Media unites for Reconciliation

Media organisations, producers, funding and training bodies have united to support reconciliation.

The newly formed Media Reconciliation Industry Network Group (RING) will include the ABC, AFTRS, ASTRA, Aurora Community Channel, Austar, Australian News Channel (SKY NEWS), BBC Worldwide Channels Australasia, Film Victoria, FOXTEL, Gadigal Information Service Aboriginal Corporation, NITV, Metro Screen, NFSA, Premier Media Group, Reconciliation Australia, SBS, Screen Australia, Screen NSW, ScreenWest, SPAA, The City of Sydney and XYZ Networks.

BBC Worldwide Channels Australasia General Manager, Tony Iffland said, “The Media RING is about harnessing the ample goodwill, knowledge and experience in the media industry and turning that into practical measures that can deliver real outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

“The benefit of the Media RING is that we are more powerful as a collective than we could ever be as single organisations. We aim to lead the way for the rest of the media industry and set an example of how we can promote reconciliation in Australia.”

A number of initiatives have been put in place including Indigenous cadetships, job opportunities and the creation of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) for individual organisations.

Foxtel has created a traineeship program in its Broadcast Operations area and in partnership with Premier Media Group, will place a trainee in their Melbourne Studio Operation from January 2010.

SBS recently awarded its inaugural Indigenous Television Mentorship Award to enable emerging producer Eileen Nganayamea Torres to attend influential national and international content markets.

SPAA has three places in its Emerging Producers Scheme at the SPAA Conference to Indigenous producers and will also host a briefing session for Indigenous filmmakers on how best to pitch and take advantage of business and networking opportunities at the SPAA Conference and SPAA Fringe.

Australian News Channel (Sky News) offers assistance with the production of NITV’s nightly national news service.

Paul O’Callaghan, Chief Executive Officer of Reconciliation Australia  congratulated the move, saying,“Reconciliation Australia created the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Program as a way for organisations both large and small to use their sphere of influence to turn good intentions into actions that close the gaps between Indigenous and other Australians.”