Current Affairs and the Stolen Generation

The following is a report one of my students wrote after a close study of the television News coverage of the "Stolen Generation" which occured in May 2000, before the eyes of the world turned to Australia and the Olympic Games in Sydney.

This is based on my analysis of the Television Stations' coverage of the Abortion Debate in Perth, in 1998.

NON - PRINT MEDIA ASSESSMENT - TELEVISION NEWS AND THE STOLEN GENERATION

BIAS & ATTITUDES OF THE COMMERCIAL STATIONS TOWARDS THE 'STOLEN GENERATION' & OTHER VARIOUS SUBJECTS

The Commercial Television Stations Seven, Nine and Ten, have attitudes that are negative and oppose those of the comments made by some of the Liberal politicians that agree with John Howard' s conclusion on the issue concerning the Stolen Generation. The Television Stations also have positive and corresponding attitude towards the politicians that disagree with the Prime Minister's decision not to apologise to the Indigenous people on behalf of the rest of the nation,

For instance, Channel Ten's voice over, Cicil O'Connor, claims that there were allegations made stating John Howard was 'Pauline Hanson reincarnate( while showing historical footage of the Stolen Generation of Aboriginal children in the government schools. Channel Ten also shows footage of the Prime Minister, John Howard, stating that Senator Heron, Aboriginal Affairs Minister, should be 'commendable' for his 'decency' , knowing the viewers have knowledge of Senator Heron's 'Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Report' that determines approximately only ten per cent of Aboriginal children were taken from their families which did not cause any great affect on the community. While on Channel Nine they, are showing interviews of the Senator confused about whether the ten percent statistic he formulated is correct and contradicting himself.

On the other hand, the News Crew from Channel Ten, recorded a middle shot of Aden Ridgeway, an Aboriginal politician, speaking at Parliament House. The middle shot, meaning he is neutral, on the station's side. Channel Nine shows politician, Christopher Pyne, disagreeing with the Prime Minister, saying that there obviously is a 'Stolen Generation' and believes the Prime Minister should apologise.

Channel Seven's bias towards the Aboriginal people is that they see them as people unjustly treated in the past, only wanting recognition and acknowledgment for their sufferings; doing all they possibly can to receive that recognition and apology. They show footage of a past rally held by the Aboriginal people, at the Brisbane Olympic Games in 1982 wanting land rights. Channel Seven is trying to give out an image of Aboriginals as people who will do anything to achieve their goals. They also show an Aboriginal citizen, Sandra Hall, who was part of the 'Stolen Generation', breaking down with tears while saying 'we want to be equals', at the end of the News Report, giving an impression that the producers of the news station believe that Hall is just another Aboriginal victim who suffered tremendously, but not giving any insight to what her life is like at the present moment, meaning she could be a very intelligent and academic person who knows what she is talking about. Channel Ten also has a similar bias to Channel Seven, but focuses on an interview with Sandra Hail than on the Olympics as Channel Seven does. The interview of Hall, shows her in her office, this intending to leave an impression that Hall has full knowledge and understanding of the argument in regard to the Stolen Generation, so the viewer does not perceive her to be a helpless victim.

The Television Stations were not very objective in their reports. They showed two sides to the Story but tended to always give preference to one side. So it was in fact a one-sided argument. For example, in Channel Ten they did not support the Government at all, making known that they agreed with the Aboriginal citizens in the reconciliation. This indicates that they were not objective, leaving the viewer to think similarly to the producers of the Stations, "Television News Stations are 'particular versions of reality' not the windows to the world," meaning that what the news may present to us does not mean that they are giving the whole truth. The Station will always have its own bias.

USES OF TECHNICAL, VERBAL, AUDIO-VISUAL & SYMBOLIC CODES FOR THE PROMOTION OF BIAS

To support and encourage the channel's bias there is the use of technical, verbal, audio-visual and symbolic codes. The different camera angles and movement, word choice, tone, photos and selection of relevant film footage are the main examples of these codes that were used by the three news stations. For example, the photo of Sydney Herbour in flames along with the Australian Flag and Olympic Rings, is shown by Channel Seven to the viewers on the left-handed corner of the screen while the reporter is introducing the issue of the outraged Aboriginals. The photo influences the viewer to see the situation as out of control and the Aboriginal people to be furious about the situation that they are placed in.

