The Racial Hatred Act: Checklist for Media
Guidance for media professionals on reporting race issues under the Racial Hatred Act, with practical advice on accuracy, sensitivity and balanced perspectives.
Summary
The Racial Hatred Act checklist provides guidance for media reporting on race issues, emphasizing accuracy, sensitivity, and balanced perspectives
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
