Author: mediadiv

Awards

Hagar Cohen and Raveen Hunjan

Hagar Cohen and Raveen Hunjan

Title

‘Racism allegations lead to staff exodus’

Publication

7.30, ABC

Year

2023

Category

Media Diversity Australia Award

Congratulations to Hagar Cohen and Raveen Hunjan from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s 7:30 for winning the 2023 Media Diversity Australia Walkley Award for their impactful piece ‘Racism allegations lead to staff exodus’. Thank you to award sponsor the National Ethnic Broadcasters Multicultural Council. 

Hagar and Raveen’s win was announced at the Walkley Foundation’s Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism event. The Media Diversity Australia Award administered by the Walkley Foundation honours journalists who are making an outstanding contribution through their reporting or coverage of diverse people or issues in Australia. This includes culturally diverse communities and people with disability.

Awards

Jason Om, Alex McDonald and Ake Prihantari

Jason Om, Alex McDonald and Ake Prihantari

Title

“Price of Convenience” and “Hungry Panda food delivery company under fire from workers”

Publication

7.30, ABC

Year

2021

Category

Media Diversity Australia Award

Jason Om is an award-winning reporter, writer and presenter with the ABC’s 7.30 program. He’s previously worked for ABC News Breakfast, the ABC News Channel, ABC Life and Lateline. His memoir, All Mixed Up, will be released in April 2022. Jason started his career as a cadet at SBS.

Read an interview with Jason.

Alex McDonald is a producer with the ABC’s 7.30 program in Sydney. He was a member of the ABC’s National Reporting Team and investigated alleged sexual misconduct at the Australian Defence Force Academy, revealed evidence of allegedly corrupt deals between Nauruan officials and Australian businesses, and worked on a Walkley-nominated investigation into the misuse of funds and defrauding of Indigenous-run organisations. He has worked as a researcher at Four Corners and as a reporter in the ABC’s Sydney newsroom.

Ake Prihantari has been working at ABC Jakarta Bureau for 17 years. She enjoys being a producer and loves being involved in long-form news stories. Through her work with the ABC, she developed a passionate interest in Indonesian law, more so than when she was a law student. Recently she has just found out that climbing stairs and doing long walks are more therapeutic than writing complaint letters to big corporations – and that yoghurt soju is the best cocktail ever invented.

Awards

Mahmood Fazal and Rebecca Metcalf

Mahmood Fazal and Rebecca Metcalf

Title

“No Gangsters in Paradise”

Publication

Audible Originals

Year

2020

Category

Media Diversity Australia Award

 
 

From biker gangs to prison, Mahmood Fazal is an Afghan-Australian writer on a mission to amplify the voices we don’t hear. After abandoning his role as the sergeant-at-arms of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, Mahmood has devoted his life to bare-knuckle stories that challenge our views on crime, violence, imprisonment and radicalisation. He was awarded Journalist of the Year at the 2018 Publish Awards and shortlisted for Best Documentary at the Australian Podcast Awards. Mahmood is currently writing a memoir, due to be published by Harper Collins in 2021. His writing appears in VICE, The Monthly, i-D and The Saturday Paper.

Read an interview with Mahmood.

Rebecca Metcalf is a filmmaker and journalist, currently a shooter-producer at The Feed on SBS. She has also produced for VICE and Audible and has worked as a print news reporter/editor. No Gangsters in Paradise is her first audio documentary. Rebecca aims to make work that allows for nuance and experiments with form.

Awards

Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith, Loni Cooper, Pauline Ernesto and Josh Schmidt

Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith, Loni Cooper, Pauline Ernesto and Josh Schmidt

Title

“You Can’t Ask That — Deaf, African Australians and Intersex”

Publication

ABC and ABC iview

Year

2019

Category

Media Diversity Australia Award

 
Kirk Docker is the producer, rarely seen interviewer and co-creator of the award-winning ABC show You Can’t Ask That. He first came to public attention for contributing vox pop segments to Hungry Beast. Shot by YCAT partner Aaron Smith, these voxies showcased the openness, compassion and curiosity that marks their work today. Before and after Beast, Kirk made shortform video for website Vive Cool City, Hello Stranger for the ABC and Demolition Man for A&E.
Opportunities

Hachette Traineeship 2024

Opportunities

Hachette Traineeship 2024

This is an exciting opportunity to start your publishing career with one of Australia’s leading book publishers.  Media Diversity Australia is calling for expressions of interest from anyone who has relevant industry experience, from bookselling to journalism, or who has relevant tertiary qualifications in Publishing, Communications, English, or Creative Writing. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented, enthusiastic, and highly organised individual to join Hachette Australia’s award-winning publishing team as a Publishing Assistant.  
  • This is a two-year, entry-level traineeship 
  • The traineeship includes full-time employment at Hachette, paired with mentorship from senior Hachette staff and external mentors provided by MDA 
  • Located at Hachette Australia’s Sydney CBD head office  
  • You will be working closely with all divisions and departments to ensure Hachette Australia’s authors and books are fully supported 
  • As the Publishing Assistant, you will be required to multitask and build effective working relationships with our wonderful authors, colleagues and external contacts, and assist the Heads of Children’s, Non-Fiction/Literary and Fiction lists with varied administrative tasks to ensure our books and authors are supported and published well. 
  • The successful applicant needs a genuine passion for reading, for how books are produced, and an ambition to have a career in the publishing industry.  
If you have excellent verbal and written communication skills, are organised and have meticulous attention to detail, are proficient in MS Office, embrace social media platforms and are aware of trends, and have a genuine love and enthusiasm for books and desire to learn about the market, this role is for you!  HOW TO APPLY 
  • Applications are open to all who are interested and should be formally submitted via our TalentHub. 
  • Applicants will come from a First Nations or culturally or linguistically diverse background or are interested in growing diversity in Australian publishing.  
  • Please attach your Resume and Cover Letter 
  • Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview by the end of August with the successful candidate announced shortly after. 
  • Due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application.  
Newsletter

MDA Quarterly Newsletter (Oct-Dec 2023)

Message From The CEO

Budyeri kamaru (hello) from Eora Country,   

As we approach the close of 2023, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had at Media Diversity Australia (MDA). This year has been a testament to the power of collaboration, resilience, and our unwavering commitment to fostering a more inclusive media landscape.  

