The State Government is ensuring all Victorians can tell their stories through a vibrant multicultural media outlet and recognise their critical role in building social cohesion and providing a trusted and reliable source of news and information to Victoria’s diverse, multicultural communities.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt announced the funding on Thursday 18 April that 40 media outlets across Victoria are set to benefit from the latest round of the Multicultural Media Grants program.
She said the grant ensures all Victorians have the opportunity to be heard.
“We continue to support the future of multicultural media and this funding will boost the capabilities of media outlets that represent the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Victorian community,” she said.
“This funding demonstrates the essential role that multicultural media has in connecting our state’s diverse communities, in telling the stories that matter, and ensuring accurate news and information is accessible to all Victorians.”
Grants of up to $25,000 will support production and publication of content, the purchase of equipment and the training or development of journalists at multicultural outlets.
Successful organisations represent a broad spectrum of media platforms across both regional Victoria and Melbourne – with 40 different ethnicities represented.
Africa Media Australia based in Wyndham will be supported to train their contributors in digital storytelling and the production of videos and podcasts – helping extend their audience reach across Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Based in the heart of Melbourne’s Turkish community in Hume, Dunya Turkish Newspaper will receive funding to purchase new equipment to increase the quality of their production and outreach to the Turkish speaking community.
Sunraysia Community Radio Association in Mildura will use their grant to train more volunteer presenters – boosting the number of people from multicultural communities that can present their own shows.
Funding through the Multicultural Media Grants program ensures media outlets can continue to tell the stories that matter to their communities and while delivering culturally appropriate and in-language news to multicultural Victorians.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has invested more than $3.8 million through the Multicultural Media Grants program to support close to 100 multicultural media outlets across the state.
For more information visit, vic.gov.au/multicultural-media-grants-program.
