MDA | Race Reporting Handbook
A PERSONAL REFLECTION BY KARINA HOGAN: HOW
REPORTING CHOICES SHAPE PERCEPTION AND IMPACT
“We prepared the talent
thoroughly, making them
aware that they might face
backlash once their stories were
published. We were aware of the
dangers and provided them with our
contacts, support networks, and ensured
they had access to local Aboriginal
services to assist them.
This approach supports trauma-informed
reporting and reinforces our commitment
to protecting both the integrity of
the story and the well-being of the
community.
Even though we made sure the talent
was protected as much as possible
from direct audience backlash, we didn’t
expect how a poorly reported version
of the story would hurt them and their
community. It had a real impact, and it
was something we weren’t fully
prepared for.” - Karina Hogan
| CHAPTER 03
THE IMAGE ABOVE COMPARES TWO
DIFFERENT STORIES ON CHROMING.
In our article, "Chroming Killed Rosie's
Cousin: Now She’s Speaking Out to
Help Others," written by Rebeka Powell,
Katherine Feeney, and me, we focused on
Rosie's bravery in sharing her story to help
prevent others from falling into the
same trap.
We took great care to support Rosie and
her community like blurring her photo and
using an alias, aiming to handle her story
with respect and empathy.
In contrast, another media outlet’s
headline, "His Eyes Rolled into the Back of
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