Share Sydney Ideas
How visible? Race and representation in Australian media
News media play a powerful role in shaping a nation’s identity. So what does it mean when those who report the news and comment on events don’t reflect our nation’s population?
One in five Australians speak a language other than English at home. And about two in five Australians have a background other than Anglo-Celtic.1 But where is this diversity within our news and current affairs on television? What needs to change?
A new landmark report from academics from Sydney, Macquarie and Deakin universities, in partnership with Media Diversity Australia (due for release on 17 August), details the representation of cultural diversity in Australian news and current affairs media.
Join our conversation to unpack the report’s findings, with journalist Antoinette Lattouf (Channel 10), XX and YY, led by political theorist Tim Soutphommasane (Professor of Practice and Director, Culture Strategy at the University of Sydney).
The speakers
Antoinette Lattouf is a multi award-winning journalist and is currently a senior reporter at Network Ten. Her career spans television, radio and online. She's worked on a range of programs in both commercial and public broadcasting media including Media Watch, ABC News and Current Affairs, Ten Eyewitness News, ten daily, Studio10, Hack on triple j, SBS Insight and SBS World News. She's a mother of two who enjoys travelling, photography and cooking for her extended family.
Tim Soutphommasane is Professor of Practice (Sociology and Political Theory). He is also Director, Culture Strategy at the University.
A political theorist and human rights advocate, from 2013 to 2018 Tim was Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner. His thinking on patriotism, multiculturalism and national identity has been influential in debates in Australia and Britain.
1. Source: ABS 2016