Category: Newsletter

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


“

“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

”

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:

Newsletter

MDA Quarterly Newsletter (Jan – Mar 2023)

Message From The CEO

Budyeri kamaru (hello!) from Eora Country,

We’ve had a jam-packed start to 2023 at Media Diversity Australia.

Our newsletter is now going out quarterly, so we can focus on our expanding suite of impactful programs. We post regularly to social media, so follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for events, opportunities and announcements.

We’ve been busy delivering our Summer Fellowships, Women of Colour Mentorships and more. As well as onboarding newsrooms who have joined up to our media membership model (welcome NewsCorp Australia, The Conversation Group and Private Media Group), and hosting statewide chapter events, including last month in the ACT with award-winning journalist, Peter Greste.

We were delighted to be invited to participate in the Australian Press Council’s Sydney Round Table on ‘Updating Advisory Guideline on Reporting of Race’ as well the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) consultation on a ‘news measurement framework’. We will also be presenting at the upcoming Australian Media Literacy Summit.

A highlight on our calendar was welcoming MDA’s Founder, Isabel Lo, back to Sydney from New York City for our annual Strategy Day. A heartfelt thank you to those who have been donating to our cause in Q1.

We have a big year planned, so watch this space!

Happy reading,

Mariam Veiszadeh (CEO) and the Media Diversity Team 

In this issue:

  • Hear how The Age’s Abbir Dib turned her MDA internship into her dream career.
  • VIC State Chapter member K.C. Boey sheds light on a career dedicated to media and cultural advocacy.
  • Kelly Williams’ recent appointment as ABC’s Head of Indigenous, Diversity and Inclusion is an exciting step for the network.
  • Michelle Gortan, CEO of the Jibb Foundation, says media diversity is an “ethical and civil responsibility”.
  • Introducing MDA’s Winter Fellowship with social impact agency, Weld Stories.
  • Reforming journalism’s role in our democracy – an evening with Peter Greste in Canberra
  • Donation Campaign: Help us continue to have an impact, drive change and create a media landscape that truly looks and sounds like Australia.

The Age’s Abbir Dib turned an MDA internship into her dream career

“
 Sometimes I felt isolated or unsure if certain behaviour was normal, and it helps to have a community or people behind you that you trust to listen. 

– MDA Summer Fellowships graduate, Abbir Dib

”

After completing our inaugural Summer Fellowships (formerly Internships) program with Nine News Melbourne in 2020, Abbir continued working with the newsroom. She was recently offered her dream role as a journalist, social producer and opinion writer for The Age, another Fairfax-owned platform.

How did you transition from an MDA Summer Intern to a full-time journalist

This is no easy feat. It was tiring, but I took every opportunity to work hard and meet as many people as possible, both in the industry and out on the field. An internship is essentially one long interview. I was offered a position because I proved I could learn skills quickly and be a valuable asset to the team.

What do you love about your role?

In my current role at The Age, I love the challenge of translating hard news to the growing world of social media. Innovation in journalism is an exciting thing.

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

I learnt quickly that no one is there to help you unless you have a good attitude. It’s quite sobering, but the onus was on me to show initiative and put aside nervousness. No one will wait for you to make it happen in your career. I also learnt that although senior journalists might be in the workforce, there’s always room for young, diverse perspectives. They’re very needed!

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

Contact young diverse journalists like myself if you feel things are getting tough. Sometimes I felt isolated or unsure if certain behaviour was normal, and it helps to have a community or people behind you that you trust to listen. And also, confidence doesn’t just belong to a certain type of journey; feel empowered in your strengths and voice.

#MDAImpact Q1 Highlights:

–Selina Zhang (Summer Fellowships 2023) has been offered a role with Nine News Melbourne
–Anushri Sood (WOC Mentorships) has been hired as Interview Producer at Sky News
–Alicia Vrajlal (WOC Mentorships) has been promoted to Senior Culture Editor at Refinery29
–Tahnee Maxwell (Summer Fellowships 2023) has accepted a role with Hot 100 FM in Darwin

MDA’s Victoria Chapter K.C. Boey sheds light on a career dedicated to media and cultural advocacy

Born and raised in Malaysia and a Melbourne resident for over three decades, K.C. lives and works with diversity in his personal and professional life. As an international media veteran, he’s the former editor of Malay Mail, the first local English daily published during the colonial Federated Malay States, and journalist for The Age. K.C.’s interest in politics and culture saw him undertake further studies at Monash University. Driven by building cross-cultural bridges, his career has expanded into the policy space as an advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity.

Do you think Australia’s media landscape is changing to reflect our nation?

Media everywhere ought to be the mirror of the people that it is the product of and which it ought to reflect. It is instructive that sections of the Australian media have felt the need for a representative voice in setting up MDA, whose annual report card of the media landscape is now in its second edition. The media dial is moving. It will take time.

“

Media everywhere ought to be the mirror of the people that it is the product of and which it ought to reflect.

– K.C. Boey, MDA VIC Chapter 
”

What steps should our media take for greater diversity and inclusion?

As with all attempts at change, the earlier we set desirable outcomes, the better and quicker we can arrive at solutions. I ruminated over this question in a fantasy published in the Asia-Pacific Media Educator. In many ways, the answer is taken out of the hands of the media. Power is vested in the political economy of the day and commercial interests. Diversity and inclusion in the media are as beholden to these whims as they are in all domestic and international affairs and interests.

What’s one piece of advice you can offer young journalists?

Read broadly. The 5Ws + H guide the structured coverage and presentation of any report, whether for a general audience or the specific interest of a medical patient, legal litigant or architectural client. The formula is helpful at the start of an assignment. Formulating questions to ask is critical in composing a coherent whole of the sum of the parts in an inquiry. The substance between the start and the end is informed by the inquisitive mind derived from knowing the subject matter through reading.

MDA Chapter Q1 Highlights:

-VIC Chapter Co-Secretary Achol Arok joins SBS News as a cadet and is up for a Melbourne Press Club Quills Award for an ABC News story co-produced with Dan Ziffer.
-VIC Chapter Co-Chair Nassim Khadem was interviewed for the Business In Colour podcast.
-ACT Chapter member Soofia Tariq joins SBS News as Federal Political Reporter.
-NSW Chapter Disability Affairs Officer Briana Blackett has written an op-ed about media coverage of autism and the NDIS for Hireup.

Meet Kelly Williams, the ABC’s new Head of Indigenous, Diversity and Inclusion

Kelly’s recent appointment as ABC’s Head of Indigenous, Diversity and Inclusion is an exciting step for the network. Having worked with the broadcaster for over 30 years, Kelly deeply understands talent management and media and is passionate about positively disrupting workplace culture.

You’ve had a fantastic career at the ABC. What are some highlights?

There are so many. I had two children and spent a few years job-sharing, on fixed-term engagements, and as a casual employee while juggling work and childcare—just getting through that was a highlight. Still, also that juggling allowed me to work across the People & Culture, News and Regional & Local divisions. I’ve produced social and digital platforms for Australian Story, Landline and Back Roads, designed and built TV specials, co-ordinated three ABC Reconciliation Action Plans, established the Diversity Advocates Network, and am currently finetuning the ABC’s 2023-26 Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging plan. I’ve also driven strategic partnerships between ABC, First Nations Media Australia, and First Languages Australia. I couldn’t do that work without Bronwyn Purvis (Partnerships Lead, ABC News).

I get great satisfaction in working with others to drive change. It keeps me inspired. And there is real joy in having your children watch you as you do that work. They are men now and often tell me they are proud of what I do.

What steps can media networks take to support First Nations or culturally and racially marginalised diverse job applicants?

Put First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse people in senior editorial and management positions. Media networks wouldn’t need to invest in resourcing programs on recruitment and retention if representation were at the top.

“

Media networks wouldn’t need to invest in resourcing programs on recruitment and retention if representation were at the top.  

Kelly Williams, Head of Indigenous, Diversity & Inclusion ABC

”

What strategies can diversity advocates use to create more inclusive and supportive workplaces?

One of the easiest things to do is to ensure everyone is heard. If you are in a meeting and an Indigenous or diverse colleague hasn’t spoken, ask them to offer their opinion. And if their opinion adds something to the discussion, say that to everyone. You could also ensure that someone’s cultural authority is recognised during conversations about their communities. They may not be a senior leader, but they may have the cultural authority to inform a discussion about their community.

But further to that, don’t ask the First Nations or the culturally and linguistically diverse person in the room to speak for every community in the country or around the world when big issues hit the news. That has happened to me many times. I’m not a Black oracle. It makes me very uncomfortable to be put in that position.

What outcomes are you most looking forward to from ABC's membership with MDA?

