February. 14 – The NSW Premiers Multicultural Media Awards held last night in Sydney, involving 13 different categories, continue to showcase the social awareness and technical innovation of NSW’s multicultural media, with the fortnightly publication Indian Link taking out three awards namely, Best Print Reporter (Editor Pawan Luthra), Best Young Journalist (Ritam Mitra); and Best Use of Online and Digital Media.
Filipino entry Ang Kalatas garnered the Best Online Publication of the Year award.
SBS Radio won both the Best Investigative Story of the Year ( for story Enemy Within which is about family violence in Australian Indian community) and the Best Feature of the Year (for documentary The Other 9-11 which is about the coup against President Salvador Allende of Chile and the role of some involved Australian spies during that time).
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello attended the awards at Doltone House Hyde Park in Sydney CBD.
Premier O’Farrell said, “I was impressed to see more than 110 entries were received in 13 categories covering print, radio, TV and the online media in this year’s awrds, which are on its second year.
“The multicultural media is invaluable resource to our community and tonight’s winners reflect the professionalism and dedication of those who work in the industry.”
For his part, Minister Dominello said the Premier’s Multicultural Media Awards also recognised the role multicultural media plays in promoting NSW to audiences around the world.
“Former head of SBS Radio Mr Tuan Quang Luu AO also deserves special mention after being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to multilingual and multicultural broadcasting in NSW,” Mr. Dominello said.
Greek newspaper Neos Kosmos has been named Best Print Publication, for its work as periodical keeping the Greek community informed.
Australian Jewish News Editor Zeddy Lawrence, won Best Editorial/Commentary while Radio Agila-Ang Kalatas.com won the Best Online Publication.
Publisher Millie Philips received the award for the Best Online Publication. Radio Agila is a weekly radio program on 109.0 BACR FM in Bankstown while Ang Kalatas is a monthly newspaper and online newspaper which was recipient of last year’s best online publication award.
Other nominees from the Philippine community for the awards which were edged out, however, by other nominees were Violi Calvert for her article in the Filipino-Australian web site on Quakers Hill nursing home arson (Best Editorial/Commentary), and 17-year old Tristan Filio for his contributed artices in Ang Kalatas newpaper ( for YoungJournalist of the Year).
“Our cultural diversity is one of our state’s greatest assets and the service of our multicultural media organisations continue to enhance it,” Mr Dominello said.
The Premier’s Multicultural Awards are one of the feature events of Multicultural March, a celebration of one of the State’s greatest assets – its cultural diversity.
The awards were conducted by the NSW Community Relations Commission and adjudicated by an independent panel of academics and media experts. See another story Full List of NSW Multicultural Media Awardees.