FIRST MULTICULTURAL MEDIA AWARDS SET FOR 2013

20 June 2012

Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane today announced the Multicultural Media Awards and called for the wider community to get behind it.

"This will be the first time that multicultural media will have the chance for this sort of recognition," Mr Moselmane said.

"Since our first foreign-language newspaper Die Deutsche Post was published in Adelaide in 1848, they have had a big role to play in Australian life."

"Multicultural outlets - though small in size – have a big part to play enhancing journalism in New South Wales.  That's why they need to be recognised for the work they do."

"Where other outlets are struggling in a changing media landscape, multicultural publications still have a following because they cater to a niche audience," he said.

Mr Moselmane said that the awards were aimed at recognising and promoting excellence in multicultural journalists and community media.

"These awards will recognise the excellence of multicultural journalists and media outlets, and seeks to promote multicultural media," Mr Moselmane said.

"The categories will include areas such as Best Investigative Story, Best Article on Social Justice, as well as awards for photojournalism, radio and other media."

"We're still in the planning stages, but its launch is scheduled for early 2013 at NSW Parliament," he said.