Education

Death in a community

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@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".

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