Last weekend’s broadcast of Sunday Night, which reproduced the sensationalist reporting on the so-called “African gangs” seen earlier in the year, was not only despicable but has left my community asking many questions.

Take this statement for instance: “Barely a week goes by when they’re not in the news. African gangs running riot, terrorising, wreaking havoc. Police are hesitant to admit there’s even a problem.” Truly, what’s accurate, fair and impartial about this statement?

That’s why, when we began tweeting under the banner of #NotMyAustralia to counter this false and repugnant story, the response was overwhelming. It goes to prove that many Australians do not approve of Channel 7’s conduct.

Former ALP party leader Mark Latham tweeted in response, stating that: “Those tweeting #NotMyAustralia indeed do not represent our country’s values. They are PC fanatics who would rather close down debate than objectively consider information. They are opponents of free speech and the rule of law. They are enemies of the Australian way of life.”

Where’s the debate when viewers are provided with a convoluted story that cannot withstand scrutiny? When the content presented for public consumption is inaccurate, unfair and not impartial? There’s no debate. It’s designed to implant a single story in the minds of Channel 7 viewers. It’s misleading and deceptive. It’s authoritarian.

The enemy of the “Australian way of life” is the one who’s hellbent on propagating untruths and deceiving the public. Creating tensions and throwing an emerging community under the bus. That, in my view, is the diabolic enemy of the “Australian way of life”.

Channel 7 owes its viewers an explanation for misleading them. What’s ethical about hunting down young men, paying them money to confess to a story that only fits certain angles? If Channel 7 was indeed interested in a debate or broadcasting a matter that is in public interest, surely it would not have presented to its viewers a coaxed version of the facts on the ground.

The African community has been left confused, hurt and exposed for a story that they had little or nothing to do with.

The community is aware that with such racist reporting, it’s not going to be an easy time leading to the November Victorian election. We are bracing ourselves for further agitation from Channel 7 and other commercial stations. We won’t take it lying down. Stories will be challenged if inaccurate and unfair. We’ll engage in healthy debate if real facts are reported. We’ll assist towards finding solutions.

Channel 7’s story and similar ones have driven the community to live in a state of constant fear — fear of being harassed, insulted, bullied and ostracised. That’s a consequence of engaging in unethical journalism. It affects real lives.

I respect the right to broadcast matters of public interest; it’s an important hallmark of democracy. I came from a background where debate was suppressed to suit certain political narratives, and I know of many people who suffered immeasurably in pursuit of and for the cause of public debate. It’s hypocritical to imagine that a society can function on a single viewpoint.

I also respect Channel 7’s right to pursue stories that may boost its ratings and therefore result in good commercial yields. Australia’s society is one that is anchored on free-enterprise — the right to pursue private commercial interests within the confines of the law.

But all the above needs to be done strictly in accordance with the accepted ethics of journalism and the Commercial Television Industry Code of Conduct. How could this story have gone so wrong?

The answer lies in Channel 7’s contempt for accuracy. When it learns to pursue the truth and balance, only then will it be able to get the story right on the African community and other minorities.

Maker Mayek is a lawyer and an activist. Maker was the creator of #NotMyAustralia and his Twitter handle is @MakMayek.