Image of a Nation: Australian Broadcast Media Coverage of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

This paper explores the representation of PNG in the Australian broadcast media. It presents the findings of a formal study carried out in March 2008, monitoring the news broadcasts of the leading Australian television and radio outlets. The study also included the news stories published on ABC Online, and some other relevant broadcast media output. The study follows on from earlier work on print media by Ginau and Papoutsaki, which found a negative bias evident in the stories printed, suggesting that coverage of PNG in the Australian press was inadequate and contributing towards negative images of that country in Australia. This study has found that beyond the ABC’s regular and balanced coverage, there is very little mention of PNG on Australian airwaves. Nonetheless, it notes early indications of a shift in media attention due to the changing political climate, following the election of a new government last year in Australia. The paper concludes with some suggestions to improve the coverage of Australia’s former territory.