrella that it was necessary to ensure the team’s wellbeing during the heated referendum discussions.
“Six out of ten Australians haven’t met a First Nations person, because we’re only three per cent of the population. It’s a really exciting time for Australian media, because it’s such a critical moment in history,” she says.
Denning Orman speaking at SBS’ Upfront last year
“But as a First Nations person, we’re having our issues and our identity discussed every single day across the spectrum. There are layers to that and I’m worried about my team.”
Denning Orman clarifies that this kind of political discussion is nothing new to NITV. “It’s our bread and butter,” she says, as an ongoing focus for the channel is to shed light on the struggles of Indigenous communities including issues of literacy and life expectancy.
However, she says there has always been a sense of personal responsibility within the team to deliver the coverage with a spectrum of voice, stemming from “empowerment rather than frustration.”
Last Friday, SBS and NITV introduced a new brand platform with a powerful tagline: “First Nations stories are Australia’s stories”. The campaign is set to run on both channels for a few months beyond the referendum.
It’s also a good indicator of how the public service broadcaster is planning to maintain its impartiality in a heated political discussion of the Voice.
“We’re making sure we’re constantly reminding Australians about what the Voice is about at the end of the day,” says Denning Orman. “Things like what the policies are, why life expectancy matters, and the issues we’re trying to change as a nation.”
“I’ve always worried about indifference,” she adds. However, the fact that the Voice’s conversation is not being ignored indicates to Denning Orman that Australians’ attitudes and curiosities have changed.
“There is a shift in the way Australian media is considering how it works in the diversity space and how it delivers factually to Australian audiences, but there’s also media that’s definitely running an agenda and needs to do a bit more heavy lifting.
“Because they do have the resources to ensure that they do deliver with integrity, but unfortunately, we have seen different media outlets having the same voices, the same constant conversation, and not citing data, which is disappointing.
“Bad public perception leads to bad public policy, and when many Australians don’t know an Indigenous person, they rely on the media.”
The Point: Referendum Road Trip, with John Paul Janke and Narelda Jacobs. Photo: Dave Ollier and NITV
So far, SBS and NITV have introduced educational resources including the online referendum portal and dedicated episodes in its current affairs show, The Point. This is on top of continued coverage across NITV News, SBS News and SBS Audio.
“What we’ve done as an Indigenous channel is ensure we’re providing the perspective from the First Nations place. We’re not otherising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Denning Orman says.
“That has rippled effect throughout SBS and other media have changed over the last few years, particularly on how they do the reporting in the First Nations space.
“Whether it’s a yes or no, everything’s going to shift for us as a nation, from the 14th of October.
“A mindful Australian, I think, despite all aspects going on in their world, I know they want to make the right call on the 14th of October. And my job and our network’s job is to make sure we’ve given them the trusted information in whatever form they prefer to receive.”
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