Journalists, Writers, Academics Sign Open Letter Condemning Bill Leak Cartoon

A group of 173 media and communications professionals have signed an open letter slamming The Australian newspaper for publishing a racist cartoon by Bill Leak, implying Aboriginal fathers are drunks who do not know their own children’s names.

In a brief statement published on health blog Croakey, writers, journalists, photographers and artists condemned the newspaper and acknowledged the long history of media perpetuated stereotypes relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The statement reads:

“We are journalists, writers, photographers, artists, publishers and others who work in the media and communications industries. Signatories also include journalism, media and communications researchers and academics.

We condemn The Australian’s publication of Bill Leak’s racist cartoon. Racism damages the health and wellbeing of those it targets.

We acknowledge that the media industry has a long history of perpetuating harmful and racist stereotypes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and that it is well past time that this stops.

Among the signatures are a number of prominent journalist and educators including Editor of the Koori Mail Rudi Maxwell, Meanjin editor Jonathan Green, Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism Professor Margaret Simons, as well as Celeste Liddle, Dr Anita Heiss, Jenna Price, and Wendy Bacon.

A number of New Matilda’s columnists have signed the letter, as well as Publisher and Editor Chris Graham.

Croakey are now encouraging further journalist and communication workers to come forward and sign on to the statement. To do so, send an email to info@croakey.org.

The Australian has ardently defended not just its right to publish the cartoon, but the content of Leak’s drawing. Editor Paul Whittaker issued a statement celebrating it, while News Corp corporate affairs manager Campbell Reid described the cartoon – and a follow-up in which Leak depicted himself as the victim of a lynch mob – as “the best thing I have read this week”.

Melissa Sweet, the founder of Croakey, said there had been some disquiet within News Corp about the cartoon and the way it had been handled by senior executives. But Sweet said that, as far as she was aware, none of those who had signed the open letter were current News Corp staff members.

Last week, one company which runs advertising in The Australian criticised the cartoon and said it would be considering whether to return to the publication, while SunCorp Bank said it would remove advertising content.

The full list of signatories is below.

