Characterizations of Pacific Island people in the New Zealand press

Abstract

Researchers have documented how ethnic minorities are often disadvantaged in mainstream media coverage, which function to silence minority voices and to privilege majority voices. Such representational practices have very real implications for the position of ethnic minorities in society, and their associated rights and life chances. Portrayals of Pacific Islanders in newspapers reflect processes whereby media monitor marginalized groups and give prominence to negative attributes. This paper documents both promising and negative trends in print news portrayals of Pacific peoples and provides a basis for us to open a dialogue with Pacific media activists.