I’m thrilled to share that we’ve successfully welcomed esteemed members to the MDA family, including Channel 10, Channel 9, Channel 7, ABC, SBS, The Guardian, News Corp Australia, AAP, The Daily Aus, ARE Media, Junkee Media, Private Media, The Conversation, and our educational member, the University of Sydney. Your support and dedication are invaluable as we strive for a media industry that genuinely reflects the diversity of our society.  

Our inaugural industry roundtable in July and the two subsequent working group meetings held since, have proven instrumental in making substantial progress towards our industry objectives. Going into 2024, I’m optimistic about the positive impact we’ll continue to make together. We’ve also hosted engaging gatherings throughout the year, including Chapter networking drinks and research launch events. 

MDA’s commitment to advocacy remains unwavering. In response to the Stan Grant situation, we held a Listening Circle led by First Nations voices for Indigenous and culturally diverse reporters. Our ongoing support and confidential counselling during critical events such as The Voice referendum and Israel-Palestine underscores our dedication to championing psychological safety. 

As we bid farewell to some esteemed members, namely our co-founder Antoinette Lattouf, we are excited to welcome new Board members Wayne Bergmann and Monica Attard and company secretary Amanda Martin. Their contributions will undoubtedly elevate our mission to new heights.  

MDA’s impactful projects continue to produce success stories of interns securing full-time positions, like Georgina Jelovic, who was hired as an editorial assistant with Mamamia after her MDA Media Pathways Program internship. 

Our TalentHub has expanded to include over 250 media professionals from Indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds, connecting talented job seekers with employment opportunities. We’re proud to have facilitated several placements, further strengthening the diverse fabric of the media industry.  

Last but certainly not least, I want to express my profound appreciation to our supporters, including the Jibb Foundation, Google News Initiative, Weld Stories, Diversity Arts Australia, Western Sydney University, Bennelong Foundation, and Multicultural NSW. Your commitment enables us to continue our vital work, and we are truly grateful for your partnership.  

Please consider supporting Media Diversity Australia here as we continue to drive industry-wide change.  

Wishing you a safe holiday season and a prosperous New Year,  

— Mariam Veiszadeh and the Media Diversity Australia Team

'Don't be afraid to speak your truth, and don't hold back': Summer Fellowships 2023 graduate Shazma Gaffoor shares words of wisdom

“
“Be brave, and be proud of your diversity – that’ll be the edge you will always have over those still searching for it.”

– MDA Summer Fellowships graduate, Shazma Gaffoor

 

”

Shazma Gaffoor is a journalist, wife and mother based in Melbourne. Winning one of MDA’s Summer Fellowships earlier this year as a La Trobe University student, she spent five weeks working with the Nine News team. Shazma’s latest gig is associate producer with Channel 10’s The Project.  

How was the transition from being placed at Nine News Melbourne through MDA’s 2022 Summer Fellowship to working with The Project at Channel 10?  
Nine News Melbourne had the classic newsroom you envision from the movies where journalists hustle to get their story for the day while out and about. The Project life is quite different, where the journalists source, cut, and put together everything within the newsroom. Having had a bit of insight at Nine made the transition into The Project a lot easier! 

What do you love about your role at Channel 10?   
I love how sometimes we may not have much of a story at the beginning, but some of those stories are then turned into something remarkable with the collective effort of producers, camos and editors under the keen eye of the supervising producer and CoS. Those are my favourite stories. The Cinderella effect, I guess! 

What did you learn during your MDA program that benefited your career progression?   
Because of the MDA program, I had the opportunity to see firsthand how fast-paced and busy a newsroom is, how to look at things through a multifaceted lens, and how you’re always chasing after time! 

What advice can you offer young, diverse journalists taking their first steps?   
Be brave, and be proud of your diversity – that’ll be the edge you will always have over those still searching for it. Have a tight-knit circle as a support system for those long days. Don’t be afraid to speak your truth, and don’t hold back pitching news ideas; it may just be the story that makes it to a headline. 

Media Pathways Program interns soar to new career heights

MDA welcomes the success of our inaugural Media Pathways Program, conducted in collaboration with Western Sydney University. Supported by the Bennelong Foundation and Multicultural NSW, it involved a four-part seminar series where aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds could hone their skills, gain insights, and connect with generous industry members. The program’s culmination saw selected participants undertake internships with The Sydney Morning Herald, Are Media, News Corp Australia and Mamamia.

Congratulations to our interns Georgina Jelovic, who has been offered the editorial assistant role with Mamamia, and Jessica Cham, who is in talks for the same position with The Daily Telegraph. Congratulations to Jostina Basta (pictured above), who has been offered a cadetship with the ABC following her Sydney Morning Herald placement, and Sumaiya Chowdhure, who received a glowing recommendation from Are Media.

The BlakCast podcast network vision is a game-changer in First Nations media

MDA is proud to support the launch of BlakCast, Australia’s first network of podcasts highlighting stories of First Nations Peoples and people of colour that will feature a range of shows focusing on Indigenous communities and other Australians from marginalised backgrounds.

The BlakCast journey began with a vision from its founder, Mundanara Bayles, to amplify diverse voices, stories, and perspectives and to foster diversity and inclusivity in Australian media.

“BlakCast is paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future where all voices are heard, and the stories of the First Nations peoples are celebrated,” says Bayles. “Through diverse storytelling, we seek to foster a deeper connection to the rich tapestry of our nation’s history and culture for audiences and content makers alike.”

The network, in partnership with ARN’s iHeart, will launch with podcasts like Black Magic Woman, Yarning Up, Curtain the Podcast, Unapologetically Blak, Meet the Mob and Coming Out Blak.

