Past weeks saw much talk about ethnic studies and race relations. Without belabouring why our mainstream editors avoid this topic, let's look at what the younger generation of reporters can do, if given the edge to question, search and write.

Our journalists do need to move beyond transcribing press statements and 'reporting' whatever ministers say at press conferences. One option, which I've used to teach 'cross-cultural reporting' in Australia is derived from the acrostics Oracle.

Journalists could be likened to the Delphic Oracle - a place where ancient Greeks consulted the gods for advice or prophecy; a person or thing regarded as a source of wisdom. Weren't journalists once perceived as sources of 'wisdom' and 'knowledge'?

Oracle stands for the following journalistic process:

  • O - observe

  • R - record/reflect/reconcile

  • A - amplify/agitate/appease

  • C - contextualise/connect

    • L learn/elucidate

  • E educate/enlighten/enable

    • Here's how it works. As an observer, journalists record and reflect on what they see, hear and feel. Journalists do have a choice to remain impartial and 'objective' in telling their stories. Much like telling the way it is. Or, they can take a stand.

    More honest reporting

    With respect to reporting race relations, journalists can choose to act as a re-conciliator or rapporteur. This means giving new meanings to complex issues often ignored by mainstream media because of politicised sensitivities.

    In the news-making process, journalists amplify what is significant to the community. However, in amplifying parts of a complex issue, journalists can choose to agitate for a good cause, or appease with a community-based resolution in mind for a simmering conflict.

    In the process of agitating or appeasing, journalists should then think about contextualising the issues to existing realities in the community, connecting the stories to the people's experience, thus in turn amplifying the constructive role that journalists can play in fostering race relations.

    To the letter 'C' we might even add our need for critical thinking journalists. Those who challenge assumptions, explore alternative explanations and eschew writing platitudes.

    What tool does the journalist use to contextualise and connect race-related issues to the community? Lucid language. In this respect, journalists are linguists and word-smiths who learn and elucidate through their investigation to arrive at a critical understanding of the influence and impact that words have on social actions.

    This does not mean writing 'feel good' and politically correct stories as is commonly practised by our mainstream media. It means sussing out the race issues, examining the causes for possible resolutions instead of denying their existence and gagging those who challenge the status quo.

    Ultimately, the journalist educates, enlightens, and enables in the context of reporting for positive change in a multi-racial society. The Oracle approach to reporting may just open new doors to a more honest reporting of race related issues.

    With the daily doles of trivia and protocol news in the media, the traditional 'oracular' functions of educated journalists could be reclaimed. What now? For this attitudinal change to happen, journalists and no less their editors should be invited to special seminars and workshops on race relations, and perhaps be challenged for their neglect in reporting race-related issues that affect the community.

    Going beyond

    We can start by identifying key individuals and media organisations whose behaviour needs changing. As academics are wont to say, further empirical research is certainly needed to scrutinise the Malaysian mainstream coverage of race issues, compare them to alternative news sites such as Malaysiakini , Aliran and local media watchdogs - and assess what practical steps journalists can take to do a better job. Then publish the findings for public comment.

    The impetus for change also needs to come from both formal mass media education and informal education with emphasis on the intellectual and ideological definition of the newsworthiness of race-related issues. A critical attitude towards the facts, context and sources of race-related stories could be a step towards a more contextual reporting, with the 'oracular' spirit as a guide.

    If we are to succeed in fostering this social concern, student journalists should be exposed to critical reporting approaches that present a pluralistic view of society which recognises the experiences of different racial groups, and which teach future journalists their obligation to investigate and challenge assumptions.

    Reporting with cross-cultural understanding goes beyond interacting with persons from other races to report their news. It also means delving into one's own community to reveal those structures that continue to perpetuate racism and biases of all kinds that interfere with the struggle of different peoples for respect and acceptance.

    All said, 'rules' on reporting race relations will not help if journalists have no real experiences in connecting with other races. Does a journalist's list of personal friends cut across racial lines? How well do our journalists understand another's faith, and values that shape the other's worldview? Here lies the challenge for Malaysian journalists.