Renee Barnes

The Currency of the Affair: an Investigation of National Identity Portrayal in Australian Television Current Affairs Renee Barnes

Anzac Day and Australia Day have long been the catalyst for ostentatious displays of nationalism in all forms of television broadcast in Australia. Current affairs programs, along with news, are routinely considered to be among the most important formats within the television industry. But the increasing tabloidisation of the genre places undue emphasis on constructions of national identity to raise the significance and credibility of a story. As such, there is a reliance on the established discourses of Australianness, which are both discriminatory and exclusive. This book attempts to unmask this use of nationalism and is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of television current affairs.