'Nine has worked to improve its employee value proposition and onboarding for people from historically marginalised backgrounds to ensure we can attract, retain and support all Australian talent': Natalia Thomas reflects on 2023

Natalia Thomas stepped into the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead role at Nine in May this year, where she is charged with helping the network navigate and adapt to change, improve organisational culture and enhance connectivity. Upon her announcement, Natalia said it was a “privilege to join and amplify a chorus of voices, both in and outside of this organisation who are listening, learning, taking action, making mistakes and turning up the heat in pursuit of safer, more equitable and inclusive organisations and media landscapes.”

You joined the Nine team as their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead earlier this year. What have been some highlights for you so far?  
In late 2022, Nine established five ‘Communities’ – Nine Pride, Cultural Diversity, All Abilities, First Nations and a Gender Equity Community to accompany the existing Women in Technology Group. Each Community receives independent funding and is Co-Chaired and Sponsored by senior staff members. My highlight has been working with the Co-Chairs to embrace their new role as Community facilitators, build awareness for the different aspects of people’s identities and see the impact that the events, stories and initiatives have had across the business. 

What steps is Nine taking to support First Nations and culturally and racially marginalised diverse job applicants?
Earlier this year, Nine’s Talent Acquisition team members participated in training to help them recognise and challenge unconscious bias in the hiring and selection process. They have subsequently signed up to an ‘Act of Inclusion’ pledge to challenge hiring managers on Acts of Exclusion, with a reporting framework to track their progress. Our team has also been delivering unconscious bias training to hiring managers across the country and ensuring that hiring managers who participate also sign the ‘Acts of Inclusion’ pledge. Nine has done significant work to improve its employee value proposition and onboarding for people from historically marginalised backgrounds to ensure we can attract, retain and support all Australian talent.  

What strategies can diversity advocates use to create more inclusive and supportive workplaces?
Big question. The old consultant in me says that strategies will always depend on the context and maturity of the workplace. There is one step that helps to establish the foundations for complex and nuanced conversations about racism, colonisation, homophobia and exclusion, and that is finding ways and avenues to foster self-reflection, curiosity, courage and consistency. I think the foundations of this are in well-facilitated conversations, safe storytelling, truth-telling and increasing people’s exposure to individuals who have different backgrounds, histories and identities to their own.  

What outcomes are you most looking forward to from Nine’s ongoing membership with MDA?
I’ve appreciated MDA’s role in initiating and facilitating conversations about attraction and retention across the media industry. As someone new to this space, I’ve welcomed the opportunity to learn about collective challenges and shared opportunities. I look forward to seeing sector-wide initiatives to attract and foster a diverse and empowered pipeline for future and returning talent in 2024. 

Learn more about becoming an MDA Member here.

Sign up now and become a 'StoryCaster'

If you know someone in Sydney aged 18-30, who is passionate about storytelling, identifies as culturally diverse, migrant, refugee, and/or a person of colour, this is an incredible opportunity. 

StoryCasters 2.0 is presented by Diversity Arts Australia and Multicultural NSW, and hopes to empower the next generation of multi-platform reporters. 

The program offers training in one of three streams (Writing & Criticism, Podcasting and Photojournalism) plus industry talks, networking events, and a four-part masterclass series on working in media.  

Find out more and fill out your EOI today: https://bit.ly/StoryCasters-2-EOI  

Is Australia genuinely working towards a more inclusive and reflective media landscape?

Peruvian-Australian photojournalist Isabella Melody Moore has published a report about the experiences of non-white media professionals in Australian newsrooms, featuring in-depth interviews with four journalists, shedding light on their perspectives and challenges.

“In order for Australian media to authentically reflect the society it serves in its reporting, essential changes are necessary. One interviewee suggested including more non-white editors and managers, coupled with establishing specialised reporting rounds focused on diaspora or migrant communities. This could offer increased avenues for non-white journalists to contribute their lived experiences, thereby elevating the quality and authenticity of news reporting. Moreover, dismantling the racial objectivity bias stands as a pivotal step toward creating a more inclusive and reflective media landscape.”

Read the full article here.

Want to help create a media that looks and sounds like Australia?

As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on the help of our incredible volunteers. With your financial and volunteer support, we can continue to run programs to support culturally and linguistically diverse journalists, conduct agenda-setting research, run networking events, provide practical solutions for the media industry, and much more. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support the vital work we do, please click here.

About us

Founded by journalists (Isabel Lo and Antoinette Lattouf) in 2017, Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation, working towards creating a media landscape that looks and sounds like Australia. We have expertise in delivering evidence-based research, bespoke programs, strategic memberships and partnerships that disrupt the status quo and pave pathways for diverse representation across Australian media.

Get in touch:

Feature Articles

Is Australia genuinely working towards a more inclusive and reflective media landscape?

A deep dive into the experiences of non-white journalists in Australian newsrooms, featuring in-depth interviews with journalists shedding light on their perspectives and challenges.

Words: Isabella Melody Moore

Cultural theorist Stuart Hall’s inquiries into challenging, contesting, or changing the dominant, often harmful, regime of representation are not outdated musings, but mirror the challenges faced by non-white journalists navigating the complexities of Australian newsrooms today.

It is widely-understood that news media not only sets the agenda but frames the coverage of every issue. Goodall and Jakubowicz identified how the lack of diversity in mainstream newsrooms perpetuates the status quo, reinforcing existing organisational cultures (1994).

This absence of diverse journalists has historically led to racist discourse. The Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW (2003) prepared a report that summarised the media as perpetuating ‘Australian racism’ unearthing an‘abundance of evidence’ to support these claims.

I chose to investigate to what extent the presence of non-white journalists in Australian newsrooms is affecting the way that news is being reported. What I discovered through in-depth conversations with four non-white journalists ages ranging from 27-34 with 5-8 years of experience, were the structural inequalities they faced – all interviewees reported encountering a racial objectivity bias — a pervasive scepticism that writers of colour can’t objectively tell stories about people of colour.

As one interviewee told me, ‘There is either a conscious or subconscious underlying idea… there is an inherent kind of bias.’

Another interviewee told me: ‘There is an idea that exists in all newsrooms in this country that the default storyteller is a white person, because they can somehow report on anything, and their objectivity is not questioned.’

