PRESS RELEASE: Analysis: News media escalating and stoking dehumanising hate speech online in Australia
27 September 2023 | A new research report has highlighted the role some news media outlets play in contributing, amplifying and worsening online hate speech in Australia.
The researchers at social impact agency, Purpose, conducted analysis into four case studies of dehumanisation and hate speech targeted at different social groups, including First Nations people, people from Indian backgrounds in Australia, transgender people, and people coming to Australia as refugees.
The analysis details a pattern of ‘deficit discourse’ in news media publishing – content that negatively frames and scapegoats a particular group of people. Showing how it generates dehumanising hate speech on social media, which benefits some publishers that capitalise on the increased online engagement. This pattern is further illustrated through the mutualistic relationships between news media and other actors who produce and amplify strong deficit discourse and hate speech. These dynamics highlight the commercial incentives for news media outlets, despite the impact such behaviours have on social cohesion.
The report makes a number of research, programmatic and policy recommendations to address the issue, and argues that without considering the impact of ‘deficit discourse’ and the incentives for news media practitioners to amplify it, a crucial dynamic of how online hate manifests is being missed. Which may, in part, explain why current efforts to address online hate are failing to curb it.
Rita Jabri Markwell, Chief adviser and lawyer at the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network said:
“This is a timely and powerful investigation that actually breaks down and defines the problem. Terms such as deficit discourse and dehumanising hate speech need to become widely understood by researchers, policymakers and news media practitioners.”
Chris Cooper, Senior Advisor at Purpose said:
“Our findings demonstrate how woefully inadequate our conceptualisation and regulation of hate speech online is in Australia, and puts news media in the spotlight for the role some outlets play in seeding and platforming hateful content.”
“The correlation between the role of particular news media outlets and dehumanising hate speech, is clearly visible in the distorted and harmful online conversation around the referendum. If we want to strengthen social cohesion and minimise hateful content online, we need to rethink what accountability of news media looks like in the digital era”
This report is a two-part initiative. Part One explores the roles news media actors play in online hate speech, to spotlight the challenges faced by stakeholders today. Part Two: Curbing Dehumanising Hate Speech Online, explores the regulatory and policy landscape around this issue and makes recommendations for change.
The report is available to download at: www.purpose.com/australian-news-media-and-online-hate-speech
