Media

representations of Indigenous lack of minority media workers5. Indigenous

Australians Australians are also absent from drama and
comedy shows, featuring mostly in news and
The media constructs and repeats images of
current affairs6.
people so that they inform an audiences
understanding of a group or issue1.

Indigenous people have rarely had control Media representations of Indigenous

over the way they are represented. This is Australians are embedded within a racist
because mass media ownership, control and framework and reproduce this framework7.
production in Australia is in the hands of non- Many representations of Indigenous
Aborigines2. Therefore, Indigenous Australians are in fact misrepresentations8.
Australians are often represented by non-
History of Indigenous media representation
Indigenous people who have little contact
with Indigenous Australia3. Colonial discussions of Indigenous Australians
constructed racial stereotypes9. Many

representations constructed Indigenous
10
Additionally, representations of Indigenous people as primitive . European explorer
Australians are primarily made for non- William Dampier described Aboriginal people
4
Indigenous audiences . This is because

minority audiences are often ignored. 5
David Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot
and Resistance in Media Representations of
Hollinsworth argues that minority groups are Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p.
17.
underrepresented in the media because of a 6
Ibid.
7
Kerry McCallum, Indigenous Media Violence
1
Michael Meadows, Media Images of as a Mediated Public Crisis. In 2007
Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh Australian New Zealand Communication
and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in Association Conference, University of
Communication Across Cultures, Language Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 5-6 July,
Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 276. 2007. ANZCA, 2007.
2
Christine Jennett, White Media Rituals http://www.anzca.net/images/stories/past_co
about Aborigines, Media Information nferences/ANZCA07 /mccallum.pdf, p. 3.
8
Australia, no.30, November 1983, p. 28. Michael Meadows, Sensitivity not
3
Michael Meadows, Media Images of censorship: reporting cultural diversity in
Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh Australia, Australian Journalism Review,
and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in vol.17(2), 1995, p. 22.
Communication Across Cultures, Language 9 Michael Meadows, Media Images of

Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 281; David Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh

Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot and and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in
Resistance in Media Representations of Communication Across Cultures, Language
Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p. Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 274.
10
16. Michael Meadows, Sensitivity not
4
Christine Jennett, White Media Rituals censorship: reporting cultural diversity in
about Aborigines, Media Information Australia, Australian Journalism Review,
Australia, no.30, November 1983, p. 28. vol.17(2), 1995, p. 19.

1


on first contact11 in his journal as [t]he drunk, the activist, the threat to existing
miserablest people in the world12. This and order, the invisible17. Their behaviour is often
other historical examples created a represented to be irrational and out of
representation of Indigenous people before control18 and they are constructed as a risk
the arrival of Captain Cook and the First to society19.
Fleet13.


Indigenous leaders are frequently
As a key cultural resource and most often, represented as militant radicals, or accused of
the only source of information about ideas of fraud, mismanagement or sexual assault20
race the media (and journalists) since first
These negative representations work
contact have fulfilled a key role in framing
alongside representations of their sporting
Indigenous people in particular ways14. This
and artistic abilities21.
was through looking at them through a non-
Indigenous lens15.

Another representation of Indigenous

Australians is that they are privileged in terms
Common representations
of the amount of welfare they receive in
Many representations of Indigenous comparison to impoverished non-Indigenous
Australians focus on conflict, [violence, Australians. This is based on the assumption
criminality] and difference16. Indigenous
people have been represented as the exotic
other, a dying race, welfare dependent, the

17
Ibid., p. 282.
11 18
Michael Meadows, Media Images of David Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot
Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh and Resistance in Media Representations of
and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p.
Communication Across Cultures, Language 16.
19
Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 280. Kerry McCallum, Indigenous Media
12
Ibid. Violence as a Mediated Public Crisis. In 2007
13
Ibid. Australian New Zealand Communication
14
Ibid., p. 281. Association Conference, University of
15
Michael Meadows, Sensitivity not Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 5-6 July,
censorship: reporting cultural diversity in 2007. ANZCA, 2007.
Australia, Australian Journalism Review, http://www.anzca.net/images/stories/past_co
vol.17(2), 1995, p. 18. nferences/ANZCA07 /mccallum.pdf, p. 2.
16 20
Michael Meadows, Media Images of David Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot
Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh and Resistance in Media Representations of
and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p.
Communication Across Cultures, Language 17.
21
Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 281. Ibid.