I am so excited to work with MDA. It fits right in with my goal to create pathways into the ABC. I once purchased a painting during an Indigenous Staff Conference on the Gold Coast. For our community day, we went to the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. I saw a painting called ‘Women’s Business’, which had 20 beautiful brown women, all depicting different activities in a line of unity. That painting became my inspiration for the pathways I want to leave behind. I think ABC’s membership with MDA will create some of those pathways.

MDA Membership Q1 Highlights:

-New MDA Members: NewsCorp Australia, The Conversation Group and Private Media Group
-The Nine Network debuted Sarah Abo as the new Today show co-host
-AAP launched an Indigenous Affairs desk, lead by Rudi Maxwell and Eelemarni Close-Brown
-The ABC published its Diversity & Inclusion Annual Report 2021-2022
-Channel 10 appointed MDA Mentor Narelda Jacobs to helm its national midday news bulletin

An "ethical and civic responsibility" - Jibb Foundation CEO Michelle Gortan on media diversity

The Jibb Foundation is helping sustain Media Diversity Australia’s strategic growth and overall vision. Established in 2013, Jibb is the family foundation of historic media proprietor John B Fairfax AO and his wife, Libby Fairfax, with a mission to support organisations that strive to improve the equality of opportunity for others. We caught up with Michelle, the foundation’s manager, to hear more about why they supported MDA and why Australia urgently needs a more diverse media landscape.

What are the Jibb Foundation’s key priorities?

The next few years are about supporting our new and long-standing partners with medium to long-term funding. Much of grant-making to date has been to fund salary costs. By providing stability of income for core costs, our partners can focus on attracting and keeping great people and, importantly, focus on getting the job done.

How do the Jibb Foundation’s strategic objectives align with MDA’s?

The commitment of MDA to removing the barriers for people of diverse backgrounds to enter media and journalism is challenging and important work, and the MDA team is passionate and ambitious about achieving that. Mariam (Veiszadeh) impressed me with her cool assessment of the problem MDA is trying to address, and I was equally impressed by her clarity and focus on how to address it. Naturally, the Fairfax family is deeply knowledgeable and committed to media and journalism. For them, interventions that support a high-quality and thriving media sector are of great interest. In their minds, MDA contributes solidly to creating and supporting such a sector.

Why is media diversity such an important issue?

It’s an ethical and civic responsibility. We live in one of the most multicultural countries in the world, and our institutions must reflect that. The media is crucial in informing and educating us and holding power to account. Every single part of our community should feel engaged and informed on the issues that affect them, and the media is one of the most powerful ways to achieve this. We also know that talent exists throughout our diverse communities. We must encourage and enable this talent to surface by directly addressing inequality and discrimination and unlocking opportunities whenever possible. We’ll all be better for it.

Introducing MDA’s Winter Fellowship Program

Media Diversity Australia has joined forces with Weld Stories, a Sydney-based digital content agency committed to social impact storytelling, to offer a Winter Fellowship for one candidate to join Weld’s small team full-time across May and June 2023.

The Fellowship winner will be included in calls with Weld Stories clients, concept development, research, writing, editing, planning, pre-production, distribution strategy, briefing of designers, production, reviewing edits and delivery of assets.

They will also work on developing and creating vibrant and relevant stories for MDA’s social channels.

The winning candidate will have a strong sense of the news and current affairs, an understanding of multimedia storytelling (e.g. feature articles, videos and podcasts), and creative thinking to help drive original approaches to narratives.

Entrants must be Sydney-based and available for six weeks from May 8 to June 16. The winning candidate will be paid a weekly stipend of $1000. For your chance to win, enter now.

Reforming journalism's role in our democracy - an evening with Peter Greste in Canberra

Our ACT Chapter proudly hosted a networking evening on Friday, February 24, featuring Professor Peter Greste at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra in partnership with the MEAA.

Greste, an award-winning journalist, author and academic (Macquarie University), spent fifteen years with the BBC before he joined Al Jazeera as East Africa correspondent. In December 2013, whilst reporting for Al Jazeera, he was arrested in Egypt and charged with airing false news and terrorism offences. Within six months, he was found guilty under the country’s anti-terrorism laws and spent 400 days in prison before being released in February 2015.

Thanks to Jessica Swann-Jadwat and our ACT Chapter members for driving this event!

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

December 2022 Newsletter

Hello MDA supporters,

It’s been a huge year for MDA and we are grateful to all of you for supporting us through our growth journey. To round off the year we spotlight one of our 2022 Women of Colour mentees, Ruth Brook, who shares insights  with us about her mentorship with journalist and author, Mibenge Nsenduluka. We are so thrilled to announce the first 6 winners of our 2023 Summer Fellowship program in partnership with Google News Initiative. We recently celebrated the end of a very successful year at the beautiful Canva space with our members, partners and friends. Introducing the Community Voices Melbourne class of 2022. Get to know another one of our Women of Colour mentees Madison Howarth mentored by the brilliant Director of Indigenous Content at NITV, Tanya Denning-Orman. As the year comes to a close, walk down memory lane with us as we list the impact we’ve had this year and donate now to help us continue our work towards  diversifying the Australian media landscape. We have SO much more planned for next year so stay tuned and have yourselves a wonderful festive period!

In this issue:

  • Spotlight: MDA 2022 Women of Colour mentee, Ruth Brook, mentored by journalist & author, Mibenge Nsenduluka 
  • MDA’s 2023 Summer Fellowships: Announcing our first 6 winners
  • MDA End of Year Event: Celebrating the end of a very successful year with our members, staff, industry partners and friends
  • Community Voices Melbourne: Celebrating the class of 2022
  • Get to know our program graduate: Hear from our Women of Colour mentee, Madison Howarth, who is mentored by Director of Indigenous content (NITV), Tanya Denning-Orman 
  • Donation Campaign: Help us continue to have an impact, drive change & create a media landscape that truly looks and sounds like Australia 
  • MDA 2022 Impact: Look back at the impact we’ve had this year as 2022 comes to a close

Spotlight: MDA 2022 Women of Colour mentee, Ruth Brook, mentored by journalist & author, Mibenge Nsenduluka

“

Sometimes it’s as simple as greeting someone at a networking event, you never know what’s on the other side of a hello.

– MDA Women of Colour mentee, Ruth Brook
”

You are halfway through your year long mentorship with journalist and author, Mibenge Nsenduluka - Can you tell us a bit about your experience so far?

Being mentored by Mibenge has been a wonderful experience. From our first session, she has been sincere, kind and always willing to listen and answer my questions. She has created a safe space for me to openly express myself without judgment, and that has been invaluable. We have bonded over shared experiences and I am continuing to learn from her vast knowledge of this industry. She has been more than a mentor, she has been a sounding board, a teacher and a friend. 

What is one vital piece of information you have learned during your mentorship that you believe would be beneficial to you as your career progresses?

Through the mentorship program, I have truly learned the importance of staying true to myself and my values no matter the circumstance I am faced with. I approach opportunities from the standpoint of ‘Does this align with my values and what I would like to achieve in my career?’. Having those mental check-ins before approaching a situation has really helped me narrow my focus on the kind of work I would like to do and be a part of.

What is one piece of advice you can offer other young diverse journalists who are taking their first steps in the media industry?

The advice I would offer is to not be afraid to reach out to people in the media industry and ask for help or seek guidance. Sometimes we may think we’re inconveniencing someone or but, in my experience, when I have reached out, people have been more than happy to help and have directed me towards opportunities that have helped me further my career. Sometimes it’s as simple as greeting someone at a networking event, you never know what’s on the other side of a hello.

MDA’s 2023 Summer Fellowships: Announcing the first 6 winners!

2023 Summer Fellowships Winners

MDA’s 2023 Summer Fellowships in partnership with Google News Initiative places 12 graduates in various mainstream media outlets nationwide. After careful deliberation and a thorough interview process carried out by our brilliant Director of Special Projects, Simone Amelia Jordan, in collaboration with the respective newsrooms, 12 journalism graduates have been matched with reputable newsrooms around Australia. 

Congratulations to the deserving and driven winners of the 2023 Summer Fellowship program. We will be announcing the winners in two parts. The first half of our fellowship winners are as follows: 

  • Abhranil Hazra (NSW) with The Guardian 
  • Luca Ittimani (ACT) with Australian Financial Review 
  • Rachel Green (WA) with 10 News First (Perth)
  • Jin Qian (NSW) with News Corp Australia
  • Manu Fabila-Hicks (QLD) with The Courier-Mail
  • Selina Zhang (VIC) with Channel 9News (Melbourne) 

We are so proud of the winners and can’t wait to see them shaping the future of journalism. 

Stay tuned for the second half of our 2023 Summer Fellowship program recipients!

