4. Overview of literature review and content analysis 4.1 Summary The literature review found that, while age-specific issues are notably absent from the literature and general discourse on diversity and inclusion in Australian media, there is a significant body of existing research on the prevalence of negative and stereotypical media representations of older adults. Within this research there are well-evidenced issues, including around: l the invisibility of older people l the framing of age as a problem l gendered ageism. The literature review also identified gaps in the existing research, including on: l intersectional experiences of ageing l counterstereotypes and positive portrayals of ageing. Additionally, only limited studies about age and the media directly involved or sought insights from media industry professionals. This research attempts to contribute to closing this gap by providing insights from journalists and other media industry professionals (see Chapter 5: Qualitative interviews). The content analysis found extensive reporting on topics related to age and ageing in Australian media. It found that the issues identified by the literature review were similarly manifest and widespread across much of the media content analysed. This included depictions of: l ageing as a process of inevitable decline l older people as vulnerable and lacking agency l ageing as a crisis and socio-economic threat l the gendered nature of ageing. The need to reframe the way ageing is represented and conceptualised in Australian media was highlighted in several studies. This content analysis found notable efforts by SBS and the ABC to provide content that counteracted widespread negative and stereotypical portrayals of age/ageing in the media. 4.2 Literature review This literature review considered works from three principal categories, comprising: l l l selected scholarly works on diversity in Australian media scholarly works on ageism and the Australian media (including works detailing issues of ageism more broadly) government and non-scholarly works on ageism and the Australian media.10 The Selected Bibliography for the literature review can be found at the Appendix of this report. (a) Selected research on diversity in Australian media In this review of selected scholarly works, age was found to be mostly absent in broader discussions about diversity and inclusion in Australian media, which tended to focus on issues of ethnicity, gender and sexuality. A minor exception to this, as identified in this review, was when age was correlated with the compounding barriers that women face as they get older.11 12 Shaping Perceptions: How Australian Media Reports on Ageing