Week 1: Racist Media Coverage Article Analysis

What are some of the negative consequences of a lack of diversity in Australian media, as highlighted in the article?

Evaluate responses using AI:

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What percentage of racist editorials were written by people from an Anglo-Celtic or European background?

• Eighty-nine percent

• Fifty percent

• Seventy-five percent

• Ninety-five percent

Excerpt:

“Eighty-nine per cent of the racist editorials were written by people from an Anglo-Celtic or European background.”

This specific excerpt suggests that most editorial decisions are shaped by a limited demographic, which may lead to unconscious bias in reporting. It helps strengthen the credibility of the article’s argument.

The _________ are used to support claims and highlights the lack of diversity in media, reinforcing the article’s argument that perspectives from minority communities are underrepresented. This contributes to biased reporting, shaping how issues of race are presented.

• statistics
• juxtaposition

• parallelism

What does the article suggest is necessary for the media to better reflect the audiences they serve?

• Increasing diversity in newsrooms

• Reducing the number of news stories

• Focusing only on positive news

• Eliminating all opinion pieces

Here is an example of a metaphor used in the article: “media racism doesn’t operate in a vacuum.”

What do they mean, and how does it relate to the broader issue of representation in the media?

• Media racism exists independently and does not affect society.

• Media racism is connected to larger societal attitudes and reinforces discrimination.

• Media racism is only a problem in news reporting, not entertainment media.

• Media racism is an issue that has been completely solved in Australia.

Answer explanation

Explanation:

• A metaphor compares one thing to another without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.

• The phrase suggests that racism in media is not isolated but instead connected to broader societal issues.

• This makes the argument more powerful by showing that racism is systemic rather than accidental.

Example:

“Our whole world has been colonised through storytelling.”

What is the effect of this statement?

Explanation:

The phrase does not literally mean that storytelling has colonised the world. it is a metaphor suggesting that historical narratives shape power structures. It is also a hyperbole in their exaggeration of storytelling in shaping the "whole world" AND inclusive language with the use of "our".

• It exaggerates the role of storytelling in shaping history

• It highlights how media narratives influence perceptions

• It suggests colonisation is only a historical issue

• It provides a neutral view of media representation

Excerpt:

“The storytelling that happens through media is incredibly important in shifting some of those narratives that we may have held over the last couple of centuries.”

The word “_________” suggests that media narratives shape public perception, rather than just presenting facts. It implies that the media has power in constructing social realities, not just reporting on them.

• Reporting

• Shifting

• Storytelling

• Important

1. The article begins with a personal story from Nayma Bilal, which helps to humanise the issue and engage readers emotionally.

1. Excerpt:

   “When Nayma Bilal went to a Sydney beach wearing a niqab, a stranger walked up to her and told her to ‘get out of this country, you don’t belong here.’”

   • The language appeals to the senses, helping the reader visualise, hear, or feel what is happening.

   • This excerpt paints a vivid picture of discrimination, making the audience emotionally connect with Nayma Bilal’s experience.

   • The reference to the niqab and direct speech enhances the realism of the encounter.

Which TWO language devices are used here?

• Irony

• Satire

• Imagery

• 1. Anecdotes