SBS Dateline | On the Streets of LA

Video journalist Yaara Bou Melhem is used to filming in the world's troublespots, but didn't expect to get warnings from her friends about the dangers of working in Los Angeles.

She was heading to South Central to do a profile on artist Mark Bradford, who's using his work to challenge the area's crime-ridden strereotype.

But is the image portrayed in the media true? What's changed since the race riots of the 1990s? And how did Yaara find the experience?

WATCH - Yaara talks to researcher Donald Cameron for the latest look behind the scenes at Dateline.

LA LAID BARE - Watch Yaara's profile of Mark Bradford and find out more about his work.

REPLAY - See more about life behind the scenes at Dateline in our series of special features.