Meet your new Indigenous affairs journalist
Non-Indigenous audiences, journalists, editors, and academics occasionally ask me about the differences in writing for Blak media and writing for mainstream media. Iâve written for the Koori Mail, was the daily editor for IndigenousX, and have a few yearsâ experience at the free-to-air channel National Indigenous Television (NITV) too. Before working at NITV, I was a columnist writing largely about Indigenous-related topics for The Guardian, and Iâve also freelanced for a range of non-Indigenous publications, so Iâd like to think I know what Iâm talking about.
Jack Latimore has recently joined The Age as the mastheadâs Indigenous affairs journalist.Credit:Jason South
In terms of Blak media, a lot depends on the outlet. At NITV, the objective was to cover as many news and current affairs events that affected Aboriginal people as we could. This often meant providing what was essentially an Indigenous newswire service, with an emphasis on âhard newsâ reporting with tight turnarounds, written with Indigenous audiences and our allies primarily in mind.
My role with IndigenousX, a rotating Twitter account that has become an independent Blak media outlet, often involved working closely with contributors, with the emphasis on amplifying their voices and experiences. Koori Mail was unique in that it was almost a hybrid of the other two, with the foremost priority being serving our âgrass-rootsâ communities. What each of these roles shared was an approach that celebrated, empowered and recognised the agency of Aboriginal peoples.
My intention is to bring elements of that journalistic practice to the stories I write for The Age. Sometimes this will involve educating my new editors about perspectives and concepts that they are not familiar with â" an experience I touched on in my recent article âBlak, Black, Blackfulla: Language is important, but it can also be trickyâ. Incidentally, the feedback Iâve received for that article from all parts of the country has been remarkable and itâs encouraging to know there is such enthusiasm among The Ageâs audience for such content.
My exclusive with AFL champion Eddie Betts in the wake of the Taylor Walker racism scandal, which saw the Adelaide Crows player suspended for six matches after comments he made to North Adelaideâs Robbie Young at a state league match, neatly demonstrates the importance of bringing Blak journalistic practices into a newsroom.
Betts knew that I worked with different principles to other journalists. Many senior non-Indigenous journalists around the country desperately chased after Betts for that interview, but it was this Blackfulla who wrote the exclusive. Betts was aware of my previous journalism and understood that I would work with him to convey what he felt was most important about the Walker incident, both the on-field remark and over the following days, the wider public response to it. Betts knew I wouldnât necessarily rush to the most sensational elements of his response. He appreciated that my approach would be slower, more considered, and more considerate.
Often when I go into regional and remote communities I hear accounts of how visiting journalists or media organisations have left them feeling exploited. Considerations of kinship and agency sets Blak journalistic practice apart from the usual non-Indigenous approach to the discipline. This compact also establishes a greater trust, which is â" notoriously, in the publicâs view â" a measure that journalists and the media regularly fail to live up to.
My role as The Ageâs Indigenous affairs journalist is a broad one and to be honest, I still have some carry-over from my past roles in terms of how I approach each working day. Itâs been a challenging first few weeks. Initially, with the NITV hat still on, I was looking to report an Aboriginal affairs story each day in the âhard newsâ newswire style. Over the first month, I realised there was more of an opportunity at The Age to âstep insideâ stories with greater scope to explore background and add nuance.
One project on the cards over the next 12 months that will require elements of âhardâ reportage will be covering the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission. The commission will be the first of its kind in Australia and will look at hearing past and ongoing injustices experienced by Aboriginal peoples within the state. The Age will join the Yoo-rrook Commission when it eventually goes on the road after having its start date repeatedly delayed by COVID-19 lockdowns. I look forward to reporting on the commission hearings as well as doing some âdeep-diveâ journalism on Truth-Telling and Agreement-Making in Victoria.
Next month The Age will launch its Truth-Telling project, which has involved working alongside others in the newsroom including journalist Tony Wright and photographer Justin McManus to hear stories of Aboriginal Victorians and what this commission means to them.
Other stories and types of journalism Iâm interested in writing and telling include features on Aboriginal artists and musicians; some sport yarns; explainers on subjects such as the concept of âCountryâ; any sort of Travel and Lifestyle journalism that is possible; and of course, political analysis of the policies affecting Aboriginal people most. I like a bright, mixed palette.
Iâm also very conscious of the legacy and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media. An upcoming article Iâve written for The Ageâs Truth-Telling project shares some of that history, highlighting the critical publications throughout the eras and the important figures that continue to influence and inform Blak media and Blak journalism today. Thereâs the great John Newfong, of course, who now has many industry awards named in his honour. But thereâs also many lesser known figures on whose shoulders I stand. The opportunity to contribute to that legacy is what brought me to The Age.
Of course, the support of our subscribers, and the contribution of the Judith Neilson Institute to hire more Indigenous storytellers, is much appreciated, helping to bring this wide range of important stories to the Australian public. Thank you.
Jack Latimore is the Indigenous affairs journalist at The Age. He is a Birpai man with family ties to Thungutti and Gumbaynggirr nations. He is an experienced journalist who was previously managing editor of NITV Digital.Connect via email.
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