Racism in the media: “Don’t read the comments” isn’t enough anymore!
Since Stan Grant announced he is stepping away from the media, we've seen First Nations journalists tell their own stories of racism and discrimination in the workplace and a lack of support when attacked by racist trolls. This is nothing new, Bizzi Lavelle writes. She explores what has been happening in media and social media with First Nations people, some that don't make the news.
New report shows Australia’s media reckoning can’t come soon enough
Last month, Media Diversity Australia (MDA) released its second snapshot, Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories? 2.0 on Indigenous and cultural diversity in Australian television news. It’s the second time MDA has looked at the diversity of television news and representation on the small screen. Journalist Rhianna Patrick tells us, more work is needed in this space, and asks - is mainstream media even a safe place for First Nations people?
Stand Back Waleed: Sovereignty is more complex than an oath
The danger of Aly’s assertions is that it oversimplifies a very complex notion in political and legal philosophy and, by reducing the act of ceding sovereignty to a singular oath, it reveals a lack of critical insight to what sovereignty can mean and how it can operate for First Nations peoples.
Arts Admin isn’t just about administration… it’s about culture
As a proud Wailwan arts administrator & producer, it gives me such joy to see mob front and centre representing and excelling in performing arts! But I’m also often thinking about the responsibility we have to model best practice behind the scenes, about the additional cultural load mob are expected to take on when working with white arts institutions, and worrying whether those of working in non-blak spaces are being taken properly care of.
Why vaccination presents an ethical dilemma for us, but remains the best way to keep our families safe
Our distrust of the healthcare system is justified and it is no surprise that many of us are skeptical of the medical industry. Similarly, knowing the history of the ways our bodies have been abused and used, I know that still, the vaccine is the best way I can keep my family and community safe.
Tokenism happens but we need this to shift to representation and change
When the media shows pictures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people along with negative words over and over, governments continually speak about how destitute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people are, and then using more flattering language and pictures in articles about non-Indigenous people, then the human mind naturally creates its own narrative, in everyone.
Was KAK really cleared of racism?
We have all seen the panels where a bunch of white ‘personalities’ debate something so far outside the realm of their understanding that it is laughable and yet, it continues, it influences and it pays them to continue saying what they want without basis, without evidence and without any real challenge. They are – after all – on mainstream media platforms voicing their ignorance as though they have some sort of authority to speak on issues.