The impact of such bias included questioning choice of stories to focus on, as one interviewee told me:

‘There is this moment where I think, do I need to pitch this story? Does it have to be me? Or are my colleagues going to think I am biased because I’m too close to the subject matter’

As the child of a migrant I have witnessed structural inequalities through my own mother’s struggles to fit into white hegemonic society; not being hired for any of the jobs she applied for (despite speaking fluent English), and never finding a group of white Australian friends who would welcome her in. My mother always wanted to be a journalist, co-incidentally I have become one.

I have worked as a photojournalist for a national, daily Australian newspaper, where I witnessed whiteness as an unstated reference point in the practice of journalism. My day consisted of shooting stories selected by Anglo-Celtic journalists that I did not think were accurately representing the status quo of society in that region. I stayed just 10 months in the role, then decided to quit, despite the lack of similar roles available in my profession.

My longing for the freedom to pitch and work on diverse stories stemmed from a longing to portray a more authentic Australia through my imagery—an Australia that I encountered daily in public spaces, reflected in the Spanish spoken at home, the Peruvian cuisine enjoyed, and the non-Australian values passed down by my migrant mother.

This aspiration for genuine representation aligns with the findings of a recent Media Diversity Australia (MDA) academic study. Their examination of Indigenous and cultural diversity in news and current affairs TV media concluded with a stark observation:

‘The Australian media fails to represent the society they serve’ (2022), and with the 2021 Census data, revealing that almost half of Australians have at least one parent born overseas (48.2 per cent), this underscores an urgent need for improved representation.

While the study acknowledged the aspiration of 19 editorial leaders in newsrooms to better reflect audience diversity, it also exposed the significant absence of non-white journalists in positions of power, and the career barriers they face.

Despite some media entities initiating ‘cultural diversity’ programs in the hiring of more diverse journalists, perhaps in response to dwindling trust in media content (Edelman Trust Barometer, 2022, showing only 43% of Australians trust what they read and see), my research suggests this comes at a cost to non-white journalists.

Interviewees expressed an overwhelming expectation to independently manage better representations of minority groups and diasporic communities in the newsroom, a responsibility they found reductive.

‘It’s not my job’, one interviewee said, ‘But you can’t help but feel that it becomes your job. It’s not our job to point it out to them. But the problem is, when we point it out to them, it falls on deaf ears.

This experience echoes the observations made by Cha and Roberts (2019) who identified that an organisation’s capacity to leverage diversity relies on its minority employees, positioning non-white journalists as ‘media interventionists’ tasked with challenging media power concentration in news institutions.

Despite efforts to enhance ‘cultural diversity,’ the burden often falls on non-white journalists to independently rectify misrepresentations across the newsroom, reflecting a systemic failure rather than a resolution as one interviewee summed up:

"It's tiring, it's really exhausting."

In order for Australian media to authentically reflect the society it serves in its reporting, essential changes are necessary. One interviewee suggested including more non-white editors and managers, coupled with establishing specialised reporting rounds focused on diaspora or migrant communities. This could offer increased avenues for non-white journalists to contribute their lived experiences, thereby elevating the quality and authenticity of news reporting. Moreover, dismantling the racial objectivity bias stands as a pivotal step toward creating a more inclusive and reflective media landscape.

Do these initiatives mark the starting point for a more inclusive and reflective media landscape?

Image credits: MidJourney Open AI (Creative Commons License)

Newsletter

MDA Quarterly Newsletter (Jul-Sep 2023)

Message From The CEO

Budyeri kamaru (hello!) from Eora Country,

I hope this message finds you well as we enter another exciting quarter at Media Diversity Australia.

First, I’m thrilled to announce the success of our Media Pathways Program, conducted in collaboration with Western Sydney University. This program has been a game-changer supported generously by the Bennelong Foundation and Multicultural NSW. It involved a four-part seminar series where aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds had the chance to hone their skills, gain insights, and connect with generous industry members. The culmination of this program will see select participants secure internships in mainstream newsrooms across our media members. We are grateful to our partners and sponsors for their unwavering support in making this initiative successful.

Speaking of success, it was an honour to represent Media Diversity Australia at the Women in Media Conference. I participated in a panel alongside some of the most successful figures in the field of gender equity. Together with Sam Mostyn AO, Kate Jenkins AO, Mary Wooldridge, and Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, we discussed the current shifts and the changes required to advance gender equity in media. 

Shifting gears, our NSW Chapter Networking Drinks were so much fun! These gatherings bring together members of our community in a relaxed environment, allowing social and professional connections crucial in connecting with like-minded peers and securing future employment opportunities.

In July, we held a historic inaugural media industry DEI round table, bringing together media heavyweights to commit to a collective path forward to accelerate industry-wide change. You can read our Industry Round Table press release summarising the commitments made at this round table.

Building on this momentum of the round table, we held our first working group meeting last week. We are so pleased with the industry’s appetite to continue collaborating with us to help accelerate change across the industry.

MDA is pleased to welcome two new media members, Junkee Media and ARE Media, into our fold (existing members include ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, Ten/Paramount, News Corp Australia, AAP, The Guardian, The Daily Aus, The Conversation Group and Private Media Group). Furthermore, we’re on the cusp of launching Memberships with the PR industry at the upcoming PRIA Conference, a significant step in expanding our reach and influence.

For our talented journalists from marginalised backgrounds, remember to sign up for MDA’s TalentHub. It’s your gateway to exciting job opportunities with our member outlets, creating a more equitable media ecosystem.

As we look into the future, keep an eye out for the our panel I am moderating at the inaugural SXSW Sydney event in October, where we’ll continue championing diversity and inclusion in media on a global stage.

Please consider supporting Media Diversity Australia here as we continue to drive industry-wide change.

Happy reading,

— Mariam Veiszadeh (CEO) and the Media Diversity Team 

'Know that you belong exactly where you are': MDA Political Fellowship graduate Kat Wong encourages young journalists of colour

“
“Many POC journalists often feel they only have jobs because of diversity quotas or programs. But I think it’s important to see those things as levelling the playing field and to know you have worked just as hard as other journos, if not harder, to be where you are.” 

