MDA | Race Reporting Handbook CHAPTER 04 Centering Lived Experience: The Art of Inclusive Storytelling “Australia is an increasingly multicultural place and issues of race are becoming more nuanced and complex. Newsrooms will become completely irrelevant to these communities if they don't continue to hire and promote people of colour within their organisations to ensure they can adequately cover our changing nation.” — Elias Clure, Multimedia Journalist Inclusive storytelling in Australian journalism is not simply about the sporadic inclusion of First Nations narratives, the occasional focus on the adversities faced by other negatively racialised communities, or the tokenistic annual feature of multicultural holidays and traditions. True inclusivity in storytelling requires a consistent, daily effort to ensure that the voices and experiences of contemporary Australia are reflected across media platforms. Advocating for inclusivity also requires acknowledging the power imbalances inherent in storytelling. This underscores the need to handle stories of negatively racialised groups with delicacy and care. It is important to recognise the significance of these stories, the communities, and the potential impact of their representation. | CHAPTER 04 In journalism, storytelling informs and shapes perceptions. It has the power to foster empathy or, conversely, prejudice. Journalists in Australia are uniquely positioned to harness their craft in service of inclusivity and anti-racism. Storytelling is an art that, when practiced with a commitment to anti - racism, celebrates the rich tapestry of communities that constitute modern Australia. 32