[cr-india]Death in a community - ABC Indigenous Protocol site hoping to assist journalists, filmmakers, producers and documentary makers

[George Lessard (s)]

Cultural Protocol
[Excerpt "Death in a community" included below]
- respecting the customs of the people or communities you are working 
with...
- Being aware that different communities have their own protocols that 
should be followed and...
- Communicating in a way that's relevant to Indigenous Australians.
- For the ABC Staff the Editorial Guidelines 
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/edpols.htm state that it is critical to 
adhere to the policies outlined.
- Further info on Ethics and Codes of Conduct.
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/med_protocol.htm
Information from Australian Council for the Arts.
http://www.ozco.gov.au/resources/publications/
ABC Indigenous Programs Unit, Radio and Online in conjunction with 
Indigenous staff and journalist in the ABC were aware that protocols 
for Indigenous communities have been ignored by many media outlets and 
journalists weren't aware that protocols existed or hard to find.

Download the PDF version here (680Kb)
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/culturalprotocol.pdf
Message Stick has produced this Indigenous Protocol site hoping to 
assist journalists, filmmakers, producers and documentary makers to 
understand the importance of abiding by Indigenous Protocols. This 
document has been written as a guide to help bridge the gap between the 
needs of Television and Film makers and the Indigenous people and their 
customs.
HTML Version
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/

Sections:
This Introduction
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/
Background
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/background.htm
Principles
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/principles.htm
Production Tips
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/research.htm
Recognition, Protection & Copyright
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/recognition.htm
F.A.Q.
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/faq.htm
How to contact Communities
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/contact_community.htm
Death in a Community
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/death.htm  [sample below]
Protocol Resources
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/resources.htm
Conclusion
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/conclusion.htm

=========================

[Excerpt / Sample]
Death in a community
http://www.abc.net.au/message/proper/death.htm

The question on how to deal with members of a community that have 
passed away is a large issue for the Media.

If an individual who died is a significant person in a community or in 
the broader Australian community, the local Media group usually issue 
press releases  relating on how you can use the image, voice or video 
of the deceased person.

Consultation
Each community deals with the death of an individual differently and 
therefore you must contact someone from the community or media group 
and get written permission to use the name, image, voice or video of 
that person. In some cases some people will need to be removed from 
archived films, radio pieces and websites. Culturally it is difficult 
for some family members to mention the deceased person by name. It is 
best to contact council, media groups etc. to make the liaison with a 
family member, rather than go to them directly while they a grieving. 
Some family members in the past have been harrassed for interviews 
while they are in their most important grieving times.

It is worth mentioning, that some communities, in both Aboriginal and 
Torres Strait cultures, the entire community will shut down for 'sorry 
business' whether  you are coming or not. Even if you have gained 
permission to film, you may find that no one is available on arrival. 
It is advisable to contact communities prior  to your arrival and check 
before leaving to make sure that the community are able to conduct 
formal business until the 'sorry business' is over with.

Time of Mourning
Many communities have a mourning period where that person's name and 
image cannot be used. The time of mourning is different between 
communities. It can be for a week, year or for an indefinite period of 
time that you will not be able to use the deceased's name, image, voice 
or video. Some communities offer a mourning name e.g. Kumantjayi in 
parts of the Northern Territory as in the case of Dr Charles Perkins 
was called Kumantjayi Perkins.

Permission
If you have been granted permission (in writing), the presenter of the 
program or the item's introduction must state that you were granted 
permission to use the person's name, image, voice and video for the 
particular segment you about to produce.

Permission for who and for how long
It is highly recommended that you also establish whether the permission 
is a blanket rule for perpetuity. This is to establish whether 
permission is restricted to the specific segment, state or town and 
whether it includes later segmentation. Written permission should 
include should include the date in which the mourning period ends to 
assist with archiving and the use of archives.

For example, if the ABC Darwin radio and television journalists are 
given the right to use the name, image, voice and video of a deceased 
person, this does not mean that all the other news services for ABC are 
able to. This mistake was made when the Northern Territory artist 
Kumantjayi Tjapaltjari died creating confusion as to the scope of the 
permission.

It is imperative for you to establish with the family and the community 
how the material can be used, for what parties and for how long.

Warning:
ABC Television, Radio and Online have a warning that is used in the 
introduction to most programs. The warning below is copyright of the 
ABC Indigenous Programs Unit and you are able to seek permission to use 
this for your own programs. Contact ABC Indigenous Program Unit at 
ipu at your.abc.net.au

WARNING: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that 
the following program may contain images and voices of deceased 
persons".