The Racial Hatred Act: Checklist for Media

There are no clear-cut or definitive rules about reporting in this area. Most news editors and senior journalists say they make relevance and sensitivity judgements on a case by case, story by story basis.

However, you may find the following checklist useful in coming to your own decisions:

• Is race, ethnicity or religion relevant to the story?
• Is the piece accurate and factual?
• Is the opinion/editorial comment clearly delineated from fact?
• Is there another side to the story and where possible have comments been sought from alternative sources?
• What is the impact of highlighting conflict, violence or crime within a particular racial, ethnic or religious group?
• Are the visuals or headlines relevant to and congruent with the story?
• Have sensitivities and protocols been checked in the use of language generally and particularly in the naming of individuals, organisations or cultural practices?
• Is the piece free of inflammatory language?

Further Reading

• Understand The Racial Hatred Act in plain English
• Explore why The Racial Hatred Act was introduced
• View the role and responsibilities of media in community perspectives of race
• Understand the Australian Human Right's Commission work on Race Discrimination
• Review the Australian Human Rights Commission's Anti-Racism Framework