2


that they receive excessive amounts of Further, some journalists do not understand
government assistance22. Indigenous culture and use familiar
stereotypes to position their stories27. Stories
Further, the disadvantage experienced by
can also often be based in sensationalism28,
Indigenous Australians is often represented to
news values and ratings.
result from their own incompetence, which
constructs them as their own problem23.

Example: The Redfern Riot

Some representations construct Indigenous Background: On 15 February 2004 Thomas

people as all the same despite diversity TJ Hickey, an indigenous youth, died after he
within and between Indigenous was impaled on a fence in the inner Sydney
communities24. suburb of Redfern29. It was believed that he
was being chased by the police before his

death, although the police denied this30.
Indigenous voices are rarely heard in stories

about them in mainstream media25. This
supports existing negative representations of Following his death conflicts between
26
them . Indigenous youth and the police broke out in
Sydney31. It was described as a riot by the

22 27
Kerry McCallum, Indigenous Media Michael Meadows, Media Images of
Violence as a Mediated Public Crisis. In 2007 Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh
Australian New Zealand Communication and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in
Association Conference, University of Communication Across Cultures, Language
Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 5-6 July, Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 283.
28
2007. ANZCA, 2007. Sensationalism means (especially in
http://www.anzca.net/images/stories/past_co journalism) the presentation of stories in a way
nferences/ANZCA07 /mccallum.pdf, p. 3. that is intended to provoke public interest or
23
Andy Gargett, A Critical Media Analysis of excitement, at the expense of accuracy
the Redfern Riot, Indigenous Law Bulletin, (Oxford University Press, Definition of
vol.6(10), p. 8. sensationalism in English, Oxford University
24
Michael Meadows, Media Images of Press,
Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition
and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in /english/sensationalim [15 November 2013].
Communication Across Cultures, Language 29 Joanna Atherfold, Redfern: the riot and

Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 283. the reporting, Australian Studies in

25
Ibid. Journalism, no.17, 2006, p. 42.
26 30
David Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot Andy Gargett, A Critical Media Analysis of
and Resistance in Media Representations of the Redfern Riot, Indigenous Law Bulletin,
Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p. vol.6(10), p. 8.
31
17. Ibid.

3


media32. The conflict resulted in police and representations of Indigenous people and
civilian injuries and damage to some buildings. through their neutral and then victim-like
representations of the police39.


Reporting: Gargett suggests that the medias
reporting of the Redfern riot linked Budrick and King in their study analysed
Indigeneity and criminality33. This ignores the representations of the Redfern riot in the
historical context of Indigenous colonisation, Koori Mail (an Indigenous owned, national
dispossession and assimilation34. By publication)40, the Sydney Morning Herald
constructing Indigenous people as criminal it (SMH) and the Daily Telegraph. They found
represents the Indigenous race as outside that the papers each approached the riots
35
society because of their deviance requiring from different angles.
36
regulation and control .


In the Koori Mail the riots were represented
The riot is represented as emerging from as another problem faced by the Redfern
Indigenous belief that TJ was unfairly targeted community. Their articles also based causes
and his death was the fault of police because for the riots on historical policies and the
37
he was being unreasonably harassed . disadvantage experienced by Indigenous
However, any police misconduct was silenced people and they included Indigenous voices.
in media representations which continues the

us (non-Indigenous) vs. them (Indigenous)
representation38. The Koori Mails representation focused less
on violence, deviance and conflict than the