1. Amy McQuire, journalist 2. Allan Clarke, journalist 3. Dr Justin Coleman, GP, Inala Indigenous Health Service, Immediate past President, Australasian Medical Writers Association 4. Fiona Katauskas, cartoonist. 5. Rudi Maxwell, editor, Koori Mail 6. Kodie Bedford, writer and producer 7. Leigh Dayton, journalist and researcher 8. Dr Michelle Dunne Breen 9. Bjorn Stewart, Actor 10. Celeste Liddle, writer 11. Colin Kinchela, actor and performer 12. Jarni blakkarly, journalist 13. Vernon Ah Kee, Artist 14. Amy Coopes, journalist, Croakey 15. Dr Anita Heiss, author 16. Bronwyn Carlson, Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies at UOW 17. Dr Tanja Dreher, University of Wollongong 18. Dr Sandy O’Sullivan, Director of Centre for Collaborative First Nations’ Research, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Darwin. 19. Kerry McCallum, News and Media Research Centre, University of Canberra. 20. Karen Wyld, freelance writer, author, and admin of #ProjectAntiRacism (@AntiRacismAust) 21. Summer May Finlay 22. Jack Latimore, Indigenous Writer 23. Max Chalmers, Journalist, New Matilda 24. Ben Eltham, National Affairs Correspondent, New Matilda 25. Michael Brull, columnist, New Matilda 26. Jeff Sparrow, journalist, broadcaster 27. Leesa Watego, Iscariot Media 28. Jonathan Green, meanjin editor 29. Clem Bastow, journalist 30. Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Filmmaker 31. Dave Graney, musician, author, broadcaster 32. Jenna Price, UTS academic and Fairfax columnist. 33. Liam McLoughlin, journalist, New Matilda. 34. Jennifer Doggett 35. Richard Bell, artist 36. Marie McInerney, freelance journalist 37. Siobhan McHugh, writer, documentary-maker and Senior Lecturer in Journalism, University of Wollongong 38. Liz O’Reilly, Independent Artist and Educator 39. Dr Sandra R Phillips, Writer and Academic 41. Jim Everett-puralia meenamatta. I am a plangermairreenner man from meenamatta country, NE Tasmania. 42. Felicity Biggins, Lecturer in Communication at the University of Newcastle 43. Fiona Martin, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney 44. Dr Andrew Dodd, Associate Professor and Program Director, Journalism, Swinburne University. 45. Melissa Lucashenko 46. Johan Lidberg, Monash University. 47. Tara Wynne, literary agent, Curtis Brown 48. Wendy Bacon, Contributing editor, New Matilda 49. Jeanti St Clair, Lecturer Media Program School of Arts and Social Sciences, Southern Cross University 50. Jessica Friedmann, writer 51. Dr Meera Atkinson Writer and academic 52. Tanya Ashworth-Keppel, writer and editor 53. Alex McKinnon, journalist 54. John Paul Janke, Indigenous communications specialist 55. Catherine Deveny, writer 56. Bianca Nogrady, journalist 57. Keren Heenan, writer 58. Simon Chapman AO, columnist, The Conversation 59. Linda Doherty, director, communication & leadership, NSW department of Education 60. Michael Meadows, Adjunct Professor Griffith University 61. Kerrie Foxwell-Norton, writer 62. Danielle Binks, author and literary agent (with Jacinta di Mase Management) 63. MJ Leaver, writer 64. Helen Signy, Senior Communications Officer, The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre. 65. Dr Beth Spencer, author. 66. Marge Overs, health writer 67. Tracey Johnston, health sector communications professional 68. Jenny Noyes, writer and producer @ Daily Life 69. Amy Gray, writer 70. Keira Jenkins, Journalist, Koori Mail 71. Dr Cristy Clark. Lecturer, School of Law and Justice, Southern Cross University 72. Dr Chelsea Bond, Senior Lecturer, ATSIS Unit, University of Qld 73. Nina Funnell, commentator 74. Angela Romano, QUT 75. Dr Bonita Mason, Journalism Lecturer, Curtin University. 76. Greg Truman, journalist 77. Dr Ruth Armstrong, Moderator, Croakey 78. Melinda Shobrook – Facilitator of Indigenous Rise (a Facebook group). 79. Isabelle Oderberg, journalist and communications professional 80. Kate Doak, Investigative Journalist. 81. Josh Ridgeway, journalist 82. Meg Bastian 83. Dr Thor Kerr School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts, Curtin University 84. Julie Kivuyo 85. Anne Ryden, Lecturer, Curtin University 86. Dr Antonio Traverso, Curtin University 87. (Aunty) Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Wiradjuri poet, artist & activist 88. Angela Dewan, freelance journalist. 89. Michelle Lovegrove, journalist 90. Sophie Black 91. Dr Ray Moynihan, author, medical writer 92. Professor Chris Nash, Monash University. 