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This week, I wrote about the conversation about race and racism in the Australian media industry that has been sparked by Stan Grant’s announcement that he is stepping down from his television hosting duties. Mr Grant, one of Australia’s most prominent journalists, said he and his family had received “relentless” racial abuse after he spoke about colonial-era violence as part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s coverage of the coronation of King Charles III.
I spoke with Narelda Jacobs, who hosts Network 10’s midnight news program, about her experiences as a Noongar woman who has worked in the media for two decades, the challenges and extra burdens Indigenous journalists face, and how she hopes that Mr. Grant’s departure will be a problem. A “watershed moment” for the industry.
What he said stuck with me, so I thought I’d include a few comments that weren’t in the article. (Excerpts have been edited for length and clarity).
On the heavy price indigenous journalists pay for challenging mainstream perspectives
The coronation of a king is indeed a perfect example. Craig Foster He said it was the same as Stan, but people did not come after him in the same way. There are different standards that apply to First Nations people.
The media in Australia has been unbalanced throughout history. And this goes to anyone who provides a balanced view in an industry that has never been balanced: people follow you. And that’s exactly what happened to Stan. He tries to be a balance and then gets attacked.
When you start, you need to count the rows. You have to do what you are told. Only when you are in Stan’s position can you say no. But then, you do, but at what cost? Because you speak truth to power, but then sit back and wait to see if you become public enemy No.
Why is the conversation about race and colonialism so fraught in Australia?
The hard truth is that for many rich intergenerational families, their wealth began because the land was stolen. It’s really hard for people to face. It is easier to believe in the romantic view of colonialism in Australia.
Australians have a view of Australia as a fair country, like everyone can go to a hospital and be treated. But for First Nations people, we’ve seen coronial inquiries where people were sent out of emergency with Panadol and went home to die, or people died in custody where they shouldn’t have been.
Be an Indigenous journalist and worry that your words will not be interpreted correctly
Every conversation comes with cultural baggage because you never know how it will be perceived. Perception is dictated by captions that match the story, titles that match the story. And often that’s the only thing people will read, not the content of the story. So the risk is, if you will be taken out of context, your words will be slanted.
You make this comment for the greater good because you want the country to be better and try to move forward and really, just to be in line with the rest of the world – but it comes at a huge cost. And you just have to be fit and ready to fight. But at what cost? I guess the question is always: What does it cost?
On the media’s role in fanning the flames
I think that what is at the heart of the problem, what sets the trolls off: It is the opinion that they have read about what happened, a lot of time. They didn’t listen to the original thing that Stan, or anyone else, had said. They don’t see it in context.
It’s for Australians to stand up and say, I don’t want to read this rubbish. And for people like Stan to stand up and say, ‘We have a problem in this country, in the media,’ and admit that ‘I might be part of it, I should step down.’ We all need to take care of ourselves.
Now for this week’s story:
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