Current Projects

Media and Health

This project aims to enhance the health and wellbeing of population groups in Aotearoa by examining the impacts of media depictions of Maori on audiences and working for improved media coverage of Maori and Treaty issues. Existing research indicates that media reporting about Maori and Maori/Pakeha relations consistently reproduces negative or limited constructions of Maori, undermining Maori self-determination and wellbeing. Indicators of media performance developed from analyses of a representative media sample, along with a study of journalism practices and an audience study, will be the subject of pilot action research among researchers, audience groups and media producers about the health and social impacts of media constructions. This process and dissemination of the research findings will contribute to building social cohesion and enhancing population health and wellbeing.

Publications and Conference Papers

Challenging and countering anti-Maori discourse: Practices for decolonisation
Keynote speech delivered by Dr Tim McCreanor to the New Zealand Psychological Society Conference on 27 August 2009 in Palmerston North, on behalf of the Media and Health Project

Rankine, J., Moewaka Barnes, A., Borell, B., Nairn, R., McCreanor, T. & Gregory, A. (2009) Intentional use of te reo Māori in New Zealand newspapers in 2007. Pacific Journalism Review 15(2), in press

Nairn, R., McCreanor, T., Rankine, J., Moewaka Barnes, A., Pega, F. & Gregory, A. (2009) ‘Media surveillance of the natives’: A New Zealand case study - Lake Taupo air space. Pacific Journalism Review 15(1): 131-148

Funder: Health Research Council of New Zealand

Researchers: Dr Sue Abel, Angela Moewaka Barnes, Belinda Borell, Mandi Gregory, Hector Kaiwai, Dr Timothy McCreanor, Dr Raymond Nairn, Jenny Rankine