– MDA Political Fellowships graduate, Kat Wong

”

Katherine ‘Kat’ Wong is a recently appointed Press Gallery journalist working for the Australian Associated Press (AAP) in Canberra after serving a cadetship with the media company. After winning Media Diversity Australia’s 2022 Political Fellowship, Kat entered the industry as a passionate and motivated reporter determined to cover the perspectives of diverse young people.

How was the transition from winning MDA's 2022 Political Fellowship to becoming a full-time journalist?

“It was a whirlwind! During the Fellowship, I spent four weeks in Canberra with the SMH and The Age team. I published stories that covered things like Simpsons political memes and Australia’s best author Hugo Award nominee. Then, for the fortnight before the election, I helped out their journos from the Sydney office. 

I didn’t get a full-time role immediately, so I spent some time working in publishing, but after a few month, the AAP cadetship rolled around. I applied, and with some advice from MDA’s mentors, I was offered the role. Through AAP’s rotations, I had a little taste of everything from sports reporting to politics to breaking news. Writing many different stories and meeting people from across the news landscape was so much fun. A few months ago, as the cadetship was closing, AAP offered me a full-time job in Canberra Press Gallery, where I am today.”

What do you love about your role at AAP?

“I love working at AAP because it is such a lively job. Everyone in the office is lovely, and being a full-time journalist is one of the most fun careers I could ever imagine. I get to do something new every day, whether questioning politicians at press conferences, reporting on the House of Reps, interviewing people who have done cool things with their lives or just having incredible stories. Not to mention, it’s an incredible privilege to have thousands of people read my writing.” 

What advice would you offer young, diverse journalists taking their first steps?

“The best advice is to know that you belong exactly where you are. Being a journalist and telling other people’s stories is an immense privilege that can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when the industry has indicated that people of colour do not deserve to have their voices heard in the past. And many POC journalists often feel they only have jobs because of a diversity quota or program. But I think it’s important to see those things as levelling the playing field and to know you have worked just as hard other journos, if not harder, to be where you are.” 

Introducing the MEDIA INDUSTRY PATHWAYS PROGRAM, a new seminar and internship series for aspiring journalists

The Media Pathways Program is a dynamic four-part series designed to provide comprehensive support to culturally and linguistically diverse students, graduates, and job seekers in communications, particularly those from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.

Supported by the Bennelong Foundation and Multicultural NSW and produced in partnership with Western Sydney University, the program aims to equip participants with the skills, confidence, connections, and experience necessary to thrive in Australian media.

In September, four evening sessions were held at WSU’s Parramatta City Campus, showcasing an impressive line-up of renowned journalists, presenters, and media professionals. Attendees have gained invaluable insights from these accomplished speakers as they share their expertise and experiences. 

After completing the seminars, select participants will embark on paid internship placements at News Corp Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald, ARE Media and Mama Mia.

“As someone from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) background, I’m excited to work with a non-profit like Media Diversity Australia that aims to bring about positive change and ensure that people from diverse backgrounds have equal opportunities in the media industry,” said one participant. “The Media Pathways internship would be a valuable experience as I take the next step in my career and prepare myself to graduate.”

A historic first - Australia's media leadership convene diversity, equity and inclusion roundtable

On Friday, July 14, Media Diversity Australia hosted its inaugural industry roundtable in Sydney, bringing together Australia’s media leadership and Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland to commit to industry-wide improvement around diversity, equity and inclusion. 

The meeting, which was held at SBS, brought together the CEOs, Managing Directors and other senior representatives from MDA member organisations AAP, the ABC, Private Media Group, News Corp Australia, Nine, SBS, Seven, Ten, The Daily Aus, The Conversation Group and The Guardian.

Some notable attendees include Nine’s CEO, Mike Sneesby, Ten’s Executive Vice President, Chief Content Officer & Head of Paramount, Beverley McGarvey, Seven’s Chief People and Culture Officer, Lucinda Gemmell, ABC’s Chief Content Officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, SBS’s News Director Mandi Wicks and News Corp Australia’s Group Executive, Corporate Affairs, Campbell Reid.

The roundtable provided a platform for an honest and robust initial discussion around barriers to equity and inclusion and opportunities for industry collaboration. The group also started initial discussions around talent pipeline and debated the merits of uniform measurement and tracking of progress across all parts of the industry to ensure greater accountability as an industry.

Building on the roundtable’s momentum, MDA held the first follow-up, working group meeting earlier this month.

'The key to developing inclusive individuals and teams lies in fostering an environment of respect': Channel 7's Davanh Inthachanh shares key career insights

With over 20 years of HR experience, Davanh Inthachanh‘s current role as Channel Seven’s Director of People & Culture sees her responsible for driving change to develop and build a fully engaged and high-performing team.

Under Davanh’s leadership, her team has helped to guide and enhance business performance by implementing initiatives focused on employee engagement performance and development. Davanh is passionate about developing individuals and groups.

You’ve had a fantastic career spanning over 20 years. What have been some highlights for you?
“The most significant career highlights for me have been at Seven and working with our people to shift towards a more inclusive and diverse culture. This is reflected in our team composition and our policies, operations, culture, and overall mindset. We’ve made significant strides in implementing flexibility, encouraging work-life balance, and fostering and celebrating a sense of belonging among our employees, which I believe has tremendously impacted our overall productivity and success.

Seven became the first media company in Australia to be recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by The Workplace Gender Equality Agency. The criteria for the citation were rigorous, so this is a significant achievement. Seven also launched its Inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan, cementing Seven’s commitment to strengthen relationships with First Nation employment, embed reconciliation throughout the business and provide Seven with meaningful accountability.” 
 
