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Indigenous Media Studies in Australia: Traditions, Theories and Contemporary Practices

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Abstract

Kerry McCallum and Lisa Waller locate the diverse, abundant and dynamic field of Indigenous media within the rapidly changing broader Australian media landscape. While there are some parallels with the ethnic media sector, this chapter shows that the unique development of the Indigenous media sector has been determined by Australia’s colonial past and its complex political and policy history. Simultaneously, Indigenous people have developed their own media for self-determination, sovereignty, cultural representation and for talking back to those in power. The development of a dynamic community broadcasting sector and the flourishing of Indigenous digital media provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a voice that enables them to make strategic incursions into policy debates.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Australia’s most successful referendum occurred in 1967, with 90.77 per cent voting to change the constitution to enable the Commonwealth to make laws for all Australians and to take account of Aboriginal people in determining the population.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Canberra, Bruce, Australia

    Kerry McCallum

  2. Deakin University, Burwood, Australia

    Lisa Waller

Authors
  1. Kerry McCallum
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  2. Lisa Waller
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Correspondence to Kerry McCallum .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Adelaide , Adelaide, Australia

    John Budarick

  2. Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University, Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia

    Gil-Soo Han

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McCallum, K., Waller, L. (2017). Indigenous Media Studies in Australia: Traditions, Theories and Contemporary Practices. In: Budarick, J., Han, GS. (eds) Minorities and Media. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59631-4_6

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