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The ABC has been accused of racism after a report listed indigenous people as likely to be “stereotypical smokers”, just weeks after the broadcaster recruited “cultural advisers” in a bid to help staff appropriately deal with “culturally sensitive stories.”
The broadcaster apologized for any offense caused after a story published on its website last week featured the findings of the recent Australian National University smoking study.
The article highlighted the problem of smoking among many people, some of whom are indigenous.
The story sparked outrage and came just days after former ABC television presenter and journalist Miriam Corowa, a Minyangbal and Bundjalung woman, was appointed senior cultural adviser to the news division.
In its opening lines, the article urged readers to imagine a typical smoker.
The ABC has been accused of racism after a report on smoking included Indigenous people among the negative descriptors of a “stereotypical smoker”.
“If you were asked to imagine a typical smoker, you might find the following stereotypes: someone unemployed, uneducated, indigenous and in poor mental health,” the article states.
Outraged readers criticized the opening sentence, with many blaming ABC for allowing it to be published.
Journalist and Malyangapa Barkindji wife Jennetta Quinn-Bates expressed disbelief after sharing a screenshot of the opening paragraph.
‘THAT. IS. THIS?’ Ms. Quinn-Bates wrote.
Ms Quinn-Bates listed other media organizations she says are “the worst at stereotyping Aboriginal people”, and then wrote “ABC: Hold my beer…”.
Gomeroi man Scott Trindall also criticized the article for contributing to “unconscious bias” and called the authors “racist.”
Other online readers were as outraged as they criticized the ABC.
‘This is how stereotypes are perpetuated. Unacceptable,” one person wrote.
“Who let them post this, what the hell?” another commented.
“Oh wow, ABC is really here trying to out-stereotype the competition,” a third chimed in.
A fourth added: ‘Who even let that happen? Where are the editors?
Journalist and Malyangapa Barkindji wife Jennetta Quinn-Bates (pictured) expressed disbelief after sharing a screenshot of the article’s opening paragraph.
Shortly after the story was published on the ABC website, the article was edited and “Indigenous” was removed from the list of negative stereotypes.
The revised sentence read: “If you were asked to imagine a typical smoker, you might not imagine someone who was employed, educated, or in good mental health,” the amended sentence said.
An editor’s note was added to the end of the article describing the change along with an apology from ABC.
‘An earlier version of this story referred to indigenous people in the first paragraph. That reference has since been removed and we apologize for any offense caused,” the editor’s note said.
This month, former ABC TV presenter and journalist Miriam Corowa, a Minyangbal and Bundjalung woman, was appointed senior cultural adviser to the news division.
The Australian Media Daily He noted that ABC has not yet mentioned the change on its ‘corrections and clarifications’ page.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted ABC for comment.
The article quoted ANU medical student Jessica Awand as saying the Australian National University study debunked common myths and stereotypes associated with smoking.
‘Although smoking is more common among people who experience structural disadvantage (such as people in more remote areas, indigenous peoples, those with less education and those living in poverty), the majority of people who smoke are educated, employed and in good health. similar to the entire population of Australia,” Ms Awand said.