What strategies can diversity advocates use to create more inclusive and supportive workplaces?
“I believe the key to developing inclusive individuals and teams lies in fostering an environment of respect and mutual understanding. This involves creating safe spaces for open dialogue, ensuring that each person’s voice is heard, and actively promoting continuous learning. Practically, this is about listening to all views across the the organisation. Seven has deployed an employee feedback tool to hear from all people. It also means intentionally creating diverse teams and working groups to share diverse thinking and perspectives. Additionally, a bit of flexibility and adaptability go a long way. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach because we understand that everyone’s journey is unique, and we value that diversity and change does take time.” 

What outcomes are you most looking forward to from Channel 7’s membership with MDA?
“We look forward to learning from and contributing to this incredible community. We are particularly excited about the opportunities for collaboration, sharing best practices, and gaining insights from other member organisations. We believe in the power of diversity and are keen to leverage our MDA membership to entrance further our understanding and strategies for a diverse and inclusive work environment. Additionally, Seven is looking forward to working with MDA to leverage our partnership and powerful brands to remove barriers to diversity and increase the pipeline of media professionals from diverse backgrounds entering the industry.” 

'I'd be surprised if a single journalist isn't aware of the issue': Google News Lab's Uma Patel on the growing impact of Media Diversity Australia's mission

Uma Patel is the Australia and New Zealand Lead for Google News Lab, a team within the Google News Initiative whose mission is to collaborate with journalists to fight misinformation, strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion within news, and support learning and development through digital transformation.

What are Google News Lab’s key priorities? 
“News Lab works with newsrooms worldwide to support some exciting projects, that benefit audiences, the new ecosystem and journalists. There are three chief priorities: supporting diversity within newsrooms, growing journalists’ digital skills and partnering with news publishers to tackle misinformation.” 

What strengths have you brought to this role as a former working journalist? 
“I often think of how difficult my job would be if I weren’t a former journalist. The newsroom is a complex environment – there’s no one way to develop and present a story or convince your editor to publish it. It is incredibly valuable to have had reporting experience when I’m trying to figure out the best strategy to set up impactful partnerships and programs. It helps me instinctively know what’s likely to work well and what’ll be challenging, what the opportunities are and map out projects to capture them. If I had to label the top three skills I took across from my reporting experience, I’d say understanding the newsroom, communications and an ability to react in the moment, on reason instinctively.” 

Google News Lab has supported Media Diversity Australia since its inception. How do your strategic objective align with ours?
“We’re proud to have supported from the start; the conversation had barely begun when MDA was founded (I was one of its first members, in my days as a journalist) and now I’d be surprised if there’s a single journalist in the country that isn’t aware of the issue.

The GNI supports a broad range of projects around the world to support the representation of marginalised communities in the news ecosystem. We’re pushing ourselves to build fairness, inclusion and diversity standards into the fabric of every program and partnership we create. MDA’s mission aligns with that endeavour, and we’ve found our partnerships and programs impactful.” 

Why is media diversity such an important issue?
“I know from experience how useful it can be to have different experiences and contacts represented in a newsroom, but it can also be difficult to be a woman and person of colour. Audiences, newsrooms and publishers all stand to gain if the stories published come from a broad spectrum of experiences – we can only be fully informed and justify holding people to account if we understand all the angles. MDA does an excellent job of growing and working with newsrooms to do just that.” 

Simone Amelia Jordan, MDA's Director of Special Projects, releases prize-winning memoir about becoming Australia's most accomplished hip-hop journalist

Simone Amelia Jordan (centre) with Mariam Veiszadeh, CEO of Media Diversity Australia (left) and Lena Nahlous, CEO of Diversity Arts Australia (right) at the Tell Her She’s Dreamin’ launch. Credit: Kai Godeck.

We are thrilled to announce the release of Tell Her She’s Dreamin’, the Ritchell Prize-winning debut memoir from MDA’s Director of Special Projects, Simone Amelia Jordan.

Growing up on the whitewashed Central Coast in the 1980s and attending an elite school as a scholarship student from the wrong side of the tracks, Lebanese-Cypriot Simone felt like an outcast among her peers for years. Her lifeline was hip-hop, then in its golden age. Simone recognised the art form’s pro-Black consciousness from girlhood, and the rappers’ resonant words inspired her to embrace her identity and back herself.

From founding Australia’s most successful hip-hop and R&B publication to moving to New York City and interviewing the biggest stars of the time as the editor of the world’s most beloved rap magazine, falling in love and getting her heart broken; grappling with her family ties to culture; and struggling through illness and sexual grooming, Simone’s inspiring story is about defying the odds to reach for your dreams. But it is also about figuring out those dreams can change as you do.

Tell Her She’s Dreamin’ is out now through Hachette Australia. Read an exclusive extract here. 

Want to help create a media that looks and sounds like Australia?

As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on the help of our incredible volunteers. With your financial and volunteer support, we can continue to run programs to support culturally and linguistically diverse journalists, conduct agenda-setting research, run networking events, provide practical solutions for the media industry, and much more. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support the vital work we do, please click here.

About us

Founded by journalists (Isabel Lo and Antoinette Lattouf) in 2017, Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation, working towards creating a media landscape that looks and sounds like Australia. We have expertise in delivering evidence-based research, bespoke programs, strategic memberships and partnerships that disrupt the status quo and pave pathways for diverse representation across Australian media.

Get in touch:

Newsletter

MDA Quarterly Newsletter (Apr-Jun 2023)

Message From The CEO

Budyeri kamaru (hello!) from Eora Country,

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits as we embark on another exciting quarter at Media Diversity Australia. As we continue our mission to advocate for a truly inclusive and representative media landscape, it is with great pride that I share with you the latest developments within our organisation.

We have recently been reminded of the pressing need for our work in combating racism and fostering a safe environment for diverse journalists. The “grotesque racist abuse” described by veteran Indigenous journalist (and our founding Advisory Board member) Stan Grant that escalated after her spoke on ABC about the impact of colonialism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people ahead of King Charles III’s coronation has underscored the urgency of our efforts. It also validates the importance of our latest research report, the Online Safety Of Diverse Journalists, which sheds light on the challenges reporters from marginalised communities face and provides    recommendations for change.

