MDA | Race Reporting Handbook Why Should You Read This? An Address from MDA’s CEO Mariam Veiszadeh Journalists play a crucial role in shaping public perception and societal attitudes. The stories told in the media and the way they are framed—through language, imagery, and tone—play a significant role in how negatively racialised communities are perceived. As Todd Gitlin observed, journalism doesn't merely reflect reality; it shapes different interpretations of it. Every decision about which voices, images, perspectives, and words to include or exclude impacts audience interpretation and subsequent actions. Furthermore, Australia has a complex history of race relations, marred by instances of racism in its structural, institutional, and interpersonal forms. Racism is perpetuated through policies, practices, media representations, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. The way you write about race—whether consciously or not—matters significantly. Improving the racial literacy of journalists and all who work across the media is one way of tackling the issue. This is particularly important when the vast majority of those who may be tasked with writing on issues related to race do not necessarily have lived experience of racism and marginalisation, and those who do often face a cultural burden of becoming the go-to person on all race related questions and issues. While there is no Australian based research examining the levels of racial literacy among journalists, our own MDA’s Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories (WGTAS) research highlights that a significant percentage of journalists in Australia do not come from First Nations or negatively racialised backgrounds. Our research also highlights that there are differences in trust levels among nonEuropean respondents, with a notable proportion choosing to stop consuming news due to perceived bias. Historically, racial diversity was absent from Australia’s television news, where minorities were often depicted as social problems. Recent research from All Together Now shows that media coverage of race continues to be inflammatory at times. For many, the media may be their only interaction with people from other racial backgrounds. This makes responsible reporting on race and racism all the more vital. Deciding when to include or exclude racial background may seem like a micro decision but can have significant 6