Australia’s press watchdog has received several complaints about a widely condemned News Corp column by Steve Price in which he complained he was among a white “minority”, a claim that contradicts the evidence on media diversity.
The Herald Sun ran Price’s full-page column on Saturday, allowing him to bemoan the inclusion of “coloured or Asian people” in TV advertising, among other things.
Price framed himself as a minority of white men who could no longer speak their mind.
Data from Media Diversity Australia contradicts Price’s suggestion that white people are a minority and that their views are being silenced.
Its 2020 research report, titled Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories, found that more than 75% of TV journalists and presenters come from an Anglo-Celtic background. The proportion was higher for commercial networks.
Around 70% of TV journalists rated diversity in their industry as poor or very poor, and one in eight respondents from a culturally and linguistically diverse background said their background had been a “barrier to to professional progression”.
Media Diversity Australia chief executive Mariam Veiszadeh said the data showed Price’s claim “doesn’t hold much water when it comes to news and current media representation”.
“As the saying goes, equality feels like oppression to those who are used to privilege,” he said.
“When diversity, equity and inclusion are not done well, it can feel symbolic and many can feel left out as they are forced to accept the privilege they have been unconsciously swimming in for much of their lives. existence; at their core, however, these initiatives are about representation.
“We need our institutions to look and sound like Australia, which the latest census shows is more diverse than ever.
“Steve’s claims therefore fly in the face of the evidence, and the fact that he has radio, print and television platforms to speak out about his so-called cancellation speaks to the heart of the problem.”
The Australian Press Council confirmed it had “received complaints about this column”.
“It is APC policy not to publicly disclose the numbers or names of complainants on specific items, in order to preserve the confidentiality and integrity of the Council’s complaints process,” a spokesperson said. “Complaints received by the Press Council about material published by its member editors are considered on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they meet the Press Council’s standards of practice.”
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Morning Mail
Our Australian morning news email breaks down the day’s key national and international stories and why they matter
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertisements and content funded by third parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
News Corp did not respond to a request for comment.
Price has ample opportunity to share his views. He has a regular column in one of the country’s most widely read tabloids and is a presenter on Channel Ten’s The Project. He is also the host of a program entitled Australia Today, broadcast on LiSTNR and Triple M regions.
The column drew widespread criticism on social media. Victorian MP Martin Pakula tweeted: “When I’m old I want a regular spot on The Project and a full page in Melbourne’s biggest selling paper to whine about how I’ve been written off.”
Price replied: “You need to read the words Marty never said anything about being written off mate.”
The headline of the column was “I’m old, male and cancelled”. When this was pointed out to Price, he responded that he did not write the headlines.
Other headlines used on News Corp websites for the article included “Sick of free rides for women, people of colour” and “Non-binary bathrooms, no TV ads without people of color or Asian: This old white man he’s fed up with everything.” .