NZ: Diversity movers and shakers offer solutions

NZ: Diversity movers and shakers offer solutions at media forum

One of the leading mentors of media diversity journalism from the United States will join a team of Māori, Pasifika and ethnic journalists and editors for a Media Diversity Forum at AUT University next week [Monday, August 25].

The forum, part of the three-day action diversity programme organised by the Human Rights Commission, will feature

Arlene Notoro Morgan, associate dean of the Columbia Graduate Journalism School, New York, and co-author of The Authentic Voice, speaking on the challenges of “courageous coverage” of race and ethnicity in the US.

Her “Let’s do it better!” series of workshops are regarded as a model of good practice and her book and website are popular media resources.

“We set a standard by searching the nation through a competition that will bring some of the ‘best practitioners’ to the school to deconstruct their work,” she says.

PMC director associate professor David Robie says the forum at AUT is an opportunity to celebrate some of the innovative things that are being done by media for diversity reporting and look at some challenging strategies.

Ania Tapiata, of the Kawea te Rongo Māori journalists organisation, will speak about training and the new unit standards of cross-cultural reporting.

Bharat Jamnadas, a senior journalist with Asia Downunder, will talk about the success of a model TV magazine programme catering for many communities in New Zealand.

Taualeo’o Stephen Stehlin, executive producer of Tagata Pasifika, plans an overview of a successful diversity programme and TVNZ initiatives in the Pacific.

Pere Maitai, recently appointed news director of the Pacific Media Network, will discuss the responses of the pan-Pacific broadcaster of Niu FM and 531pi to the diverse needs of the many Pasifika communities.

An open forum will be chaired by Gilbert Wong, senior communications adviser for the Human Rights Commission.

Two new books co-published by the Pacific Media Centre are also being launched – Media and Development (with the University of the South Pacific) and South Pacific Islands Communication (with the Asian Media and Communication Centre and USP).

The forum kicks off a series of seminars at journalism schools leading up to a workshop to judge the inaugural NZ Excellence in Reporting Diversity Award.

The award has been initiated by Whitireia Journalism School with support from AUT’s Pacific Media Centre (PMC), NZ Journalists Training Organisation, Canterbury University Journalism Programme and the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Information for editors:

Media Diversity Forum

Monday, August 25

9am - 12 noon

Nga Wai Horotiu Marae

ends

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