Journalists use real people’s stories to ‘humanize’ the news. But these tales – whether harrowing or heartwarming – can be misleading about the pandemic’s greatest threats.
Media reporting often unfairly stigmatises people with mental illness and promotes the stereotype that mental illness causes violent behaviour. New guidelines offer tips for more responsible reporting.
Online video consumption can become cheaper and more efficient thanks to improvements in streaming technology.
iStock via Getty Images
A new standard for how videos are sent through the internet and read by your computer could make the digital world more inclusive, says media scholar Jason Schmitt.
Three young women attracted backlash this week after failing to quarantine and bringing COVID-19 into Queensland. But public shaming could discourage people from following public health advice.
By publishing photos and details of two teenagers who allegedly illegally went into Queensland from Victoria, the media have stripped them of due process and encouraged vigilantism.
John Lewis, in the foreground, is beaten by a state trooper during a civil rights voting march in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 1965.
AP Photo
From personally targeting the Victorian premier to railing against the compulsory use of masks or scapegoating a minority group, News Corp’s coverage has been not just biased but dangerous.
A host of alternative media outlets sprang up during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. But they’re not fans of his replacement.
Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court, on February 24, 2020 in New York City. On March 11 he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for criminal sexual acts and rape.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP
Scandals are violent shocks to social systems, yet not all questionable behaviour produces scandal. How can we explain that some figures escape the consequences of their own behavior while others don’t?
The past month has shown just how much diversity in media matters. But there is no quick fix – sustained, multi-pronged initiatives are required to bring more diverse journalists into the industry.
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