Media Info
Understanding the Media Landscape in Australia
Sometimes we come across media content that feels racist, inflammatory, or deeply unjust. While these reactions are completely valid, it’s important to understand the broader media landscape in Australia. The majority of media outlets, apart from public broadcasters like the ABC and SBS, are privately owned. This means they have greater freedom to set their own editorial policies and decide what kind of content they choose to publish.
Although freedom of speech protects a wide range of expression in Australia, it does not protect speech that amounts to racial or religious vilification, which remains unlawful. However, not every harmful or biased article will meet the legal threshold for vilification. As a result, privately owned media organisations such as Sky News, NewsCorp, Nine, and 7 News often operate within the law even if their content is unfair or offensive.
This legal grey area makes it more difficult to seek formal accountability or justice when problematic content appears in these outlets. They are not bound by the same standards as public broadcasters and are generally only guided by their own internal policies, which may not prioritise fairness or balance, particularly when it comes to coverage of marginalised communities.
Understanding this context helps us focus our advocacy, complaints, and public pressure in the right places and reminds us why community-led media monitoring is so important.
In Australia, there are regulatory bodies that some media organisations voluntarily choose to join. These bodies provide a set of ethical standards and are seen as markers of credibility and accountability within the industry. The most prominent of these is the Australian Press Council (APC), which offers a detailed framework outlining what constitutes fair, accurate, and balanced reporting. The APC has a more specific set of criteria regarding what can and cannot be said in public reporting, particularly around issues of discrimination, racism accuracy, and fairness. If a media organisation is a member of the APC, they are bound by their guidelines and therefore giving the public the right to lodge formal complaints when its reporting breaches these guidelines. This allows us to hold such organisations to account through an independent process. It’s important to note that not all media outlets are members, and those that aren’t are not subject to these standards.
What to Look For?
When submitting an article for review, it’s helpful to take a moment to reflect on why it feels concerning or harmful. We’ve created a simple guide to support you in identifying key issues that may need to be flagged. This process helps ensure that we’re addressing media content thoughtfully and effectively, and strengthens our ability to hold outlets accountable for how they represent communities.
Opinion Pieces
When reading news content—especially on sensitive issues like Palestine, Islam, or the Muslim community, it’s important to know the difference between news reporting and opinion or commentary pieces.
Opinion pieces are designed to express a personal or editorial view. They often reflect the writer’s perspective, and they don’t need to present a balanced or neutral view like standard news articles do. This is how media outlets can publish viewpoints that may feel deeply unfair or offensive to Muslim communities, and still fall within the protections of “freedom of expression.” Because of this, they are legally and ethically allowed to include strong, controversial, or even offensive opinions as long as:
- The views are clearly labelled as opinion or commentary (not presented as objective fact),
- They don’t rely on false or misleading information, and
- They don’t incite hatred, violence, or discrimination (though unfortunately, this line is often pushed, and further action requires a court trial)
Check whether a piece is labelled as opinion or commentary, usually at the top or under the author’s name
Using Loaded/ Inflammatory Terms
Be wary of emotionally charged words like “radical,” “extremist,” “fundamentalist,” or “threat” used broadly or without context.
Example: Calling a Muslim community “radicalised” without proof or specific incidents.
Blaming the Whole Community for an Individual’s Actions
Problematic media often portray the actions of one Muslim person as reflective of all Muslims or the religion itself.
Example: A criminal act by a Muslim individual being framed as a “Muslim problem.”
Excluding Muslim Voices in Stories about Muslims
If a story is about Muslims but doesn’t include any voices from Muslim individuals, organisations, or scholars, it lacks balance.
Are Muslims being spoken about, or are they given a chance to speak for themselves?
Misrepresenting Islamic beliefs or Practices
Look for articles that inaccurately describe or simplify Islamic teachings, especially when used to justify fear or suspicion.
Example: Claiming that hijab is a “symbol of oppression” without offering Muslim women’s views.
Headline that Exaggerates or Misleads
Headlines may exaggerate or distort the facts to attract clicks while fuelling stereotypes.
Example: A headline suggesting a “Muslim takeover” where the article is just about a mosque expansion.
Applying Double Standards to Muslims
Consider whether Muslims are being portrayed differently from other groups in similar situations.
Example: A white individual is described as “mentally ill,” while a Muslim is labelled “terrorist” for the same act.
Omission of Important Context
Some stories leave out facts that would give a fairer picture, like the role of discrimination, poverty, or war in shaping someone’s experience our outcome of events.
What’s missing that would change how the Muslim community is viewed?
Linking Muslims to Terrorism or Violence Without Evidence
Watch for news stories that link Muslims or Islamic practices to violence without clear evidence, or that bring up unrelated past events (e.g., terrorist attacks) to frame a current story involving Muslims.
Example: Reporting on a Muslim refugee and mentioning global terrorism, despite no link.
Who Can You Report To?
You can report any articles you find concerning to our Media Watch team. We will assess the content, review your concerns, and take appropriate action where necessary.
You also have the option to lodge a complaint directly with the media organisation (we can help you find the right contact details), or with the Australian Press Council if the media outlet is a member. You can check if an organisation is a member here.
