The launch of "Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media" (UQP) on Tuesday showcased Dr Amy McQuire's debut non-fiction work.

Dr McQuire, a prominent Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman from Rockhampton, Central Queensland, is recognised as one of Australia's foremost Indigenous journalists.

The event, hosted by QUT's Carumba Institute in collaboration with the Office of the DVC, Indigenous Australians, the Faculty of Health, and QUT Library's Indigenous Conversation Series, underscored the critical role of Indigenous media in advocating for justice and challenging mainstream narratives.

"Black Witness" delves into how journalism can hold powerful entities accountable and promote equity.

Dr McQuire said her work is driven by the resilience of Black Witnesses who use journalism as a means of advocacy, despite its historical use against Indigenous communities.

"My work has been sustained by the strength of Black Witnesses who continue to speak out and utilise journalism as a tool for advocacy, even when so often journalism has been used against us," Dr McQuire said.

"This work speaks to the need for the building of a Black Justice Journalism which fights for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"Black Justice Journalism is not objective or unbiased, but rather is to be used as a weapon for our people in the continuing fight against racial violence."

The collection of essays critically examines the biases of Western media while emphasising the necessity of trusting Indigenous perspectives, marking a significant contribution to media discourse.

Dr McQuire's career spans over two decades of reporting on critical issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including deaths in custody, the Palm Island uprising, the Bowraville murders, and the Northern Territory Intervention.

She has been a vocal critic of mainstream media's misrepresentations and omissions in Indigenous coverage.

As a journalist, academic, writer, and commentator, Dr McQuire's work has been published in leading outlets such as the Guardian Australia, National Indigenous Times, The Saturday Paper, BuzzFeed News Australia, New Matilda, Vogue Australia, Marie Claire, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

In 2022, Dr McQuire was honoured with Meanjin's Hilary McPhee Award for her investigative piece on the disappearance of Aboriginal women.

Currently, she serves as a post-doctoral research fellow at QUT's School of Communication.

"Black Witness" is available for purchase now via the UQP website.