Rachel Fensham

A message from Dr Victoria Fielding, Lecturer in Strategic Communication at The University of Adelaide. Between now and the Voice referendum I will be managing a team of research assistants to document and analyse the Murdoch Media’s coverage of the referendum. We’ve just finished our first week – and I am already alarmed at what we’re seeing. My team is analysing coverage from The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Herald Sun and Sky News. Our methodology identifies which voices and arguments are included, and how those voices are characterised down to specific words. In our first week we analysed 126 pieces of content and found: •Of the Murdoch Press referendum coverage that contained an argument, 76% reflected messages from the No campaign. •72% of their characterisations directly villainise the people advocating for Yes, with a significant portion of these attacks being directed at Anthony Albanese. •Many arguments platformed against the Voice are premised on misinformation, including claims there are no details, and divisive false accusations that the Voice gives Aboriginal people special privileges. •Sky News commentators who oppose the Voice were given a substantially bigger platform than those who support it. For example, Andrew Bolt had approximately eight times more anti-Voice coverage than Chris Kenny, who is in support.