Opinion writer Ms Benjie de Ubago received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2020 NSW Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards along with a list of multicultural media entities and individuals.
The impact of COVID-19 on migrant and diverse communities is a theme which resonated strongly amongst the winners announced by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Acting Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee in an online awards ceremony today.
“Congratulations to all our multicultural media outlets who have been recognised in an incredibly competitive field,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Miss Ubago has been a long running Bayanihan News columnist with her column “Grey Matter.”
Addison Road Community Organisation and Inner West Multicultural Network – Podcast on Racism campaign received the NSW/ACT Community Campaign Award where the Handog Pinoy Filipino Bushfire Appeal Campaign was likewise nominated.
“The winners demonstrated the real impacts of COVID-19 on our communities and the invaluable role multicultural media plays in connecting with people who speak languages other than English in our State.”
“We are delighted to announce $1 million funding for community and media organisations to assist in the COVID-19 recovery and continue their excellent work in helping to keep NSW safe,” said Mr Lee.
“Grants of up to $10,000 for multicultural media outlets will be made available to engage with new and existing audiences in innovative ways as they respond to the pandemic,” said Acting NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mr Geoff Lee.
Full list of winners follows:
Neena Bhandari, Inter Press Service – Modern Slavery in Asia Pacific fuelled by poverty, migration, and weak governance
Agency Campaign of the year
Etcom – “Speak Out” Domestic Violence campaign
Commbank campaign of the year
South Eastern Local Health District – “Shisha No Thanks” campaign
NSW/ACT Community Campaign of the year – Addison Road Community Organisation and Inner West Multicultural Network
Best Audio Report – Maram Ismail, SBS Arabic24 – ‘My Arab Identity’
Best Audio Visual report Marty Smiley, SBS The Feed – ‘Shadow Workers’
Publications of the Year – O Kosmos Insight Series
Alan Knights Student Award – Georgios Platias
Young Journalist of the Year – Daniel Nour
Best Use of Digital or Social Media – Sydney Today – COVID-19
Public Interest Award – ABC Asia Pacific Newsroom – ‘Coronavirus pandemic sparks racist attacks against Asian Australians ‘