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Building a media landscape that looks and sounds like all of us: Media Diversity Australia 

Profile of Australian Communities Foundation
Written by Australian Communities FoundationPosted on 29/1/2025
Building a media landscape that looks and sounds like all of us: Media Diversity Australia 

Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is working towards a media landscape that reflects the breadth of our national community. With support from the ACF Impact Fund, MDA is driving meaningful change to create a more representative and inclusive media industry. 

💡 Refresher: What is the Impact Fund? As our flagship collective giving initiative, the Impact Fund brings together hundreds of funders to support the boldest solutions to Australia’s biggest issues. Together, we’ve given more than $10 million since 2017 across the areas of inequality, environment, First Nations self-determination and democracy. Learn more

While Australia’s media sector has developed in recent years to better support participation for culturally diverse people, advocates say there is still work to be done to achieve equal participation for these communities. 

 “Media Diversity Australia advocates for better representation of First Nations and culturally and racially marginalised communities in media,” explains MDA Partnerships Manager Suzy Monzer.

“We work to ensure media organisations are well-equipped to report on and engage with negatively racialised communities.” 

A thriving democracy requires a media landscape that represents the diversity of its population

This work is closely aligned with ACF’s Strengthening Democracy focus area. “A thriving democracy requires a media landscape that represents the diversity of its population and tells stories that resonate across all communities,” says Suzy. 

ACF Philanthropy Lead, Laura Mannix, says MDA’s work is “crucial to ensuring everyone is heard in our democracy”. 

“The Impact Fund’s support of MDA this year underscores our belief that an inclusive media landscape is critical to fostering understanding, countering disinformation and ultimately strengthening democracy,” explains Laura. 

The Impact Fund’s support of MDA this year underscores our belief that an inclusive media landscape is critical to fostering understanding and countering disinformation

MDA celebrated several milestones in 2023/24, including an 85% employment rate for fellowship graduates, partnerships with major media outlets to enhance newsroom inclusivity, and the inaugural 2024 MDA Symposium, which brought over 200 people together around the cause and was made possible by ACF’s support. 

“The support from funders like the ACF Impact Fund is vital for sustaining our work,” says Suzy. “It enables us to innovate, expand our reach, and adapt to emerging challenges.”

To learn more about Australian Communities Foundation’s Impact Fund, click here.

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