This Monday night last, while watching the ABC tv evening news, there was a story about the legitimacy of Aboriginal ancestry of a candidate for our approaching state election. Let's get our Aboriginal reporter to report this story, and so our ABC did.
We have a disabled story, let's get the disabled reporter to report on this one. But which one? No, not the vision impaired one, the other one.
We've got a gay story. Let's get the openly gay reporter Mark Reddie onto this one. I believe Mark Reddie has now left the ABC and it is loss as he was a very competent reporter, especially good during NSW fire disasters. But let's get Mark on this gay story, a report on PEP, a daily drug that prevents the catching of HIV. Mark's report was excellent, on a subject I didn't really know about.
I think I would like to see Aboriginal, disabled, vision impaired and gay reporters report on other things and not just their areas of knowledge.
But at least they are on our screens and our ABC is employing them. I dunno. What do you think?
The only thing I can think of in favor as they might have more insight into the subject, but they certainly shouldn't be limited to their topics of coverage. I liked your point that they are on your screen and employed by ABC.
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement. Just using them in specific areas seems like tokenism to me. But it is a start. A badly needed start.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is always a deal to be made. Hot topics are to be distributed among the workforce etc.
ReplyDeleteProbably going to be in the minority- does it matter what their ‘leaning’ is? Yes a ‘disabled’ ‘black’ ‘gay’ reporter might ‘fit’ the story but does that stop any other reporter having the same knowledge to report it?
ReplyDeleteIt is the same thing here in the States. And, it is maddening! Just because you are a black reporter does not mean you should be the one reporting on issues or events dealing with the black community or a crime beat that is in the racially diverse part of town. But, on the other side of the coin.....I really do not like seeing young women interviewing (American) football players all the time on the field and in the locker room! Why don't they send big, brawny men to do those reports? I have no idea about any of it!!
ReplyDeleteIt's complicated isn't it? A bit like whether only gay actors should be cast for gay parts.
ReplyDeleteBut good on the ABC (and SBS) for featuring "diverse" faces on screen. Commercial TV is way behind the curve on this.
I listen to reporters on ABC radio and tv every day and I haven't had a problem. But my house starting shaking one day and I saw a right wing female extremist reporter on the tv screen. THAT I worried about.
ReplyDeleteYou're cracking me up again. Should drug addicts report on drug stories. How about cartels on cartel stories, politicians on politics, etc. News staff will need to be greatly increased and can fight over stories that aren't covered by a specialist. They're just proud as punch to have a geniune aboriginal reporter and have to show him or her off. And to make it obvious that he or she is aboriginal they showcase him or her on an aboriginal story. One time I went into a vet clinic in Portland with a Portlander, over a cat she was taking in from me, and introduced me as a "rural person" like she should get a gold star for being with a "rural person". I broke up laughing behind her back. I couldn't help it.
ReplyDeleteSo if they don't have the right minority represented on their reporting staff the story won't go to air?
ReplyDeleteI think all this effort to be more inclusive is actually marginalising people more. Get the best person for the job.
Tricky question Andrew. All reporters should report on all things but if a story comes along that they know more about let them do it, not all the time but every now and then.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is good to employ them, but let them report on a range of stories just like regular reporters do, don't limit them to "their" area of expertise longer than it takes for them to get used to being on camera.
ReplyDeleteI think that it always feels awkward and artificial in the beginning, but as we become accustomed to it, it will become the norm...and shouldn't it be? I think so.
ReplyDeleteGive everyone a chance to report on everything, and then you have true diversity.
ReplyDeleteBesides, make too much about identity and the viewing audience just might follow suit. You know, only gay people watch the gay story, only disabled people watch the disabled story, etc.
I think the assumption is they'll have knowledge or insight into the stories that others may lack. They could also be the originator of the story -- maybe it was their idea -- in which case allowing them to do it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side, I once worked at a newspaper where a fellow reporter argued that gay reporters shouldn't be allowed to cover the gay community, because they'd be biased in favor of the "gay agenda" or some such rubbish.
Thanks everyone for your wise comments. It is just too hard in this case to answer comments individually. My brain has a limited capacity.
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