SMH and the Daily Telegraph. In the SMHs
Relatedly, Atherford suggests that the media coverage racial tensions between Indigenous
at times heightened the conflict through their people and the non-Indigenous police were
represented as the cause of the riots. This was
32
John Budarick and Debra King, Framing
ideology in the niche media: The Koori Mails followed by a drugs and crime representation
construction of the Redfern riots, Journal of
Sociology, vol.44(4), p. 356.
33
Andy Gargett, A Critical Media Analysis of
the Redfern Riot, Indigenous Law Bulletin,
39
vol.6(10), p. 8. Joanna Atherfold, Redfern: the riot and the
34
Ibid., p. 9. reporting, Australian Studies in Journalism,
35
Ibid., p. 8. no.17, 2006, p. 43.
36 40
Ibid., p. 9. Koori Mail, About Koori Mail, Koori Mail,
37
Ibid., p. 10. http://www.koorimail.com/about-koori-mail/.
38
Ibid. [19 November 2013].

4


which was similar to representations in the Further, often when Indigenous people were
Daily Telegraph. quoted in articles statements were generally
emotive and highlighted their lack of

education46. These statements were set in
Atherford also studied newspaper coverage of contrast to prepared statements by the police
the event focusing on the SMH and the Daily and politicians, which took on qualities of
Telegraph. She suggests that the SMH rationality and authenticity.
balanced out the sensationalised media

coverage with other stories41 which moved
beyond conflict and drama42, unlike, the The articles also represented Redfern as
Daily Telegraph which focused on this angle. dangerous and dilapidated. This is
problematic because audiences may assume
The Daily Telegraph used words associated
that such problems infiltrate the individuals
with war like battle lines and headlines like
residing there4748.
Redfern erupts alongside claims of an
uncontrollable mob and the unleashing of
4344
nine hours of terror .
In actual fact, the Redfern Riots were a small
gathering of largely non-violent protestors
who wanted a proper explanation for the
Additionally, SMH and Daily Telegraph articles
polices reasons for chasing a youth who
were dominated with interviews and
hadnt committed a crime.
comments from the police and politicians with
limited engagement with Indigenous people45.
When Indigenous comments were included
Positive journalism
these were towards the end of an article. This
constructs a hierarchy of who is authorised to Positively persistent journalists reporting on

discuss Indigenous issues. the deaths of Indigenous people in custody

46
Joanna Atherfold, Redfern: the riot and the
reporting, Australian Studies in Journalism,
41
Joanna Atherfold, Redfern: the riot and the no.17, 2006, p. 46.
47
reporting, Australian Studies in Journalism, Ibid.
48
no.17, 2006, p. 43. Positively, this can result in positive changes
42
Ibid. and the acknowledgement of disadvantage (S.
43
Ibid. Mickler, The Myth of Privilege: Aboriginal
44
While there were exceptions most articles Status, Media Visions, Public Ideas, Fremantle
negatively represented the issue. Arts Centre Press, South Fremantle, 1998, p.
45
Joanna Atherfold, Redfern: the riot and the 193 as cited in Joanna Atherfold, Redfern: the
reporting, Australian Studies in Journalism, riot and the reporting, Australian Studies in
no.17, 2006, p. 43 & 44. Journalism, no.17, 2006, p. 46).

5


did influence the setting up of a royal National Indigenous Times53, the Koori Mail54),
commission in the early 1990s49. radio (e.g. National Indigenous Radio
Service55) and television (e.g. NITV56) media as

an alternative to mass media57.
Additionally, technological advances and

alternative media like blogs, posts and social
media sites are able to challenge negative However, although ownership over media
representations50. production is and issue, the problem lies
within mainstream media58 and it is difficult

for Indigenous media sources to challenge the
Further, despite negative representations of negative media representations because their
Indigenous people, the media, in particular, access is limited59.
Indigenous media can play a role in cultural

[and language] maintenance51.
Some have argued that the mainstream

media [should] work toward promoting
We should control Indigenous representations more positive images of Indigenous people60.

