Disgrace in the Media.

Something that I found rather interesting today in my journalism tutorial, was the way two different contrasting news outlets reported on a particular incident. 

Basically, the real facts were that Augustine Miller, 38, allegedly had sex with a fourteen year old girl, with the judge deeming it was, in fact, ‘consensual’.  In early 2009, he took a drive with the deceased girl out into the desert in search for kangaroos. They ended up getting lost in the desert, both becoming lethally dehydrated. The girl died a few days after they were found.

These are two headlines posted by two different news companies:

From the ABC:

From 'The Australian':

I find this absolutely insane.

One the one hand, we have our public media ABC journalists who seem to be sympathising with Mr Miller, and staying quite true to the facts. On the other, is Debbie Guest from the Australian claiming girl dies after 'paedophile' ordeal.  He was never even 'convicted' of child sex acts!

The latter is obviously taking the scandalous, gossip-worthy avenue rather than the truthful, fair side of the story. 'The Australian's' agenda is obvious: they are warping the facts, as well as drawing on past, unrelated issues in the man's life in order to create the assumption in readers minds that Ausustine Miller is a murderous paedophile. 

Another issue associate with this case, was the utter lack of respect for Indigenous culture. It is well known that for Aboriginal peoples, it is considered pivotal that one does not see or hear the photographs  or voices of a person who has passed away. However, various newspapers blatantly plastered this little girl's photo all over the front pages, much to the disgrace of her relatives.

This is where it is easy to lose respect for different media outlets. How does one know which story to trust? My suggestion is to read different articles on the same story to gain a wider perspective. 

The saddest thing I feel in relation to the media and the public, is that people are far much more likely  to read and become interested in second article - a story that has scandal, and is published in well known,  plentiful and cheap newspapers.  

Lastly, I want to emphasise the devastating consequences false, attention-seeking articles such as the latter can have long after it is published. Besides Mr Miller being labelled a child rapist and killer, this kind of story only perpeuates, or ignites, hatred and fear towards our Indigenous culture. For me, this is one of the most disgraceful things that can be done in the Australian media.