New American Media

New Australia Media (NAM-Oz) was inspired by its partner New America Media (NAM), the largest collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organisations in the US.

Both are dedicated to bringing the voices of the marginalised - ethnic minorities, immigrants, young people, elderly - into the national discourse.  Communities will then be better informed, better connected and better able to influence policy makers.

New Australia Media

New Australia Media aims to give a voice to those in our community who are missing - and sometimes misrepresented - in the mainstream media.

A not-for-profit association, New Australia Media aims to make the mainstream media more multicultural and the multicultural media more mainstream.

The first project to progress this aim is a website featuring news from the 45% of the population who were either born overseas or have one parent born overseas, plus a Multicultural Media Association to act as an umbrella group for in-language publications.The website, hosted by the State Library of Victoria, features stories from multicultural Australia written mainly by young people from new and emerging communities. Journalist mentors volunteered their time to work one-on-one with these young people. Some of the young people were newly arrived in Australia, and most of the contributors had never written a story before.

While New Australia Media is a groundbreaking venture in Australia, the idea is not new. New America Media has been operating in California for many years, representing 600 ethnic media publishers and providing an online ethnic news service.

• like New America Media, its Australian partner aims to strengthen the multicultural media sector - bringing it out of the shadows, creating pride in communities and recognition for their contribution to Australian society
• provide a one-stop-shop in terms of access to multicultural publications
• create a cultural shift by encouraging publishers to work collaboratively, so that established publications can help newcomers with professional development and information exchange
• create successful business opportunities, including a multicultural polling company

New Australia Media is run by professionals who understand the industry, with volunteer editorial and advisory committees to set goals and determine guidelines. Salaries will be kept to a minimum, so operating costs are minimised.

New Australia Media has received financial support from VicHealth, The State Library of Victoria, Donkey Wheel and the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

It has partnerships with a wide range of organisations, including the Melbourne Press Club, the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance, the Centre for Multicultural Youth, AMES, the Ethnic Youth Council, Youth Central, The Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition, the African Think Tank, Arabic Social Services, the National Ethnic Multicultural Broadcasters Council.