Sydney, April 20, 2025 — A photo of a Muslim journalist in a hijab reporting on the death of Pope Francis for Channel 9 has sparked a storm of outrage online, not over the news itself, but because of who delivered it.
As the image circulated across social media, what should have been a solemn moment of global significance turned into a flashpoint for discrimination. Critics called the coverage “disrespectful” and accused Channel 9 of deliberately assigning a Muslim woman to provoke public reaction, as if her presence was part of a conspiracy rather than standard newsroom procedure.
But let’s be clear: This is not about journalism ethics or media sensitivity. This is about racism and Islamophobia, poorly disguised as public concern.
The double standards are glaring—no one protests when white journalists cover Islamic stories. Male reporters routinely cover women’s issues without a word of objection. Yet when a Muslim woman calmly, respectfully reports on a major international event, she becomes the controversy.
Why? Because she wears a hijab.
The fact that her faith—or appearance-is — is being debated reveals a deeper issue. It’s not about journalism. It’s about who is allowed to be seen as neutral, credible, and professional in Australian media.
And this isn’t the first time. Australia has long struggled with racism in both its institutions and everyday interactions. This incident simply exposes how fragile some people’s idea of “representation” still is.
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The journalist in question did her job with dignity, skill, and objectivity. That’s what journalism is. That’s what it has always been about: telling the truth, regardless of the messenger’s religion, race, or gender.
So when the outrage becomes louder than the news itself, we must ask: What does that say about us?
The real scandal isn’t that a Muslim woman reported the Pope’s death. The scandal is that in 2025, that’s still considered scandalous.
It’s time we move past these outdated notions. It’s time we understand that a newsroom, like the world it reports on, should reflect the diversity of its people.
Because in the end, this wasn’t a provocation.
It was just journalism.
