Benk, could you please name "the journalists from Sydney" who "will happily go to some of the most remote parts of the outback, but would never dream of going to Mount Druit, Moree or Casino etc".

After you publish their names here, I'll phone them up and ask if it's true.

Deal?

Graham Y, interesting phrase you use there - - "how to deal with the aborigines".

Hmm.

Well, considering that whenever "Aboriginal" comes up in the media, it is usually as some disadvantaged community needing help in form of handouts, or having trouble making ends meet due to lack of material assistance from the government, sometimes with a gripe against the Australian government or people, I'd say that would sum up the basis of most portrayals.

And of course there is the VERY frequent portrayal of delinquency, alcoholism and sniffing- despite narcotics consumption per-Aboriginal person being roughly the same as the rest of Australia, (and decreasing).

I would safely assume that most Australians would get a very strong impression of a single race of angry, gluttonous delinquents with a drinking problem. Which is of course complete and utter bull.

Here's a fun game to play:

Imagine you are watching a news article on TV about an Australian alcohol problem- what are the images that would come to mind you would be seeing on the TV?
Maybe a bunch of shots of some white patrons entering a pub, beer on tap?

Now imagine if it were specifically related to Aboriginal consumption?
What would you see?

Also, on a side note, does anybody else notice that 'Aboriginal' stories, regardless of what they are, usually show adults randomly sitting on the ground (ignoring that maybe the persons are at a park, or waiting to meet somebody), or some kinds wandering the streets alone (out of delinquency, or maybe going home from school, to the park, shops)?

Simply put, media (easily unintentionally I would imagine) always seem to go for more exotic or stereotypical shots on their Aboriginal content than on other Australian content- and this would ingrain polarizing perceptions of difference.

Graham Y, interesting phrase you use there - - "how to deal with the aborigines".

Hmm.
Posted by Transki, Thursday, 23 September 2010 6:41:00 PM

Thats right Transki, take Mr youngs fair reply and take it out of context.
Since you have all the answers, Iam all ears.

TTM

Dear KH,

And then you wonder why some people only
see our Indigenous community in this
stereotypical way...

The media has a lot to answer for - especially
television which brings a flood of information
into the home, much of it is highly selective
or distorted. Even news programs tend to feature
the visually exciting or emotionally moving
stories that draw large viewing audiences -
even if this mean omitting issues that are more
sober but perhaps more significant also.

And of course we have the Indigenous people
who are underrepresented in a positive light.

Sad really.

Graham Y,

Many thanks for the 'heads up' and the link to the Peter Sutton interview on Bush Telegraph 21 Sept 2010.

Perhaps Peter could be talked into contributing a short article for OLO and to promote his book.