MDA End of Year Event: Celebrating the end of a very successful year with our members, staff, industry partners and friends

MDA End of Year Event

On December 6th, Media Diversity Australia celebrated the end of an action-filled and successful year with our esteemed media members, brilliant advisory board, dedicated staff, state chapter representatives and industry partners at the wonderful Canva space located in the city. 

The evening commenced with a heartfelt speech from our CEO, Mariam Veiszadeh retrospectively looking back at the impact MDA has had this year. Our Director of Special Projects, Simone Amelia Jordan also known to emulate “aunty energy” in her approach of mentoring our past and current program graduates presented MDA’s 2022 impact video created by a set of talented TAFE students. 

We soon moved on to a nuanced panel discussing how far the Australian media landscape has come in matters of diversity and inclusion and the role MDA has played in it. The interactive panel was moderated by our co-founder, Antoinette Lattouf with an impressive line up of panelists representing our media members. 

Our panelists included Marc Fennell (SBS), Dave Chaou (ABC), Brooke Boney  (Nine Network), Daniel Doody (Channel 10) and Sharnelle Vella (Seven). 

We ended the event with a night of networking, sharing experiences and exchanging anecdotes. A perfect end to an exciting year! 

Stay tuned to attend our upcoming events in 2023 – Follow MDA on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram! 

Community Voices Melbourne: Celebrating the class of 2022

Community Voices 2022 Celebration

Celebrating the Community Voices class of 2022! The thirteen participants from Melbourne were acknowledged last week in a lovely gathering, surrounded by family, friends, and clued-in journalists keen to tap them for future stories.

If you want to know more or add them to your contact list, please message Andrea Ho or Jim Carroll via LinkedIn. Every one of these participants is already an achiever in their community, and they are now ready to speak in news media. We are so proud of them!

A big congratulations to:

Kimberly Mitchiko Clemencio
Emily Fioramonte
Daniel Haile-Michael
Bakr Hawari
Charmaine Hunzwi A FIN
Catherine J.
Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra
Akat Mayoum
Saarah Ozeer
Ruchika Rawat
Anaab Rooble MAICD
Sahema Saberi
Saththiyan Satchithanantham

Thanks to our co-founder Antoinette Lattouf  for making a lively and inspiring keynote speech, and Jim Carroll for summing up their big year. And a heartfelt thanks to our project partners, Judith Neilson Institute and to everyone who contributed to this project as a speaker, presenter, support worker.

Get to know our program graduates: Hear from WOC mentee Madison Howarth, who is mentored by Director of Indigenous content (NITV), Tanya Denning-Orman

“

With more First Nations people and people of colour within the media, at all levels, we’re a step closer to reading and watching stories that more accurately reflect the true picture of this country.

             –MDA’s 2022 Women of Colour mentee, Madison Howarth
”

What is your favourite part about working with your MDA Mentor?

My favourite part of working with my MDA Mentor is having someone with extensive experience to bounce ideas off and to turn to for support and encouragement. It can be daunting, in the early stages of your career, to come to a crossroads, so to have someone in your corner, offering advice, because they’ve been there, is really reassuring.

Outside of your Mentor, which First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse women working in Australian media do you most admire, and why?

Outside of my Mentor, I really admire Brooke Boney. Brooke has had a truly impressive career so far, particularly in the last couple of years. I think she’s a stellar role model for young Blak women in media and I always love seeing her succeed.

What does Media Diversity Australia's mission mean to you?

Media Diversity Australia’s mission to advocate for the value of cultural diversity within Australian media aligns with the central reason I wanted to work in media in the first place. A lack of diversity in Australia’s media has led to the underrepresentation of diverse stories, particularly First Nations stories told genuinely and truthfully. With more First Nations people and people of colour within the media, at all levels, we’re a step closer to reading and watching stories that more accurately reflect the true picture of this country.

Donate Now: Help us continue to have an impact, drive change & create a media landscape that truly looks and sounds like Australia

2022 was an action filled year for MDA and we certainly could not have done it without our supporters! Walk down memory lane with us and reflect on the impact we’ve had this year. But we still have a long road ahead and we need your help to continue to champion diversity across the Australian media landscape in 2023 and beyond! 

Help MDA continue to have impact and diversify our media landscape. Donate now!

Donate now

MDA Impact: Look back at the impact we’ve had so far as 2022 comes to a close

2022 was a huge year for Media Diversity Australia, not only for our team but for our media members, state chapters and supporters who play a vital role in helping us champion diversity across the Australian media landscape. 

As the year comes to a close, here are some highlights: 

  • We launched our membership model and currently have 10 inaugural media members including ABC, SBS, Channel 10, Channel 9, Channel 7, The Daily Aus, The Guardian, The Conversation,  AAP & a major media outlet yet to be announced! 
  • Our Disability Reporting Handbook was downloaded over 5000 times
  • We held over 15 events and panels this year with over 1000 attendees in total 
  • We released our biennial ‘Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories 2.0’ media report, which was downloaded over 950 times and counting!
  • We launched our TalentHub portal which connects diverse journalists and communications professionals with job opportunities and helps hirers find suitable candidates. Our portal currently consists of 140 talent listings and counting.
  • Launched the #ThingsIveHeard campaign which highlighted instances of casual discrimination towards minorities in media and unearthed 127 stories from diverse journalists and media professionals.
  • Delivered media training via community based programs (Community Voices & Amplifying Voices) to 26 trainees nationally. 
  • Successfully ran 6 programs including Summer Fellowships, Political Fellowships, Women of Colour Mentorships, Chinese-Australian Journalism Secondments, Amplifying Voices and Community Voices. Our program graduates had a 80% employment conversion rate.

For more information on our programs and resources, visit our website.

Visit our website

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

Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation led by journalists and media professionals. Australia is culturally and linguistically diverse, and our media should be too. Established in 2017, MDA has a unique role as a champion of cultural diversity in Australian journalism and news media. We have a vision for a media industry with full and equal participation for culturally diverse people at all levels.

Get in touch:

Newsletter

November 2022 Newsletter

Hi MDA supporters,

This month’s newsletter covers the latest media findings from our recently launched flagship biennial media report, Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories 2.0. We spotlight Brisbane radio producer Dr Eduardo Jordan, who scrutinises the discrimination of journalists with accents. Eduardo also chairs our QLD Chapter, which held a lively networking event last week. We chat with a mentee from our Women of Colour Mentorship, Alicia Vrajlal, and one of the program’s mentors, Cathy Wilcox, who shares insights from her monthly sessions. Lastly, MDA welcomes Lina Ali, our new Admin and Operations Coordinator, to the national team.

In this issue:

  • Spotlight: Executive Producer at The Wire radio show and MDA QLD Chapter Chair, Dr Eduardo Jordan, discusses the discrimination of journalists with an accent
  • New Report Released: Our latest media findings – Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories? 2.0
  • Get to know our program graduates: Hear from WOC mentee Alicia Vrajlal, who is mentored by the ABC’s Talent Manager, Paula Kruger
  • A new addition to our National Team: A warm welcome to our new Admin and Operations Coordinator, Lina Ali 
  • Women Of Colour Mentorships: A heartwarming testimonial from mentor Cathy Wilcox
  • ABC & MDA QLD panel and networking event: Snaps from the event!

Spotlight: Executive Producer at The Wire and MDA QLD Chapter Chair, Dr Eduardo Jordan, discusses the discrimination of journalists with an accent

Executive Producer at The Wire and MDA QLD Chapter Chair, Dr Eduardo Jordan
“
We need to understand and realise that, as a multicultural country, accents are here to stay, and this needs to be reflected everywhere.
– Executive Producer, The Wire & MDA QLD Chapter Chair , Dr Eduardo Jordan
”

Do you think a section of the audience discriminates against journalists with an accent in this country? If so, how does it affect the trajectory of their career?

I still believe there is a section of the audience discriminating against accents in Australia, but fortunately, that sector is becoming smaller. The audience realises accents are an essential part of multiculturalism and are becoming more accepting. However, this is not the case for most news editors in commercial media across Australia, who believe journalists should only have an ‘Australian’ accent to deliver the news. Yes, we are seeing more diversity in news and current affairs just on the looks of journalists, but still, accents are considered not Australian enough. 

Having said this, I believe it’s the responsibility of editors and people in leadership positions to change this issue. It’s OK to showcase accents in a cooking reality show, but not in the news and current affairs. In theory, an accent should not affect a journalist’s career, but unfortunately, it does affect it in looking for jobs in commercial media, which is reflected in the newsrooms.

Can you share an anecdote from when you felt discriminated against due to your accent while working in the journalism industry?

At the beginning of my career, I attended a conversation with a senior editor who spoke with journalism students. He explained issues about radio journalism, and everything was well until I asked him a question. It was a simple question on tips to produce radio stories. He said, ‘I’ll give you tips, but I can tell you, you will not get very far on the radio because of your strong accent. Australian newsrooms don’t like accents.’ Interestingly, this news editor started his career in the same radio station I work for.

Accent discrimination has been described as an invisible source of social bias. What steps can audiences take to help stop/prevent linguistic discrimination?

We must accept that everyone has an accent; even Anglo-Saxon Australians have a strong accent. We need to understand and realise that, as a multicultural country, accents are here to stay, and this needs to be reflected everywhere. Editors and people in leadership positions need to realise that journalists with an accent can do the job of a journalist as well or better than an Anglo-Saxon Australian with a ‘regular’ accent.

Our readers include young journalists taking their first steps into the industry. As someone who has worked in the industry, what is one piece of advice you can offer them?

Be yourselves! Work hard, and the results will be noticed in your work. The accent will not be an issue when your work speaks for itself.

New Report Released: Our latest media findings - Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories? 2.0

Last week we released our flagship biennial research, ‘Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories 2.0’, a ‘report card’ on Indigenous and cultural diversity in television news, with insights into what has changed, what has stayed the same, and opportunities to lead the charge toward greater diversity. 

Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories? 2.0 examines the Indigenous and cultural diversity of Australian news and current affairs television media – and asks – “Does Australian news and current affairs represent the society they serve?” given the latest Census data revealed Australia is more diverse than ever.

The findings show there is some way to go, with a serious need for media leaders to support meaningful and informed adjustments and interventions to build a more representative industry. It is also the first forensic examination of how our media treats cultural diversity at the workplace level.

The report has five studies and, through a combination of qualitative and quantitative data, details the experience and the extent of inclusion and representation of culturally diverse news and current affairs presenters and reporters.

View Report
View Infographic
Infographic- Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories 2.0

Get to know our program graduates: Hear from WOC mentee Alicia Vrajlal, who is mentored by the ABC’s Talent Manager, Paula Kruger

“
What I love most about working with my MDA Mentor is that it’s an opportunity for me to speak in a safe space with someone who understands and won’t be judgmental about any qualms, concerns or issues I face as a woman of colour in the media landscape.
– MDA Women of Colour mentee, Alicia Vrajlal
”

What is your favourite part about working with your MDA Mentor?

What I love most about working with my MDA Mentor is that it’s an opportunity for me to speak in a safe space with someone who understands and won’t be judgmental about any qualms, concerns or issues I face as a woman of colour in the media landscape. As well as her giving me advice about tackling the harder things, we also have a space to celebrate the wins. Hearing my mentor say she gets just as much out of spending time with me as I do with her felt special and speaks of the power of mentorship programs like this, and I love how the mentor/mentee relationship has evolved in just a few months. 

Outside of your Mentor, which First Nations or multicultural woman working in Australian media do you most admire, and why?

I have great admiration for fellow South Asian Australian journalist Sarah Malik. She has not only worked on serious investigative journalism but also shone in a space at SBS Voices that helps carve out a platform for other diverse voices to be heard. I also admire Future Women’s Jamila Rizvi, who always had time to chat with me back when I was an intern almost ten years ago (and still does). Of course, I greatly respect Antoinette Lattouf, who co-founded Media Diversity Australia. 

What does Media Diversity Australia's mission mean to you?

Media Diversity Australia’s mission means helping create an Australian media landscape that looks, feels and sounds like the diverse and multicultural Australia it is. It’s about allowing people with diverse lived experiences to be heard through quality journalism and media coverage – whether by working in the media or being included in narratives as consultants or interviewees.

Read Alicia Vrjlal’s latest article – ‘You Can’t Be What You Can’t See’: What Sarah Abo’s Today Show Role Means For Arab Women in Australia. 

Click here

A new addition to our National Team: A warm welcome to our new Admin and Operations Coordinator, Lina Ali

As the scope of our work grows, so does our team! 

We are introducing the newest addition to Media Diversity Australia’s national team, our Admin and Operations Coordinator, Lina Ali. 

Lina Ali is a Muslim Indian-Australian emerging writer from Parramatta, NSW, who loves all things written and media. Currently, she is studying for a double degree, majoring in English Literature and Politics, and completing a Bachelor of Islamic Studies part-time. In March 2022, Lina was awarded as a Highly Commended recipient of the All About Women of Colour Mentorship Program. As a part of this program, she received editorial guidance and mentorship from Randa Abdel-Fattah and Sweatshop’s Winnie Dunn. Lina’s short story ‘Shaking Hands Suffocate‘ was published on the Sydney Opera House Website.

Lina also received an internship to work as an SBS Diversity and Inclusion Research Assistant and as a Voices writer through the 2022 Createability Internship program, which is a partnership between Create NSW and Accessible Arts and a range of NSW-based arts, screen and cultural organisations, to develop strong career pathways for people with disability.

You can find Lina’s by-lines across reputable platforms such as the ABC, SBS Voices and Meanjin Quarterly. Most recently, she published ‘As a neurodiverse woman, small talk and networking are a nightmare‘ with SBS Voices.

We are thrilled to welcome you to the team, Lina! 

Women of Colour Mentorships: A heart-warming testimonial from Mentor Cathy Wilcox

Our year-long Women of Colour mentorships are well underway. As our mentees’ progress in their professional careers, their interactions with their mentors have been mutually beneficial.

Here’s a poignant testimonial from Cathy Wilcox (Cartoonist, SMH/The Age), who is mentoring Famida Rahman:

“I’m enjoying my chats with Famida. They’ve become less specifically career-directed; she’s between pursuing the professional career she’s highly qualified for and finding ways to bring creativity into her life. She seems to be finding a balance in these things, even while her career options are wide open.

What’s interesting for me (and I hope useful for her) is exploring the parallels we find between her particular cultural background and how she forms her identity, and the process of becoming an adult (in any culture), learning to define yourself on your terms and find your voice.

I’ve thought a great deal about identity in many aspects, and seeking to understand ourselves is vital for determining our life’s priorities.”

MDA & ABC QLD panel and networking event: Snaps from the event!

MDA & ABC QLD panel and networking event

Last week, Media Diversity Australia, in partnership with our media partner the ABC held a panel and networking event at ABC South Brisbane. 

The informative panel titled Newsroom Nuances – Reporting on diverse communities was moderated by Dr Eduardo Jordan with a fantastic lineup of panellists including Visual Storyteller at ABC News, Lillian Rangiah; ABC Asia-Pacific Newsroom journalist Melissa Maykin; CEO of Islamic College Brisbane and multicultural champion, Ali Kadri; author, public speaker and our QLD Chapter Disability Affairs Officer, Lisa Cox.

We thank our QLD chapter and our gracious hosts, ABC Brisbane and Griffith University for running this panel and networking event.

Since its launch in 2017, MDA has introduced state-based chapters in NSW, VIC, QLD and ACT. Stay tuned for upcoming chapter events in the coming year. We will see you there! 

abc-news-logo-01

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

Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation led by journalists and media professionals. Australia is culturally and linguistically diverse, and our media should be too. Established in 2017, MDA has a unique role as a champion of cultural diversity in Australian journalism and news media. We have a vision for a media industry with full and equal participation for culturally diverse people at all levels.

Get in touch:

Newsletter

October 2022 Newsletter

Hi MDA readers,

Our year-long Women of Colour (WOC) mentorships have almost hit the halfway mark! This month we’re spotlighting the success of one mentee, Pranjali Sehgal, who secured a Digital Video Producer role at SBS during her mentorship with 9 News Melbourne journalist Shuba Krishnan. We also get to know another mentee, Angelique Lu, who shares insights from her sessions with her mentor, Bernadine Lim, Commissioning Editor, Documentaries (SBS). We have kicked off our third annual Summer Fellowships with Google News Initiative. Entries are open to First Nations and multicultural final-year and graduate students interested in a media career, with seasonal placements at outlets like ABC, The Guardian, AAP and Channels 7, 9 and 10. MDA is also thrilled to introduce our new industry membership model, where we invite media companies, educational institutes and industry partners to embrace the storytelling power of Australia’s diverse cultural landscape. We also call on diverse journalists and media professionals who have faced online harassment or violence to complete this short, anonymous research survey about tackling the online safety of diverse journalists. We’re sending a big congratulations to the three winners of our inaugural Chinese-Australian Journalism Secondment program, who have already started making a splash in the media. And finally, senior travel and lifestyle editor Sudeshna Ghosh explores the state of play in Australia’s travel content landscape, questioning the absence of diverse voices. 

In this issue:

  • Spotlight: Women of Colour mentee Pranjali Sehgal landed a role working as a Digital Video Producer at SBS during her mentorship with journalist Shuba Krishnan
  • Entries are open for MDA’s Summer Fellowships 2023: Calling for expressions of interest from final-year and graduate university/TAFE students interested in a media career
  • Introducing our new industry membership model: Inviting media companies, educational institutes and industry partners to embrace the storytelling power of Australia’s diverse cultural landscape 
  • Calling all diverse journalists from minority communities –  we need your help: Please fill in this anonymous research survey about tackling the online safety of diverse journalists 
  • Get to know our Women of Colour mentees: Hear from our second mentee, Angelique Lu, mentored by Bernadine Lim, Commissioning Editor, Documentaries (SBS)
  • Chinese – Australian Journalism Secondments: Congratulations to our three secondment winners! 
  • Why is Australian travel media lacking in diversity?: Senior travel and lifestyle editor, Sudeshna Ghosh explores the state of play in Australia’s travel content landscape, questioning the absence of diverse voices
  • Upcoming MDA Events: Save the date!

Spotlight: Women of Colour mentee Pranjali Sehgal landed a role working as a Digital Video Producer at SBS during her mentorship with journalist Shuba Krishnan

MDA Women of Colour mentee & Digital Video Producer at SBS, Pranjali Sehgal
“

I’ve always read mentorships can be transformative, but it is only when I reflect on the month leading up to the job offer do I see an undeniable change and the definite influence of my mentorship on my behaviour.

– MDA Women of Colour mentee & Digital Video Producer at SBS, Pranjali Sehgal
”

“Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to be mentored by incredible the Shuba Krishnan through Media Diversity Australia’s Women of Colour program, and it is safe to say the experience has been remarkable – it even helped me to land a new gig at SBS News as a Digital Video Producer last month! I’ve always read mentorships can be transformative. Still, it is only when I reflect on the month leading up to the job offer do I see an undeniable change and the definite influence of my mentorship on my behaviour. The shift is in the small things, which then ripples to create a big shift.

When I had my first conversation with Shuba, I had just come out of my gig at ABC News and was on the hunt to get back in the newsroom. I remember we spoke of the immense value of networking in media and the best ways to do it authentically. We also spoke of the power of being proactive. We dived into her experiences as a young grad determined to be a journalist who seized opportunities for everything they were worth and even created some when there weren’t any. We spoke of the skills I wanted to develop, the attributes I perceived to be my strengths and what direction I’m treading to grow in. It is rare to find a mentor who not only started their career in a similar position to yourself and achieved success but who is also genuinely willing to share their experience – the successes, the failures, the hows, and the whys – so transparently with your development as a mentee in mind. And then to have that mentor also be a woman of colour who understands the nuances of how I may perceive, engage with or navigate things and has crossed the paths I want to be walking is transformational.

In about a month following that initial conversation, I landed an interview at SBS News (proactively) and remember buzzing Shuba as I prepped for the day. As a now-former SBS journalist and an experienced woman of colour in the industry, Shuba’s insights were monumental in how I approached the interview and the opportunity. Throughout the entire process, she was always down for a chat and ready to lend a friendly hand or a piece of advice if I needed it. The mentorship has unquestionably made me more aware and confident in what I have to offer. It has helped me recognise the things I want to develop, which helped me succeed in the interview and now guides me as I build my way forward in the new role. And even though I’m only a few months into the mentorship, I am far from when I started and can’t wait for what comes ahead.”

Entries are open for MDA’s Summer Fellowships 2023: Calling for expressions of interest from final-year and graduate university/TAFE students interested in a media career

Summer Fellowships 2023: Entries are open

Media Diversity Australia is calling for expressions of interest from students in their final year or graduates who have completed a media /communications degree OR have experience in a news-related role (e.g. a student newspaper) and are keen to get industry experience at a mainstream media outlet over the summer break.

The project aims to place 12 final-year students or recent graduates in 12 different mainstream media outlets nationwide.

Our host newsrooms include: 

  • ACT (Press Gallery) 

Fairfax Media (The Age/Sydney Morning Herald), Australian Financial Review, ABC News Politics

  • NSW

The Guardian, Newscorp 

  • VIC

AAP, Channel 9 News 

  • QLD 

The Courier-Mail, SCA Radio 

  • WA

10 News First Perth, Channel 7 News/ The West Australian

  • SA

ABC Sports

Applications close at 5 pm AEST on Friday, 11 November. Successful candidates will be announced in early December after an interview process.

Any questions regarding the Summer Fellowship can be sent to MDA’s Director Of Special Projects, Simone Jordan: simone@mediadiversityaustralia.org

For more information on our 2023 Summer Fellowships, visit our website:

Visit our website
Apply here

Introducing our new industry membership model: Inviting media companies, educational institutes and industry partners to embrace the storytelling power of Australia’s diverse cultural landscape

MDA Membership
“

“Not only does MDA add and change the direction of discourse in our industry for the better, but they implement systemic changes that will benefit the future of media and the future of so many young journalists.”

             –Head of Digital News & Strategy Network Ten, Rashell Habib
”

As the nation’s most recognised advocacy body for cultural diversity and representation in media, MDA helps drive impactful change to ensure that the Australian media landscape looks and sounds more like Australia. 

With a track record of driving systemic change and creating pathways, we are pleased to offer our diversity, equity, and inclusion expertise through our MDA Membership. 

MDA’s bespoke membership program is for companies working across print, broadcast, digital, and everything in between. We empower members through our strategic insights and frameworks and translate our research and advocacy into practical, actionable, and genuine steps towards greater diversity and representation.  

Member organisations benefit from MDA’s expert directory and TalentHub, strategic insights and frameworks to help enrich the mix of faces and voices Australians hear, see and read daily.

Our current members include ABC, AAP, The Guardian, The Daily Aus, SBS, Channel 9, Channel 10, and Channel 7. Welcome to our inaugural members!  

Keen to become a member today? Email us at membership@mediadiversityaustralia.org 

For more information on our membership model, visit our website:

Visit our website

Calling all diverse journalists from minority communities - we need your help: Please fill in this anonymous research survey about tackling the online safety of diverse journalists

Online Safety of Diverse Journalists Research Survey

Media Diversity Australia, in collaboration with Macquarie University and Griffith University, is conducting the first-ever research survey on diverse journalists’ online safety to better understand the extent of online safety and harassment issues in Australia. 

Our survey aims to address three main issues:

  • Online safety experiences of minority journalist groups online
  • The personal and professional impact of trolling and abuse, 
  • The role social media platforms and employers play and where they fall short. 

So, if you or anyone you know is a diverse journalist or media professional who has endured any form of online harassment, abuse and violence, we’d love to hear from you!

Take this anonymous five-minute survey NOW

Take the survey

Get to know our Women of Colour mentees: Hear from our second mentee, Angelique Lu, mentored by Bernadine Lim, Commissioning Editor, Documentaries (SBS)

“

One of the reasons I became a journalist was that I wanted to hear more stories about the people I grew up with. Ordinary people who had their backstories and histories who might otherwise be overlooked.

             –MDA’s 2022 Women of Colour mentee, Angelique Lu
”

What have you enjoyed most about being part of this 12 month mentorship program?

I’m enjoying the insights and perspectives I’m gaining from our chats to help me shape and create my career path and decision-making.

Outside of your Mentor, which First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse women working in Australian media do you most admire, and why?

Lee Lin Chin is one of my journalism heroes. She was the first Asian woman I saw on television that wasn’t on a reality cooking show. I love her accent, the way she commanded authority when she read the news, and of course, her fierce outfits.

What does Media Diversity Australia's mission mean to you?

One of the reasons I became a journalist was that I wanted to hear more stories about the people I grew up with. Ordinary people who had their backstories and histories who might otherwise be overlooked. Media Diversity Australia gives me hope that more of these stories will be heard and covered.

Chinese - Australian Journalism Secondments: Congratulations to our three secondment winners!

Chinese - Australian Journalism Secondment winners

We are pleased to announce the three Chinese- Australian Journalism Secondment winners who have recently commenced their eight-week program at mainstream newsrooms! 

  • Minyue Ding

Placement: The Age

“Media Diversity Australia means a chance for me to be seen. It means I can have an opportunity in this industry as a foreigner. And it also means that I can be the voice for people who share the same background as me.”

  • Jenny Tang

Placement: ABC Asia Pacific

I believe Media Diversity Australia’s mission mirrors the Australian society we’re living in currently. MDA plays a unique but pivotal role in championing cultural diversity in Australian media, and this is a true reflection of society and the world in 2022.” 

  • Yimin Qiang

Placement: ABC Asia Pacific

“Media Diversity Australia’s mission means increasing diversity in the mainstream newsroom and interviewing subjects on stories relevant to the diverse Chinese-Australian communities. In the end, it’s about people, letting people from diverse backgrounds be heard and building better relations between Chinese communities, community media and mainstream media outlets.” 

A big congratulations to our secondees, we are so excited to see you pave the path of journalism, accurately represent your communities and help us create a media landscape that looks and sounds like Australia. 

Why is Australian travel media lacking in diversity?: Senior travel & lifestyle editor Sudeshna Ghosh explores the state of play in Australia’s travel content landscape, questioning the absence of diverse voices

Sudeshna Ghosh, senior travel and lifestyle editor
“

…the demographic of the average traveller has changed in the past century. You don’t need me to tell you that Australian society is more multicultural than ever, and consequently, so is the average Australian traveller. And yet, the voices in travel content in the Australian media landscape are still overwhelmingly lacking in cultural diversity.

             –Sudeshna Ghosh, Senior travel and lifestyle editor
”

It was a line in a column by a well-known travel writer in one of Australia’s leading national travel publications that brought things to a head (in my head). I can’t remember the exact story (I think it might have had something to do with hotel buffets). Still, the statement “anywhere in the civilised world” – clearly referencing the western world – rankled. 

The underlying implication is that other regions, such as Asia, which are big on tourism but are home to many developing nations, are… wait, uncivilised?  

What exactly is the definition of civilisation here? Are we ignoring the thousands of years-old civilisations of, say, Thailand or Vietnam, or is it perhaps the oldest civilisation in the world in the Indian subcontinent that we are overlooking in this sweeping statement?   

Don’t get me wrong, the actual column was well-intentioned, and the writer and publication are both ones I personally respect. It was most likely a passing statement that would have been the default language for the writer.  

And that’s where the problem lies. It is no one individual’s fault. It’s the ongoing stereotyping that, like every other media beat, travel content has also fallen victim to – largely thanks to the unilateral perspective it usually offers.  

Modern travel, for leisure, is irrefutably a pursuit of the privileged, and perhaps that is why (English language) travel writing has almost always been from the perspective of a white traveller. A phenomenon that often ends up reinforcing colonial tropes.   

But the demographic of the average traveller has changed in the past century. You don’t need me to tell you that Australian society is more multicultural than ever, and consequently, so is the average Australian traveller. And yet, the voices in travel content in the Australian media landscape are still overwhelmingly lacking in cultural diversity.  

According to TravMedia, the country’s largest travel media community, there are around 950 full-time travel writers in Australia, and upwards of 2000 who dabble in travel writing across freelance and in-house editorial positions. Nick Wayland, the founder of TravMedia, estimates that around 80 per cent of this cohort is white Anglo-Saxon. 

While it’s not easy to get hard stats for this kind of information, anecdotally, the membership at the Australian Society of Travel Writers, reflects an even higher ratio when it comes to persons of colour. Need more proof? You need only look at the bylines in most Australian travel publications.  

Our national appetite for travel is higher than the global average, and in 2022, over 70 per cent of Australians are planning to travel* – as pent-up demand explodes. According to YouGov, over a third of Australian consumers make travel decisions influenced by what they read in the media. That is a lot of people who are making decisions informed by the view through a fairly narrow lens. 

One element of travel content in Australia I am particularly concerned about is the glaring absence of indigenous voices – especially now that indigenous tourism is (finally) becoming more mainstream, and we are getting a bit more exposure to this incredibly rich culture. Wouldn’t it be nice – and truly authentic – to have someone with an innate understanding of this culture tell us the story, rather than yet another write-up on a ‘dreaming tour’ that smacks of otherness?  

I don’t believe that anyone is intentionally not being inclusive in their approach, it’s a widespread obliviousness to the issue more than anything else. 

I also want to state that most of the mainstream travel writers I have encountered throughout my career are among the most open-minded, curious and ‘woke’ people around. It would be hard to do this job without those qualities. But that still doesn’t change the fact that the lived experiences of people from diverse backgrounds would be different, which alone can bring a whole other layer to the content.  

Overseas, the change is already taking place – slowly, but surely. Australian media still seems a bit behind the eight ball, and the change needs to happen through the ranks. 

Remember that iconic 1980’s Tourism Australia ‘shrimp on the barbie’ ad? While aimed at inbound tourists, it helped define Australia and its people in the context of travel for generations. Perhaps it’s time to update it to add some ‘tandoori or satay chicken’ on the barbie?  

*Various sources including data from Newscorp, Nine and Savvy.com.au 

Upcoming MDA Events - Save the date!

  • MDA’s Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories 2.0 Research Launch – Tuesday, 22nd November 2022
  • Queensland Chapter Networking event & panel – Wednesday, 23rd November 2022
  • End of Year event hosted at Canva (MDA members & partners) – Tuesday, 6th December 2022
  • Media Industry Roundtable hosted at SBS by Minister Michelle Rowland (MDA members) – Late Feb 2023

Save the date in your calendar and stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

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

Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation led by journalists and media professionals. Australia is culturally and linguistically diverse, and our media should be too. Established in 2017, MDA has a unique role as a champion of cultural diversity in Australian journalism and news media. We have a vision for a media industry with full and equal participation for culturally diverse people at all levels.

Get in touch:

Newsletter

September 2022 Newsletter

Hi MDA supporters, 

In this month’s newsletter we put the spotlight on award-winning investigative journalist and author of ‘Desi Girl’, Sarah Malik. We are thrilled to  launch our TalentHub portal which connects diverse journalists and communications professionals with media employers. Speaking of launching, join our upcoming ACT Chapter launch hosted by the Hon Multicultural Minister Andrew Giles MP on Tuesday, 27 September at 6pm and hear from some of Canberra’s finest journalists. As the scope of MDA’s work grows, so does our team! We welcome the newest addition to our national team, Madlen Toumbourou, as she takes on the role of Growth and Development Manager. Our year long Women of Colour mentorships are well underway, get to know our first mentee, Nehal Dalgliesh as she shares insights from her mentoring sessions with broadcaster, author and co-founder of MDA, Antoinette Lattouf. We’ve partnered with RMIT to host a panel discussion chaired by ABC RN Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas to discuss industry challenges, diversity and the future of journalism. And finally, journalist and disability advocate Eliza Hull and best-selling children’s author Sally Rippin have released a ground-breaking picture book, Come Over to My House that celebrates the home-lives of Deaf and disabled families.

In this issue:

  • Spotlight: Award-winning Australian investigative journalist and author of ‘Desi Girl’, Sarah Malik 
  • Launching our TalentHub: A portal connecting diverse journalists and communications professionals with media employers
  • ACT Chapter Launch: We are expanding to the ACT! Our launch event is hosted by the Hon Multicultural Minister Andrew Giles MP featuring a panel discussion featuring some of Canberra’s finest journalists
  • New addition to MDA’s national team: A warm welcome to our new Growth and Development Manager, Madlen Toumbourou 
  • Get to know our Women of Colour mentees: Hear from our first mentee, Nehal Dalgliesh mentored by journalist, author and co-founder of MDA, Antoinette Lattouf 
  • MDA & RMIT Event: Journalism: So you want to be a Journalist? panel
  • Come Over to My House written by journalist & disability advocate Eliza Hull and best-selling children’s author Sally Rippin: A ground-breaking picture book that celebrates the home-lives of Deaf and disabled families 

Spotlight: Award-winning Australian investigative journalist and author of ‘Desi Girl’, Sarah Malik

Investigative journalist & author of Desi Girl, Sarah Malik
“

What is more important to me is representation and equality, of ensuring there are not only 10 interns of colour, but that there are also behind the scenes leaders of colour in media and arts organisations changing culture at the highest level and involved in decision making and in the highest pay brackets.

–Investigative journalist & author of Desi Girl, Sarah Malik 
”

Your book Desi Girl explores the power of writing from the margins and outlines the complexities of living between different worlds. Can you tell us a bit about your book?

This book is a collection of memoir stories about everything from learning to ocean swim as an adult, uncovering family’s past, about my relationship with travel, reading, work, money, therapy, wellness, loving Jane Austen, buying a first home, language, moving out of home, and figuring out my identity as someone whose parent were immigrants. 

Race and feminism are the lens with which I view the world, so a lot of these everyday stories are told through the lens – what does it mean to be a particular kind of person navigating certain spaces, told with a lot of humour and love. Immigration, gender and race are all themes that have animated me in my work and journalism. To explore how they have shaped my own life and turn that gaze on myself was the next step from writing about other people.

Desi girl accurately depicts the feeling of being the only person of colour in the room and the obvious lack of diversity in the media industry. Do you think this is changing? What steps need to be taken to ensure that our media is reflective of its audience?

At a core level the book is about searching for yourself and finding yourself and I think it will resonate with any person who is trying to do that whatever background you are from. For me it was accelerated by being a young Muslim woman in a post 9/11 world, where who are you suddenly is in the media spotlight in really grotesque and caricatured ways; and that almost forced a process of inward reflection that was a gift in a way. 

I loved storytelling but often the politics of the newsroom embodied the very inequalities we were trying to highlight – from class, gender and race. 

Recently, I feel like Diversity and Inclusion have been co-opted, highly corporatized, liability-saving terms devoid of their original meaning; creating an industry where those who profit from it are sometimes white people and people of colour serve as talent or tokenistic faces. What is more important to me is representation and equality, of ensuring there are not only 10 interns of colour, but that there are also behind the scenes leaders of colour in media and arts organisations changing culture at the highest level and involved in decision making and in the highest pay brackets.Change does not happen gracefully but forcibly and it’s important that the needle keeps shifting so change is not surface level but structural.

Our readers include young diverse journalists taking their first steps into the media industry. - As someone who has worked in the industry, what is one piece of advice you can offer them?

This book is about finding yourself and knowing that the things that make you different are not liabilities, they can be strengths and the source of your greatest power. Sometimes when you are made to feel inferior or excluded because of your difference, you are forced to go through windows, explore the roof and the attic and the basements; it gives you a perspective that others don’t always have and that is valuable. I want young journalists of colour to know that if you are finding it challenging, progressing or even getting started, don’t gaslight or berate yourself. 

 I hope that my contribution opens the space for different kinds of stories to occupy the mainstream and it normalises them and makes people feel seen and it also interrogates the way in which we inhabit space is impacted by who we are and makes that more explicit. I had this huge fear that by talking about some of my negative experiences in the media would jeopardise my career opportunities, and I would be seen as a whinger? Particularly looking at my interaction with white liberal progressives/spaces where racism plays out in much more subtle ways; where you are easily replaced by a more amenable person of colour that can paper over racial dynamics in the workplace, if you complain too loudly. I think so many of us silence ourselves out of fear. But naming those experiences is so powerful because you realise there are common threads with others and you start to see a pattern emerge that is bigger than you as an individual. I think making that discrimination invisible that is exactly how the status quo continues. Change is uncomfortable but it begins by sharing our stories and by claiming space. It’s not always an equal playing field and we need to identify these things to make structural changes to ensure our work spaces are more inclusive. 

Sarah Malik is the author of the memoir Desi Girl: On feminism, race, faith and belonging (UQP)

Here is the booktopia link for Desi Girl

Buy the book here

Launching our TalentHub: A portal connecting diverse journalists and communications professionals with media employers

TalentHub

Introducing our TalentHub, a first of its kind, growing pool of diverse talent with multi-level media expertise. MDA’s TalentHub connects diverse journalists and communications professionals with job opportunities and helps hirers find suitable candidates. 

Are you interested in seeking opportunities in the Media industry? Register in our Talent Hub NOW! 

For more information on our TalentHub visit MDA’s website:

TalentHub

ACT Chapter Launch: The Hon Multiculturalism Minister Andrew Giles MP (representing Communications Minister Michelle Rowland) will be officially launching our latest state chapter in the ACT

ACT Chapter launch

Since Media Diversity Australia’s  launch in 2017, we have introduced state-based chapters in NSW, VIC and QLD. We are pleased to be expanding to the ACT  where our ACT Chapter will be run by local journalists, key policy makers and media and communications professionals! 

The ACT launch will be hosted by Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Multiculturalism who will also deliver a keynote speech, followed by a panel discussion led by some of Canberra’s finest journalists and commentators including Nour Haydar (ABC), Julia Kanapathippillai (Canberra Star, News Corp), Dr Liz Allen (ANU & Phillip Coorey (AFR). 

This must-attend event will be held on Tuesday, 27 September at 6pm at the Australian National University in Canberra. 

Get a chance to meet our CEO, Mariam Veiszadeh and hear about MDA’s exciting new membership offering for media, educational and industry partners. 

This free event is open to current and aspiring journalists from across commercial, public broadcasting and community/ethnic media, as well as media academics, industry partners and key policy makers.

Want to attend MDA’s ACT launch? 

REGISTER HERE

New addition to MDA’s national team: A warm welcome to our new Growth and Development Manager, Madlen Toumbourou

Growth and Development Manager, Madlen Toumbourou

As the scope of our work grows, so does our team! 

Introducing the newest addition to MDA’s national team our Growth and Development Manager, Madlen Toumbourou. 

Madlen is a dynamic leader, strategist, storyteller, and project manager in the not-for-profit sector.

With a background in Psychology, Business Development, and Operations Management, Madlen’s breadth of experience includes supporting individuals on their mental health recovery journey, to building thriving team culture, to management of national tenders. She’s also an award-winning chef.

She’s known for bringing diverse stakeholders together to tackle complex challenges, and using structure to help enliven solution-focussed thinking.

We are delighted to welcome you to the team Madlen!

Get to know our Women of Colour mentees: Hear from our first mentee, Nehal Dalgliesh mentored by broadcaster, author and co-founder of MDA, Antoinette Lattouf

“

MDA is ensuring our voices are heard and our perspectives are shared

             –MDA’s 2022 Women of Colour mentee, Nehal Dalgliesh
”

What have you enjoyed most about being part of this 12 month mentorship program?

My favourite part about working with Antoinette is seeing how her incredible mind works. There’s a reason she can conquer a million things at once: she’s indomitable, confident, understands that being uncomfortable is the only path to growth, has a knack for taking something that may seem insurmountable and breaking it down so it’s completely achievable… and she’s super organised!

Outside of your Mentor, which First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse women working in Australian media do you most admire, and why?

There are so many multicultural women in the Australian media I admire, but the one who has always stood out to me is Yumi Stynes. Long before most of us were talking about diversity, Yumi was breaking barriers in the media landscape. She knows exactly who she is and what she believes in. She is always herself and doesn’t try to fit in with any expectations of who she should be. I love her fearlessness and her resilience, and having worked with her briefly, I know first hand that she has an incredibly kind spirit.

What does Media Diversity Australia's mission mean to you?

I’ve always been one of only a handful of women of colour in the room, sometimes the entire network. But MDA is changing that. They’re creating opportunities, a sense of community and support. They’re ensuring our voices are heard and our perspectives are shared. How amazing that generations of people will grow up with diversity being the norm rather than the exception?

MDA & RMIT Event: Journalism: So you want to be a Journalist? panel

RMIT & MDA Panel event

So, you want to be a journalist? Challenges, diversity, and the future — Panel event 

We’ve partnered with RMIT to host  a lively panel discussion chaired by ABC RN Breakfast host (and RMIT Journalism alumni) Patricia Karvelas to discuss industry challenges, diversity and the future of journalism. 

The panelists include award-winning journalist currently working as the social affairs and inequality editor at Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes; co-chair of MDA’s Victoria Chapter Zena Chamas, who is also a  journalist, filmmaker and documentary producer plus Melbourne-based writer and frequent commentator on Australian politics and media, Tim Dulop.

RSVP here

‘Come Over to My House’ by journalist & disability advocate Eliza Hull and best-selling children’s author Sally Rippin: A ground-breaking picture book that celebrates the home-lives of Deaf and disabled families

Come Over to My House by Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin

Journalist & Disability advocate Eliza Hull and best-selling children’s author Sally Rippin have together created Come Over to My House, a joyful and inclusive story that features positive representations of families with a  variety of disabilities, and all the ways their homes have been adapted to be more accessible and fun! 

Come Over to My House features a family with dwarfism, an Autistic father and child, a mother who is blind and more, the book uses delightful rhyming text and stunning illustrations to follow each child through their  home. 

The purpose of the book is to spotlight positive and authentic representation of families that are disabled, and illustrated with joy and energy by Daniel Gray-Barnett. Both Eliza and Sally hope that  disabled young people and families see themselves represented within its pages, sending a powerful message of inclusion. 

The poignant children’s book, Come Over to My House is a must-read for families, and is available  online and in all good bookstores. 

Buy the book 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

Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation led by journalists and media professionals. Australia is culturally and linguistically diverse, and our media should be too. Established in 2017, MDA has a unique role as a champion of cultural diversity in Australian journalism and news media. We have a vision for a media industry with full and equal participation for culturally diverse people at all levels.

Get in touch:

Newsletter

August 2022 Newsletter

Hello MDA supporters, 

This month, we’re spotlighting Rachel Evans, our ABC Everyday 2021 summer intern, who’s recently started working as an editor at a youth culture magazine Complex Australia. RSVP now if you’d like to attend our upcoming panel and networking events in Melbourne on 30th August at 6pm, and in Sydney on 14th September at 6 pm, where you can meet like-minded people and talk about all things media and communications. We’re also backing a pledge by Commsgrad, an EdTech platform, to help improve diversity of voice in the communications industry by 2030. And we celebrate four young media professionals who’ve come through MDA’s various programs and are making an impact in the media landscape. Speaking of connecting, MDA has some exciting news to share so stay tuned for our announcement about MDA’s new membership model and TalentHub offering!

In this issue:

  • Spotlight on: Rachel Evans, MDA 2021 Summer intern at ABC Everyday
  • Victoria Networking Event: Tuesday, 30th August at 6pm It’s not too late to RSVP!
  • MDA & Bloomberg NSW Panel & Networking event: Wednesday, 14th September at 6pm, RSVP NOW
  • EdTech platform industry pledge backed by MDA: To help improve diversity of voice in the communications industry by 2030
  • MDA Chapter members achievements: Showcasing our own Kamin Gock  and Farid Farid
  • MDA Impact: We are very proud of two of our MDA graduates who’ve secured their first gigs in the industry
  • MDA Announcement coming soon: Stay tuned!

Spotlight on: Rachel Evans, MDA 2021 Summer intern at ABC Everyday

MDA's 2021 ABC Everyday summer intern, Rachel Evans
“
As young, ethnically diverse journalists – there are many, many reasons we might harbour certain doubts about ourselves and our ability to succeed in this industry. It’s okay to have and hold these doubts – but do not let them stop you.
– MDA’s 2021 summer intern at ABC Everyday, Rachel Evans
”

You were one of MDA's 2021 Summer Interns - Can you tell us a bit about your time at ABC Everyday? What is one piece of advice you can offer other young diverse journalists who are taking their first steps in the industry?

My time at ABC Everyday completely changed the trajectory of my career – it was an incredible experience. I had very little industry experience prior to my internship, and I grew so much in skill and confidence in my time there. 

My one piece of advice to young, diverse journalists would simply be to “be in the running”; it’s advice I took from NYTimes journalist Bella Kwai. I almost didn’t apply for the internship, because I truly didn’t think I had any chance of getting it, but in a cliché kind of way I thought of her words – “just be in the running,” even if only for practice’s sake. 

As young, ethnically diverse journalists – there are many, many reasons we might harbour certain doubts about ourselves and our ability to succeed in this industry. It’s okay to have and hold these doubts – but do not let them stop you. Cast them aside, apply anyway, and just be in the practice of being in the running – you never know who’s on the other end. This industry can feel impenetrable at times, but it only takes one co-sign to get you in the door. Don’t give up!

Following the internship, tell us a bit about your career progression.

Following the internship, I went on to work as a casual social media producer for ABC Melbourne, and later had the opportunity to re-join the wonderful team at ABC Everyday as a reporter. I also became a contributor for youth culture magazine Complex Australia, and in June was offered the role of Editor at Complex Australia – which is the role I’m currently in. It has been a whirlwind 7 months! 

Can you tell us a bit about your experience with Media Diversity Australia and what its mission means to you?

My experience with MDA has been life-changing. From the initial stages of applying for my internship, to during my internship and post-internship – the MDA team have cheered me on and supported me. The team took a chance on me when I didn’t have much experience as a journalist, and their confidence in me has meant so much, and made me feel emboldened. In terms of MDA’s mission and vision – that of creating a media industry with full and equal participation for culturally diverse people at all levels – it’s something that I strive to live out in my own career. As someone now responsible for overseeing editorial, it is of utmost importance to me that I champion and prioritise the exposure and development of diverse, young journalists. 

MDA’s vision to champion cultural diversity in Australian news and media means helping aspiring journalists get their foot in the door and provide support, so young POC can stay in the industry and wield influence. It means challenging the status quo to dramatically change Australia’s media landscape for the better. It means listening to  and actively addressing the concerns of an ever-growing demographic of Australians, and advocating for equal participation for all.

MDA Victoria Networking Event: Tuesday, 30th August at 6pm It’s not too late to RSVP!

It’s not too late to RSVP – Join Media Diversity Australia and our Victorian chapter committee for a night of networking, drinks, and more! 

Get a chance to meet and mingle with our CEO, Mariam Veiszadeh and our co-founder, Antoinette Lattouf, along with MDA’s Victoria chapter members and various media representatives.

Date: Tuesday, 30th August 2022 

Time: 6pm

Location: Garden State Hotel, 101 Flinders Lane Melbourne.

Want to attend the networking event? RSVP NOW at vic@mediadiversityaustralia.org

MDA & Bloomberg NSW Panel & Networking event: Wednesday, 14th September at 6pm, RSVP NOW

Media Diversity Australia (NSW Chapter) & Bloomberg Australia would like to cordially invite you to a lively panel discussion on the evolving nature of journalism against the backdrop of the pandemic on Wednesday, 14th September at 6pm. 

The panel and networking event Journalism careers during a pandemic – has journalism changed forever? is the first activity of the year for MDA’s NSW chapter which has seen new faces join our organisation.

Panel Moderator: Ainslie Chandler, Sydney Bureau Chief Bloomberg

Panelists

  • Gavin Fang Deputy Director, Head National and International & Diversity Lead, ABC
  • Tanya Orman Denning, Director of Indigenous Content, NITV
  • Georgina McKay, Journalist, Bloomberg
  • Amber Schultz, Editor, Crikey Associate
  • Kevin Nguyen, Investigative Journalist ABC & MDA NSW Chapter

Want to attend this event? RSVP NOW!

RSVP HERE

EdTech platform industry pledge backed by MDA: To help improve diversity of voice in the communications industry by 2030

Australian EdTech platform Commsgrad that provides re-imagined communications career pathways to empower the next generation of diverse storytellers, recently announced its’ industry pledge that acknowledges the current lack of diversity of voice within the industry to work toward tangible improvements across the industry by 2030. 

MDA is proud to throw its support behind this fantastic initiative as we know that the media is a megaphone for culture – it not only reflects but has the incredible power to create and influence social and cultural norms. The faces, voices, stories and perspectives that are reflected back at audiences have broad implications.

While we are starting to witness a palpable push from many newsrooms to have their journalists and commentators reflect the broader community and by default, the wider conversation, more needs to be done to ensure that the next generation of diverse storytellers in the communications industry is keeping up pace.

You can view the full press release HERE.

MDA Chapter members achievements: Kamin Gock and Farid Farid

Kamin Gock (NSW Chapter Stakeholder Relations & Events Officer) 

Kamin Gock (NSW Chapter Stakeholder Relations & Events Officer) 

MDA’s NSW Chapter member and Sydney-based journalist, Kamin Gock was named the winner of the 2023 Andrew Olle Scholarship, alongside Brisbane-based triple j reporter, Ellie Grounds. 

The scholarship honours the life and work of the late ABC journalist Andrew Olle, who was one of Australia’s most admired broadcasters. Andrew presented some of the ABC’s flagship programs including Four Corners, The 7.30 Report and Mornings on ABC Radio Sydney (then 2BL). The scholarship is designed to create career development opportunities for young ABC journalists and to promote the values that epitomised Andrew Olle’s journalism.

Farid Farid (NSW Chapter Secretary)

Farid Farid (NSW Chapter Secretary)

MDA’s NSW Chapter member and Sydney-based news reporter at AAP, Farid Farid, has been making his mark on public discourse this month. Farid asked former Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison if possessing emergency powers in secret at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a slippery slope towards becoming an autocrat during a live press conference at the National Press Club.

View video here

MDA Impact: We are very proud of two of our MDA graduates who’ve secured their first gigs in the industry

2022 MDA political fellow, Khaled Al Khawaldeh

MDA takes pride in watching our past graduates/alumni transform into confident media professionals. Khaled is one of them! 

Former Federal Election Political Fellow at The Guardian, Khaled Al Khawaldeh, has recently been appointed as The Guardian’s new rural reporter! 

Khaled started out by attending Media Diversity Australia’s networking event, where he met and made connections with the team. He then applied for our 2022 Political Fellowship and was one of the three fellows to make their way to Canberra. Khaled was placed with Guardian Australia. When the fellowship ended, Khaled was appointed as The Guardian’s new rural reporter, a position funded by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation in a program instigated by the Centre for Media Transition at UTS. Khaled is heading up to Ayr in Queensland to bring his unique take on Australian regional life to a national audience.

MDA networking event attendee, Roseanne Maloney

Roseanne Maloney recognised her love for radio early on in her career. She started writing radio news at the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council, during which she attended a MDA Networking event in Victoria. There,  she made connections with MDA’s team and the ABC. Her contact with the ABC led to her working a casual radio role with the newsroom. Now, she’s started a prized cadetship at the ABC! 

A huge congratulations to both Khaled and Roseanne on their  appointments and their perseverance #MDAImpact

MDA Announcement coming soon: Stay tuned!

We’ve been working tirelessly on a new membership offering for media and industry partners. It’s a game changer – stay tuned for details in the coming weeks!

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

Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a national not-for-profit organisation led by journalists and media professionals. Australia is culturally and linguistically diverse, and our media should be too. Established in 2017, MDA has a unique role as a champion of cultural diversity in Australian journalism and news media. We have a vision for a media industry with full and equal participation for culturally diverse people at all levels.

Get in touch: