This book investigates how the representation of Aboriginal issues within the Australian media constructs a public sphere that influences national identity and citizenship. Authors Alan McKee and John Hartley utilize a combination of media analysis and audience reception studies to argue that the way Indigenous affairs are reported fundamentally shapes the political participation and social perception of Aboriginal people in Australia. By examining the intersection of textuality and public discourse, the authors provide a framework for understanding how journalism functions as a site of cultural negotiation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.

Experts in media studies and sociology frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the relationship between journalism and ethnic representation in post-colonial contexts. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of the mechanisms behind public discourse and media influence.