Table 2 Analysis of imagery and textual framing of Indigenous obesity

Koori Mail,

2 December 2009

Defying the trend

Large, colour photograph of WA Health Minister

Supports—image draws attention to the government's contribution to the successful program, employs ‘good news story’, ‘working together’, and ‘willpower or determination’ frames. Image ties in with article title and caption “West Australian Health Minister Kim Hames: Contrary to the Australia-wide trend of rising obesity and diabetes, rates at Looma are not increasing”.

Courier Mail,

21 June 2008

‘Heavy' lady wants apology for ‘fat’ note

Very large, black & white photograph of the person concerned (Rube Nixon)

Supports—focus is on Rube’s displeasure over the incident; that she is fighting back and standing up to the mistreatment. Article reinforces ‘race’ frame, voicing her side of the story by focussing on her (image) and her view (text). This is consolidated by the caption focussing on her displeasure (“Took offence… Rube Nixon says police deliberately insulted her”) and title focussing on redress—what Rube is demanding.

ABC,

11 October 2008

Taskforce ‘will cut Indigenous health gap’

Small, colour photograph of an overweight Indigenous man (mid-section), holding a cigarette and can of alcohol

Contradicts—article text focuses on ‘structural determinants’ and ‘working with the community’ frames, but a stigmatising image focussing on the mid-section of an overweight/obese Indigenous person, smoking and drinking frames it as an individual ‘lifestyle’ issue. The caption “Closing the gap: tackling tobacco, alcohol-related diseases” supports the image’s ‘lifestyle’ focus whereas the title supports the structural focus of the text.

The Conversation,

2 July 2012

Innovative strategies needed to address Indigenous obesity

Two medium-sized, colour photographs: 1) an Australian outback landscape, 2) an Indigenous artwork depicting traditional foods

Supports—the outback landscape and associated caption “Just beyond the built community lies a health-promoting environment providing cultural, spiritual and physical nourishment” point to structural/environmental factors as the solution, highlighting ‘structural factors’ frame. The indigenous artwork and caption “When Indigenous Australians lived a traditional lifestyle, their diets were rich in lean animal foods that provided abundant protein, and sources of slowly digested carbohydrate” supports ‘back to basics’ frame or return to traditional diet as the solution. In both cases the captions, rather than images, and title highlight the theme of ‘innovative’ structural solutions that incorporate traditional Indigenous culture.

SBS,

15 December 2012

Food vans promote bush tucker meals

Large, coloured photograph of the chef and another man in the healthy food van

Supports—close-up shot of smiling “celebrity chef” and caption “Indigenous celebrity chef Mark Olive has launched a healthy food van initiative that he hopes will improving (sic) the health of Indigenous Australians” highlights ‘saviour’ frame; focus on cooking touches on ‘back to basics’ frame; broad smiles and energy depicted in the image reinforces ‘good news story’ frame. The title promoting traditional foods and the successful Indigenous chef emphasise Indigenous pride and success of the program.