One way that negative media representations

of Indigenous Australians can be challenged is
53 For more information on the National
through Indigenous control of media Indigenous Times go to
http://www.nit.com.au/.
sources52. Indigenous people have 54 For more information on the Koori Mail go

established Indigenous print (e.g. The to http://www.koorimail.com/about-koori-

mail/.
55 For more information on the National

Indigenous Radio Service go to

49
Michael Meadows, Media Images of http://www.nirs.org.au/.
56
Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh For more information on NITV go to
and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in www.nitv.org.au .
57
Communication Across Cultures, Language David Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot
Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 284. and Resistance in Media Representations of
50
David Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p.
and Resistance in Media Representations of 19.
58
Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p. Michael Meadows, Media Images of
18. Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh
51
Michael Meadows and Christine Morris, and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in
Into the New Millennium: The role of Communication Across Cultures, Language
Indigenous Media in Australia, Media Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 276.
59
International Australia incorporating Culture David Hollinsworth, My Island Home: Riot
and Policy journal, no.88, 1998, p. 69. and Resistance in Media Representations of
52
Michael Meadows, Media Images of Aboriginality, Social Alternatives, vol.24(1), p.
Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh 16, 19.
60
and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in Michael Meadows, Media Images of
Communication Across Cultures, Language Indigenous Affairs in Australia, in J. Leigh
Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 276. and E. Loo (eds.), Outer Limits: A Reader in

6


However, Langton reminds us, simply of a one way transmitter and more like the
replacing negative stereotypes with positive model of a dialogue63.
and uplifting images does not challenge

racism61.
What do you think about this in relation to

media representations of Indigenous people?
Some have argued then that audiences should Do negative media representations of
influence and change the agenda of media Indigenous Australians affect and influence
production so that it adequately represents the way we think about Indigenous people?
Indigenous people.


Questions
What do you think?
1. Indigenous Australians most
Stuart Hall, media theorist, argues that things commonly feature in
in themselves rarely if ever have any one, a. Comedy and drama programs
62
single and unchanging meaning . This b. News and drama programs
becomes relevant to a discussion of c. News and lifestyle programs
representations because he is arguing that it d. News and current affairs
cannot be assumed that all representations programs
are accepted without challenge by society. 2. Why are historical representations
Hall argues, meanings are contested, identified in the article as a concern in
negotiated, disrupted and challenged. the way they frame Indigenous
Representation functions less like the model Australians?
a. They are concerning because
since colonisation historical
representations have played a

Communication Across Cultures, Language
role in the way Indigenous
Australia, Melbourne, 2004, p. 277. people are framed.
61
Marcia Langton, Well I heard it on the radio
and I saw it on the television , Sydney b. They are not concerning.
Australian Film Commission, Sydney, 1993, p.
41 as cited in David Hollinsworth, My Island c. They are concerning because
Home: Riot and Resistance in Media
Representations of Aboriginality, Social the way they framed
Alternatives, vol.24(1), p. 17. Indigenous Australians was a
62 Stuart Hall, Introduction, in Stuart Hall

(ed), Representations: Cultural

Representations and Signifying Practices,
SAGE Publications, London, 1997, p. 3. 63 Ibid., p. 10.

7


correct representation which and audiences should
means that Indigenous demand change in media
Australians have become a agendas.
self-fulfilling prophecy. b. There are no solutions and
d. They are concerning because nothing needs to change.
they accurately represent c. Indigenous control of media
Indigenous Australians. sources, more guidelines on
3. Why it is problematic that Indigenous reporting on Indigenous
voices are silenced in media people and audiences should
representations? demand change in media
a. It is problematic because agendas.
using Indigenous voices can d. Indigenous control of media
support the representations. sources, the promotion of
b. It is problematic because positive images of Indigenous
excluding their voices does people by the mainstream
not allow them to challenge media and more guidelines on
the representations reporting on Indigenous
therefore, reproducing them. people.
c. It is problematic because

excluding their voices does
positively, allow them to

challenge the representation

but negatively, continues to
reproduce the negative
representations.
d. It is not a problem.
4. What are the three solutions to
challenging negative representations
identified in the article?
a. Indigenous control of media
sources, the promotion of
positive images of Indigenous
people by mainstream media