Discuss the media’s responsibilities when it comes to reporting on Indigenous citizens or minority ethnic groups. Taking into account both journalism’s “fourth estate” function and its privileged position in the public sphere, consider why the issue of setting guidelines for “race reporting” is an often divisive one. Be sure to refer to the readings set for relevant topics. llustrate your discussion with references to specific cases where relevant.

Reporting on the minority ethnics groups and on the indigenous people has been an ongoing issue since ages. The whole aspect of ‘reporting the indigenous’ has been a much discussed and debatable subject. Along with the race reporting system, comes the power, role and responsibilities of the …show more content…

When the ambulance came they said he was fine and just drunk. Following his severe injuries Louis died few hours later (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2003). According to Mickler the media was not really interested how he died and who were the culprits. For them what mattered was that a black died and black people are usually lousy, savage and thieves. They stereotyped Louis as being the savage black and being treated as rubbish and whose disappearance was a benefit to the country. “The choice of words may lead us to recognise certain things as symbols which we may then invest with a life and meaning of their own” (Anti-Discrimination Board of New South Wales, 2003, p 6). This quotation is true and applies in this case because soon after the death of Louis, the media people treated him as ‘rubbish’ and the use of words by the radio commenters “I say good riddance to bad rubbish, that’s three less car thieves, I think, they’re dead and I think that’s good.” (Sattler, 1990); shows how they unethical they were. Their statement has definitely portrayed that Louis`s death was good thing to the country. But Mickler raises questions like how the minority people will treat them and how journalists are doing to deal with it because it is the media that shapes the public attitudes towards justice, crime or even injustice. The challenges that journalists face while reporting on indigenous issues are on-going. People`s perception about the