ArtView October 2013 | Page 24

often misrepresents the Middle Eastern and Muslim commitment of existing news anchors, I’ve seen the community simply because it gains ratings or sells hard work and effort they put into to their careers papers. It’s for entertainment value as opposed to and admire them. However, I cannot ignore the real news and accurate information. There needs to elephant in the room. We need people in mainstream be stronger media advocacy from within the media who represent and reflect the communities community. This is what I undertook my honours that are being reported on. This isn’t a new thesis on – the challenges and achievements facing phenomena, but sadly the change is slow. Muslim women media advocates post-9/11. My research found that challenges included: misrepresentation in the mainstream media; communication breakdown between the community and media professionals; lack of government awareness about the genuine needs of the community; and of course internal factors like community backlash and community abuse. Dealing with the media representation of the Middle Eastern community requires internal and external evaluation and analysis of what’s worked thus far, what’s failed, and how we can streamline all the good media work that’s been done, as well as form professional relationships with media professionals. Until then we will remain on the back-foot position of constantly being reactive and defending. It is also one of your ambitions to become Australia’s first veiled female news anchor. Why is this an important goal for you? Do you think it would ever be accepted in the mainstream commercial media of this country? As for whether or not a veiled newsreader will ever be accepted in Australian mainstream media, I don’t think Australian mainstream media or time will tell. But I’m certainly going to try because television reflects the cultural mosaic in which we in ten years’ time when a young veiled girl aspires to live. We are not all blond with blue eyes and fair become a news anchor, she won’t have to jump skin, and it’s about time the mainstream news gets a through all these hoops that I’ve had to. People will little colour. I don’t doubt the hard work and look at her and judge her based on her ability to