In honour of Stan’s resilience and to address the specific challenges faced by journalists of colour, MDA held closed Listening Circles in Sydney and Melbourne, providing a safe space for Indigenous and culturally and racially marginalised attendees to share newsroom experiences and discuss potential solutions. These inspiring events brought together journalists on the frontlines of our struggle for media diversity. I also spoke publicly with several outlets about our critical work, with MDA’s Founder and Chair, Isabel Lo, penning a heartfelt piece. 

Moreover, we are thrilled to celebrate the historic appointment of Massilia Aili, an emerging reporter and proud Australian Muslim woman in hijab, to Channel 9 News. Massilia’s on-air role is a testament to our progress in challenging stereotypes and breaking down barriers in the media industry. Her presence will undoubtedly contribute to a more accurate and authentic representation of diverse voices within our newsrooms. 

Congratulations to the journalists and media professionals from First Nations and multicultural communities, including Marina Go AM and Narelda Jacobs OAM, recognised in this month’s King’s Birthday honours. 

As our Women of Colour Mentorships and Winter Fellowship wrap up their successful runs this month, I’m delighted to announce our new Media Pathways Program in collaboration with Western Sydney University (WSU). As a former refugee and WSU graduate, this program is particularly close to my heart! The initiative, supported by Bennelong Foundation and Multicultural NSW, aims to provide aspiring journalists from underrepresented backgrounds, particularly refugees and asylum seekers, with the skills and networking opportunities necessary to navigate the industry. Stay tuned for the September session information and sign-up details. 

I want to thank our dedicated team and supporters as we forge ahead. Through your unwavering commitment and belief in our cause, we continue to drive change and make a lasting impact. Please consider supporting Media Diversity Australia here.  

Please stay connected, engaged in our programs and initiatives, and together, help us work towards a media industry that truly reflects the rich tapestry of our society.

Happy reading,

— Mariam Veiszadeh (CEO) and the Media Diversity Team

‘If you can conquer limiting beliefs about who’s entitled to tell Australian stories, you’ve won half the battle’: MDA Summer Fellowship graduate Angelo Ho shares pertinent advice for young journalists of colour


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“Pre-MDA, journalism was an intellectual passion I loved learning about but wasn’t sure I could thrive in.” 

– MDA Summer Fellowships graduate, Angela Ho

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In 2022, Angela Ho completed her Summer Fellowship with 10 News First Perth. An aspiring multi-platform storyteller, Angela is exploring connection and influence through undergraduate studies at Curtin University in journalism and law, a digital reporting role at ABC Perth and acting as Client Relations Manager for WAUC, a management consulting charity empowering top university students to provide high-quality services for non-profits like MDA. 

What did you learn during MDA Fellowship that benefited your career progression?

“The Fellowship gave me a great way to benchmark my progress and newsroom readiness. As a student especially, it was an ideal way to test my assumptions sooner rather than later about what the industry, job, and newsroom culture looked like, enabling me to think more meaningfully about how I would want to approach a career in the media.” 

You will soon finish a double journalism and law degree. Are you leaning more towards one over the other?

“I’ve had a lot more exposure to the journalism space throughout my degree, so the next year will be about scoping out what the landscape looks like in law through public and commercial sector clerkships. That being said, I’m so grateful to be doing that exploration while working and learning from the talented team in Perth’s ABC newsroom. 

Pre-MDA, journalism was an intellectual passion I loved learning about but wasn’t sure I could thrive in. Post-MDA, I’ve grown my media confidence and appreciate there is room for cultivating CaLD potential and success – if we can overcome the mental barrier of always justifying our merit in the newsroom. Hopefully, I’ll have a clearer picture for you in a year!” 

What advice would you offer young, diverse journalists taking their first steps?

“Half the game is mental. If you can conquer limiting beliefs and self-perceptions about who is entitled to tell Australian stories, you’ve won half the battle. I was lucky to have a network of diverse, aspiring journalists through my MDA cohort and mentor Simone, so if you can, reach out to and lean on your networks. You’ll be surprised how buoying this support can be.  

Once you’re on the ground, take the time to observe the processes and workflows so you know the cadence of your newsroom. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or feedback. Try to get to know your colleagues: reporters, camos, and chiefs of staff alike.

Probably worth keeping in mind is that I’m still working on all of the above things, too! Trying not to take myself too seriously keeps me grounded when the going gets rough. The first few steps can be awkward, and bumps and stumbles are part of the process.” 

Journalist and media advisor Aarti Betigeri has great ambitions for Media Diversity Australia’s ACT Chapter

Aarti Betigeri is a multi-platform journalist and former foreign correspondent based in Canberra who brings lengthy experience to her role as Chair of Media Diversity Australia’s ACT Chapter. She works as a media advisor for the Australian Council for International Development and reports for numerous outlets, including The Lowy Institute and Monocle.

You’ve had a rich and fulfilling multi-platform career, with roles including editor, advisor, foreign correspondent and more. In which medium does your heart lie?

“I’ve been so lucky to have had the opportunity to do many different things in my career. I’m working as a media advisor in the international relations space right now, which is great and something I’ve worked towards for a long time. I do miss the creativity, though, and I’d love to balance the rational, left-brain-focused work I do now with something more creative. I’d love to do more podcasting.”

Do you take a glass half-full or half-empty approach when discussing diversity in Australian media?

“I always thought the things I’ve faced in my career were about me, and it dawned on me, after people started opening up and telling their stories, that it’s structural, that Australian media has been slow to understand the need for diversity. Every time we share our story, the walls break down slightly. I’m equally encouraged and discouraged by the way media approaches diversity. But, like in many spaces, there’s a difference between what people say and what they do. It’s a two-steps forwards, one-step back thing.” 

MDA is a small non-profit with a wide-ranging reach. What’s on your dream list of activities as Chair of our ACT Chapter?

