10 December 2000
Human Rights Medal and Awards 2000
ABC Radio scoops the pool of Human Rights radio awards
ABC Radio National's Gary Bryson and John Cochrane have won the Human Rights Awards 2000 Radio Category with their thought-provoking four-part series Empires of Division: A Short History of Race.
The series charts the progress of ideas underpinning western notions of race "from Hippocrates to Hitler", looking at the nexus between race and religion, race and science, race and politics. Among other issues, the series examines social Darwinism and eugenics; hate crimes and the American politics of race, and Australian colonists' views of Indigenous Australians. Gary Bryson argues that the major function of race has been to create division out of diversity in order to justify western domination and "explain" political and cultural inequality.
Gary Bryson, an executive producer at Radio National, began his radio career making freelance radio features from his Glasgow home before moving to Sydney in 1985. He has worked on Late Night Live with Phillip Adams, and on Arts Today and produced features for "The Listening Room". His previous incarnations included academic researcher and magazine journalist. John Cochrane, technical producer for Empires of Division, has worked in radio for 20 years producing radio features, music recordings, radio drama, short film sound and outside broadcasts.
The judges were impressed by the extensive research and the quality of the presentation. They did not necessarily agree with some of the analysis of the causes of racism, but found the program impressive and thought provoking. They said the program would be an excellent educative tool for students and the general public.
Two other ABC radio programs were highly commended: Natalie Kestecher and Steve Tilley's Bewitched - Living with Tourette's Syndrome on ABC Radio Arts Program and Stephen Watkins' Asylum Seekers on ABC Radio National.
Media contacts: Janine MacDonald on (02) 9284 9880 or 0412 783 631 Margie Cook on (02) 9284 9677 or 0418 637 230
© Human Rights
and Equal Opportunity Commission. Last updated 2 December 2001.
Your comments and feedback are welcome. Email us at: webfeedback@humanrights.gov.au
