Black Witness
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| Author | Amy McQuire |
|---|---|
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | University of Queensland Press |
Publication date | 16 July 2024 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Pages | 336 |
| ISBN | 9780702263323 |
Black Witness is a 2024 non-fiction book by Aboriginal Australian journalist and researcher Amy McQuire.[1] In the book McQuire criticises the mainstream media's treatment of stories about First Nations Australians, and argues that traditional journalistic norms like objectivity and fairness are "colonial" and are used to silence those without power.[2] McQuire explained in an interview in Missing Perspectives that "objectivity has always been a myth, and it has always been used against those who are being oppressed."[3]
The book is structured in two sections: the first, White Witness, describes the mainstream media's treatment of stories about First Nations Australians, while the second, Black Witness, tells Indigenous peoples' stories from their own perspectives. In each section, McQuire discusses a number of case studies of the coverage of First Nations stories in the Australian media, including the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee, the death of Rebecca Maher, and the conviction of Kevin Henry.[2] McQuire concludes with the argument that Indigenous media outlets, such as IndigenousX and National Indigenous Television, are essential for elevating the voices of "Black Witnesses".