Channel Seven also uses previous recordings of the rally in Brisbane in 1982 on land rights, to show a close up of the Aboriginal Flag, with a camera angle that creates a towering affect. This symbolises the great strength and power of the Aboriginal people. An angry tone is created by the selection of words chosen by the voice over, Laurie Oaks, in Channel Nine, such as 'fury' and 'rage', to describe the occurrences of events and circumstances which keeps the audience interested on the topic.

USE OF BIAS

The Commercial Television Stations Seven, Nine and Ten, used different forms of bias to promote their values and attitudes towards the subject of the 'Stolen Generation' . Channel Ten focuses more on the governmental issues and interview with one of the Aboriginal people who was taken away from her family at a young age. The Station uses word choice, names and titles, photos, camera angles, placement, selection of detail, source control and film, There is also a large amount of historical footage used, connected with the 'Stolen Generation' which is used to create a feeling of sorrow and sympathy for all the children who had to suffer for the injustices delivered upon them. News Crew filmed Sandra, reading a letter her grandmother had written to the government when Sandra was still in the government's care. They firstly present a picture of her and two other Aboriginal girls all smiling in to the camera. They shoot her at a high angle over her head while she is reading this letter, and then they zoom into it. It creates a sense of longing, for her to go back into the past and relive the childhood she had lost.

Placement of the subject matter played a important role in Channel Seven's Report. The News Report began with, 'STOLEN GENERATION ANGER. ABORIGINES THREATEN TO BURN THE OLYMPICS.' The story was placed first giving it importance. The headline created a feel of excitement having the audience eager to watch the details of the story unfold. The story begins with the reporter introducing the topic with a picture in the top left-hand corner of the screen of Sydney Harbour on flames. It follows on with the rally from 1982 on Aboriginal land rights, which is misleading because the audience may see it as a rally to do with the 'Stolen Generation'. It then displays a picture of Charles Perkins, an Aboriginal leader, and plays part of his interview with BBC Radio with him telling the English not to come to Sydney for the Olympics, only if they want to see burning cars. Channel Seven then shows footage from the Mexico Olympic Games where the government had conflict with Black Power and then play part of an interview where Perkins declares the words, ' Burn baby burn '. Following is Sandy Hallaway, Chairman of the Sydney Games Committee, apologising to the 'Stolen Generation'. A trolley shot is them filmed with him and the rest of the Sydney Games Committee joining hands while walking together , signifying unity of those who want reconciliation. Then the viewers are presented with historical footage of Aboriginal children in the schools to give evidence that there was actually a 'Stolen Generation'. John Howard is shown shaking hands with Aboriginal Politicians and then being accused by Kim Beazley of betraying them. Lastly Sandra Hail is presented saying, 'we want to be equals.'

This placement of the report helps to shape the News Stations bias and may leave the audience with a new bias on the topic while contemplating on the events that are presented in the report. Because the News Station has so little time in presenting the topic, there is a greater risk of distortion of the truth.

TRUTH AND ACCURACY OF NEWS REPORTS

The Television Stations of Channel Seven, Nine and Ten were quite occurate in the way that they portrayed the Prime Minister, John Howard. Channel Seven shows John Howard arguing with Kim Beazley. Kim Beazley accused him of betraying the Aboriginal Leaders and Politicians because he did not apologise on behalf of the nation for the past injustices that the Aboriginals had-to endure. The book Bringing Them Home presents John Howard's speech and he in fact does apologise to the Aborigines but then contradicts himself by saying that it is not the fault of the present government so we should not move back into the past. Kim Beazley, on the other hand, does apologise and believes that the Prime Minister has an obligation, as Australia's leader, to apologise on behalf of the whole nation. But, a lot of the issues involved in the News Reports do not have very much significance in the sufferings of the Aboriginal 'Stolen Generation'. For instance, Channel Seven based their News Report on the Olympics which did not have much relevance with the Stolen Generation. Their aim was to provide more drama, than to look too deeply into the issues. The drama of the News Report will provide a larger audience, meaning more money.

As is evident, Television News Stations use many techniques to generate their bias onto their viewers which is not easily detectable. The audience may not notice the bias and after viewing the News Report they may be influenced without their own awareness. Audiences must be cautious on the content of the programme because of the huge effect it may have on their personal opinions in regards to the subject. Viewers must always remember that the truth can be easily distorted and that Television News Stories are 'particular versions of reality' not windows to the world."