93. Dr Lesley Russell, writer 94. Sara Saleh, Human Rights Advocate and Artist 95. Angela Schilling, Editor, Five Thousand 96. Ian McAuley 97. Eliza Henry-Jones, author 98. Colin Cowell, Media and Communication Consultant, NACCHO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Editor, NACCHO Aboriginal Health Newspaper 99. Dr Courtney Pedersen 100. Mark Ragg, Ragg & Co 101. Jane McCredie 102. Dr Christine Black, Gold Coast 103. Jane Armstrong, Lecturer 104. Ruth Dawkins, Tasmanian Writers Centre 105. Lea McInerney, writer 106. Chris Graham, Publisher, New Matilda 107. Wendy Orr, author 108. Associate Professor Liz Byrski, Writer and academic 109. Andrea Dodo-Balu, Curtin University School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts 110. Professor Margaret Simons, Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism, and a freelance journalist and author 111. Mark Demetrius 112. Margaret Scheikowski 113. Mitchell Ward, creative director, Croakey 114. Michelle Bui, Research Assistant, Curtin University School of Media Culture & Creative Arts 115. Jenny Fraser, Adjunct Research Fellow 116. Katie Ellis, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University 117. Kathryn Greenhill, Lecturer in Information Studies 118. Catriona Bonfiglioli, PhD Senior Lecturer Media Studies UTS 119. Professor Anna Haebich, Historian and author 120. Rose Hanley, Roleystone WA 121. Pablo Leighton, Independent researcher / Latin American Research Group Australia 122. Dr David Nolan, Senior Lecturer, Media and Communications, and Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne 123. Faustina Agolley, TV presenter 124. Tom Ballard, comedian 125. Namila Benson, broadcaster/producer 126. Karen Pickering, writer and organiser 127. Ruby Hamad, columnist, Daily Life, SBS Life 128. Scott Edgar, songwriter, Tripod 129. Dr Helen Merrick, Curtin University 130. Shannon Harvey, Journalism lecturer and tutor, Curtin University 131. Kirsten Hudson, Curtin University 132. Michael Keane, South Perth 133. Dr Tama Leaver, Curtin University 134. Dr Liam Lynch, Curtin University 135. Dr Leanne McRae, Curtin University 136. Kenta McGrath, filmmaker and academic 137. Dr Marilyn Metta, Curtin University 138. Jennifer Martin, principal tutor for the Centre for Advancing Journalist at the University of Melbourne, editorial assistant at the Citizen 139. Dr Samantha Owen, Curtin University 140. Suvendrini Perera, John Curtin Distinguished Professor, School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts, Curtin University 141. Dr Joy Denise Scott, Academic 142. Professor Kim Scott, author 143. Dr Greg Watson, Curtin University, WA 144. Dr David Whish-Wilson, Curtin University 145. Irma Woods, Nyungar Research Assistant 146. Jessica Robyn Cadwallader 147. Dr Sukhmani Khorana, University of Wollongong 148. Dr Lisa Slater, University of Wollongong 149. Dr Siobhan McHugh, University of Wollongong 150. Prof Elena Marchetti, University of Wollongong 151. Samah Sabawi, Playwright and Commentator 152. Dr Leah King-Smith 153. Vicki Kyriakakis, writer 154. Meg Madden, Writer and editor 155. Mary Ellen Jordan, writer 156. Holly Ringland, writer, novelist, educator 157. Jacqui Katona, a law student from Djok clan, Kakadu, the Centre for Indigenous Story 158. Debra Jopson, journalist 159. Melissa Sweet, journalist 160. Angela Savage, author 161. Paul Daley, author and journalist 162. Dr Gael Jennings, Honorary Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne 163. Jaelea Skehan, writer 164. Dr Stephen Hagan, Editor, First Nations Telegraph 165. Tess Ryan 166. Daniel James 167. Palani Mohan, photographer 168. Eliza Metcalfe, health communications specialist 169. Ross Green, health communications specialist 170. Rob Oakeshott, writer and author 171. Philip Moore, Anthropologist, Curtin University 172. Amber Cunningham 173. Dr Kate Bowles, Media & Communications, University of Wollongong

174. Journalist Bob Beale supports this alternative version:

“We are journalists, writers, photographers, artists, publishers and others who work in the media and communications industries. Signatories also include journalism, media and communications researchers and academics. We condemn The Australian’s publication of Bill Leak’s racist cartoon. Racism damages the health and wellbeing of those it targets. We acknowledge that the media industry has a long history of perpetuating harmful and racist stereotypes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and that it is well past time that this stops. We urge the editorial leadership of all Australian media to reflect on the hurt and distress all racial stereotyping causes and to eliminate it from our news and current affairs media.”