Indigenous Voice: a work-integrated learning case study in journalism education

The continuing stereotypical coverage of Indigenous affairs in the Australian media suggests that journalists are still finding it difficult to come to terms with more effective ways of reporting such issues. The many hundreds of students who graduate from journalism programs across Australia represent an opportunity to at least challenge the predominant methods and strategies. But how prepared are journalism graduates for working with Indigenous issues? This paper explores the processes involved in an intensive reporting practice course held at the University of Queensland mid-2009. The course aimed to raise journalism students' awareness of some of the issues involved as well as enabling them to interact and work with personnel from the Brisbane Indigenous media community, 98.9 FM, the National Indigenous Radio Service, SBS and the ABC. The findings suggest that such structured programs have a significant impact on changing students' perceptions of, and approaches to, their role as journalists.