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Protest at Sunrise follows controversial segment

Updated: Sunrise defends its decision to conceal a protest today outside its studio.

Sunrise was targeted by protestors this morning following its segment this week discussing a controversial newspaper article about the removal of Indigenous children at risk.

NITV reports protesters yelled out “Shame” and booed the studio through the large glass windows outside Martin Place in Sydney.

Speakers, who included members of the Stolen Generations, shared stories and others shouted “Leave the kids alone” or held up signs saying “Hands off our children”.

Sunrise appeared to run images of previously shot video of Martin Place behind their presenters today and closed the studio’s soundproof blinds while the protest was happening.

Updated: A Seven Spokesperson said the reason the blinds were drawn was that some of the protesters were holding offensive signs.

“We respect the right to protest as much as we respect the right of free speech,” the statement read.

“Some of the group were holding offensive signage, and some began banging on the window and mouthing obscenities.

“To ensure regulatory compliance, and bearing in mind the potential for young children to be watching, the decision was made to utilise a generic backdrop.”

14 Responses

  1. People have very short memories when TV shows transgress and are very forgiving. Remember the 60 Minutes kidnapping story? More than a week of poisonous publicity and 60 Minutes was forced to make an on-air apology. The ratings were unaffected and they still killed Sunday Night in the weeks after. The same will happen with Sunrise. Media Watch, The Guardian and the others in the outrage industry are screaming racism but people are still tuning in and enjoying Kochie and Mel.

  2. This is the 3rd video I have watched of Sunrise making racist and disgraceful remarks. The story about biological twins of different colour made me twinge, the placing of aboriginal children in white homes and the changing of Australia day. Sam Armytidge you are narcassistic and instigate contentious discussions to feather your own nest. Three strikes you should be out. Call for her resignation for inciting racism. I stopped watching sunrise with Koshi’s comments on women who breast feed in public. Anyone who condones these behaviours should be ashamed.

  3. Why didn’t the protesters go to the main offenders office, Pru Macsween. I agree with everyones right to protest but 7 was right to protect staff from being bullied and the viewer from obscene slogans.

  4. So we can now say sunrise is fake news they refuse to show the protestors in Martin place by putting a fake image of Martin place are they concealing the news Well done ro the protestors that segment with those two fools Prue and Ben and Sam deserved all the bad press it has recieved .it was stupid and idiotic .

  5. I have a big laugh at the ignorance of people who say protesting is ineffective and isn’t the answer. Do you have any idea how people have gotten their rights? Women, black people, gay people, trans people… Just something as simple as the right to vote or the right to marry who they love. Protesting is community activism and community engagement. It is necessary in societies where power is held by the few. If you’re not willing to get outside and march and cry for what you believe in, then don’t criticise others who do. If you hate protesting so much, do you also think people should just stay quiet and not attend their local council meetings, should not engage with politics, should not question media coverage, should not question how democracy is run in this country, should not question who decides your wages and taxes?

    And why don’t we spend our time better by saving those…

  6. I’m not against protesting but the ranting and raving outside the studio was simply blocked out with the push of a button. Why not go about it in a considerate way, cooperate with the producers and get the issue brought back up on the air with Aboriginal voices there to be heard as well. Surely that would be the more desired outcome. Clearly the show took a misstep in the issue, i don’t believe it was being malicious or disingenuous.

    1. You make a good point, but given the incident happened several days ago, Sunrise have had ample opportunity to give someone from the ATSI community a right of reply on air and haven’d done that. Therefore, I think the protest was the right approach.

  7. Good – why should they be given any airtime at all?

    Instead of protesting a TV show who brought up the issues (even if it bumbled it up) they should be out there trying to save the kids that Sunrise were talking about. Talk about wasting their energy on the wrong issues.

    1. Harsh, DansDans. I think this is absolutely worthy of protesting. Good on them for speaking up now as members of the indigenous community weren’t actually given opportunity to contribute to a discussion/segment regarding their own.

  8. David, who’s running the show over there? This is almost a text book case of how not to handle this kind of incident. For a show tnat’s supposed to be about covering the news, shutting out what’s going on outside their door is not a good move. I get the feeling this is far from over.

    1. Yes, I believe it is still Michael Pell.
      I agree it might be time for 7 to start looking for someone to take over from him.
      Lots of things lately have been happening to make me think about not watching Sunrise anymore.(Big call for me after watching for 15 years)
      The event recorded above, Kochie permanently off on Fridays, too much of Edwina Bartholomew, and don’t get me started on the fluid movement of the camera at the start of the hour ! Makes me feel sea sick just watching !

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