“Some of the media industry’s building blocks contribute to the general sense of bias many people feel when working there. I’d love to see MDA, perhaps in collaboration with the union and other organisations, work on advocating for structural changes that will help create a healthier media industry in general – which would no doubt help strengthen the case for more diversity. In particular, we need a change around defamation laws; proper resourcing for independent media (I think there should be more government and philanthropic funding for it); ongoing training opportunities for workers; more support for freelancers; etc. At a local level, while it’s a good idea to help create pathways for up-and-coming diverse journalists and media workers, creating solid networks amongst current journalists from diverse backgrounds, and allies that cut across organisations and existing hierarchies, should be a focus.”

‘As the Stan Grant situation showed, there’s always work to be done’: 10 News First’s Rashell Habib shares key insights from her visit to Paramount Global’s U.S. HQ

Rashell Habib is the Head of Digital News & Strategy for 10 News First under the Paramount Global brand and the latest member of the Walkley Awards Judging Board. She started her career at News Corp, working as an opinion writer for the Daily Telegraph, a News Local journalist, and news.com.au social media manager, before an editor stint at Netflix AUNZ, then joining Channel 10. 

You recently visited Paramount Global’s North American HQ to strengthen the worldwide network relationship and share knowledge and expertise. What were your key observations when it comes to their DEI initiatives?

“Witnessing the general inclusivity and meeting with many diverse leaders was impressive and notable. Not only was the on-air talent a representation of the communities that watch them, but those that worked behind the scenes reflected the same diversity and inclusivity. Much like us here in Australian, there is an understanding that audiences that make up our viewership come from a plethora of backgrounds and content and talent need to represent that.” 

What are some critical ingredients for developing successful individuals and teams?

“It’s more about looking at the potential of people and helping them achieve that. Sometimes it’s as simple as a bit of self-confidence, while other times, it’s a matter of workshopping ideas; there’s no great light bulb moment. It’s consistent communication, inclusion in decision making and respect for a point of view that differs from your own.” 

You’ve personally supported Media Diversity Australia’s mission since its 2017 inception, and Network 10 signed on as our inaugural Member. Do you still see the need for this work to be done?

“Media diversity has improved a lot since I started in journalism, since MDA started, and even now. But as the Stan Grant situation showed, there’s always work to be done. Two steps forward, one step back.”

MDA Partner Spotlight: Bennelong Foundation

Bennelong Foundation’s Grants & Administration Manager, Liem Nguyen has worked in technology and business roles in start-ups, corporates and not-for-profits for over a decade. Passionate about sharing stories of social and cultural identity, Liem and the Bennelong team are supporting MDA’s inaugural Media Pathways Program.

MDA is grateful to the Bennelong Foundation for supporting our inaugural Media Pathways Program, What would you say are the Foundation’s key priorities?

“Providing opportunities for positive and lasting change in our community. Our granting focus areas are in Education, Training & Employment, Community Health and Wellbeing and Cultural Inclusion projects for First Nations people, Australian in migrant and refugee communities and those encountering socioeconomic disadvantage. We are also active participants in the philanthropic space and collaborate deeply with out peers to build partnerships, networks and capabilities within the sector.” 

How do Bennelong Foundation’s strategic objectives align with MDA’s?

“What we liked about the [Media Pathways] project submitted by Media Diversity Australia was that it supported young migrant and refugee cohorts and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with workshops to build awareness and skills in the media industry and guaranteed internship placements. We believe meaningful work is life-changing for people as it allows them to control their lives.” 

Why is media diversity such an important issue?

“We believe representation is important. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” we often hear from our grant partners and communities. Media Diversity Australia helps build the talent pipeline and scaffolding for young media students and professionals to flourish in their careers. Representation in media also allows for increased empathy in telling stories that affect our multicultural communities.”

MDA Opportunities & Events

On World Press Freedom Day (May 3), we launched the Online Safety Of Diverse Journalists report, our Australian-first research which served as a critical step towards identifying, understanding, and addressing online abuse and harassment of diverse journalists and media workers. Check out the infographic, press release and official report here. 


It wasn’t an easy task for MDA’s CEO and a small group of judges to choose the winner of the Media Diversity Australia award (supported by NEMBC) at this month’s 2023 Walkleys Mid-Year Celebration. The category, which honours journalists making an outstanding contributions by reporting or covering diverse people or issues in Australia, was won by ABC reporters Hagar Cohen and Raveen Hunjan for their ‘Racism allegations lead to staff exodus’ investigation.

From left to right: Antoinette Lattouf (WOC Mentor and MDA Co-Founder), Alicia Vrajlal (WOC Mentee), Angelique Lu (WOC Mentee), Uma Patel (WOC Mentor), Paula Kruger (WOC Mentor), Madison Howarth (WOC Mentee), Simone Amelia Jordan (MDA Director of Special Projects), Anushri Sood (WOC Mentee), Mariam Veiszadeh (MDA CEO). Image credit: Supplied. 

Several Sydney-based participants from our Women of Colour Mentorships gathered at UTS Startups to celebrate the culmination of the inaugural 12-month program, which Crescent Foundation, Monash University and the University of Melbourne supported. Shout out to those who weren’t in attendance: Nehal Dalgliesh, Bernadine Lim, Mibenge Nsenduluka, Ruth Brook, Shuba Krishnan, Pranjali Sehgal, Cathy Wilcox, Famida Rahman, Tanya Denning-Orman, Rhanna Collins, Rashida Yosufzai, Tania Lee and Junko Howe. 

Our ground-breaking Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories research was mentioned in the House of Representatives this week by the Independent Federal Member for Fowler, Dai Le MP. Our impact is far-reaching; check out Le’s heartfelt speech here. 

Want to help create a media that looks and
sounds like Australia?

As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on the help of our incredible volunteers. With your financial and volunteer support, we can continue to run programs to support culturally and linguistically diverse journalists, conduct agenda-setting research, run networking events, provide practical solutions for the media industry, and much more. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support the vital work we do, please click here.

About us

Founded by journalists (Isabel Lo and Antoinette Lattouf) in 2017, Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation, working towards creating a media landscape that looks and sounds like Australia. We have expertise in delivering evidence-based research, bespoke programs, strategic memberships and partnerships that disrupt the status quo and pave pathways for diverse representation across Australian media.

Get in touch: