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.

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!

Hi MDA supporters, In this July newsletter, our three MDA political fellows give us the lowdown on what it was like covering the recent federal election from the parliamentary press gallery during their placements with The Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald and AAP. We also spotlight our SMH political fellow, Katherine Wong to hear about her experience as a political reporting ‘newbie’ and her tips for young journo’s and we congratulate her on recently being appointed to a AAP Cadetship role! We introduce the first four women of colour mentorship program pairs in our new annual program cultivating the next wave of editorial leaders. We’re also calling for expressions of interest from early to mid-career Australians of Chinese heritage to undertake an eight-week Secondment program working in mainstream newsrooms. Our 2021 Summer interns reflect on their experiences during their internships. Entries are now open for the 67th Walkley Awards! And finally, we are so proud to announce that our CEO, Mariam Veiszadeh is one of the 12 Community ambassadors for the Racism. It Stops With Me. Campaign.

Hi MDA readers,  In this June newsletter, we spotlight the Ghanan born, Mussellbrook raised journalist and author, Mawunyo Gbogbo whose enthralling memoir, Hip Hop and Hymns, is a must-read! Calling all TV journalists, either on camera or off camera to help us out by completing a short anonymous research survey about representation in newsrooms. We bid farewell to our Amplifying Voices 2022 graduates as we celebrate their incredible transformation into confident spokespeople for their communities. We also introduce MDA’s 2022 chapter members, made up of journalists and media professionals across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. We celebrate The Greatest Menace, an Audible podcast which this year took out the 2022 Media Diversity Australia Award at the Mid-Year Walkleys. And while you’re with us, take a look at our snaps from our ‘Without Fear and Favour’ forum on reporting on China which we held in partnership with the National Ethnic Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council. Oh! And if you like our work, please make a tax-deductible donation to Give Back Now! 

Hello MDA readers, In our May newsletter, we put a timely spotlight on the CEO of Centre Of Multicultural Political Engagement, Literacy, and Leadership (COMPELL), Tharini Rowette and unpack how media and political diversity is inter-related.Prominent lawyer, Maker Mayek joins the MDA Advisory Board. Register NOW for the upcoming Reporting on China panel event moderated by Stan Grant. Our Amplifying Voices 2022 media training program commenced last Saturday, May 14, view Session 1 and 2 updates and hear from our Political fellows at the Canberra press gallery. And finally, book now to attend our Co-founder Antoinette Lattouf’s ‘How To Lose Friends and Influence White People’ book events in Melbourne and Brisbane.

Hi MDA supporters, In this month’s newsletter, in celebration of the first Asian-Australian woman being appointed to the board of an Australian media organisation we put the spotlight on Katrina Rathie, non-executive Director to Special Broadcasting Service. Find launch details and link to purchase MDA Co-founder Antoinette Lattouf’s book How to Lose Friends and Influence White People. We also introduce our upcoming event ‘Without Fear or Favour: How Chinese Australian journalists can cover China safely and fairly’ hosted by Stan Grant. Apply now for MDA’s voluntary Chapter Roles in NSW, VIC and QLD. And finally, meet the mentors for our Women of Colour Mentorship Program.

Hi MDA supporters, In our March newsletter we put the spotlight on Dania Roumieh, MDA's new Project Manager. Applications are now open for MDA’s Women of Colour Mentorships in partnership with Crescent Foundation, University of Melbourne and Monash University. Additionally, entries for the MDA Award at the mid-year Walkleys are open. ENTER NOW to be in the running! Catch a sneak peak behind the scenes of Community Voices Melbourne 2022. We also introduce our upcoming #BeingAnAlly campaign, as a follow up to our hugely successful #ThingsIveHeard campaign. And finally, in honour of International Women’s Day we present to you MDA Impact: IWD Edition.

Hi MDA supporters, This month, we put the spotlight on Rashell Habib, the first woman of colour in a director role in Australian television. Rashell is the head of Digital News and Strategy at Viacom/CBS. We are also delighted to announce the 13 Community Voices participants in Melbourne. Our CEO, Mariam Veiszadeh will be at our upcoming networking event in Canberra, so please come along if you can. Ever wondered what a day in the life of an MDA intern looks like? Angela Ho at 10 First News shares her daily routine with us! The Jessie Cox Audio Fellowship applications are now open. And finally, catch up on what MDA has been doing so far this year!

Happy New Year MDA supporters, In our first newsletter of 2022, we put the spotlight on Michelle Elias, a former MDA summer intern placed with the New York Times(2020), now a working journalist and mentor guiding the new wave of paid summer interns. We also announce the three winners of MDA’s Federal Election Political Fellowships and their placements in some of the best newsrooms in Australia. We are also thrilled to introduce MDA’s upcoming campaign #ThingsIveHeard, which focuses on raising awareness and informing others of the biases and negative comments diverse journalists often endure. Our CEO, Mariam Veiszadeh is nominated for the Pro Bono Australia #2022Impact25 awards (vote now!). And last but certainly not least, we quickly chronicle everything MDA achieved in 2021 as we step into 2022 with bigger plans and an unstoppable drive to make an impact.