Also allows them to claim they’ve ticked a diversity box too
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SBS announces winners of the inaugural SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition
SBS today announced the winners of the 2020 SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition , unearthing four emerging writers with unique perspectives often unheard.
A nationwide initiative from SBS Voices , the aim of the competition is to support the discovery and development of emerging talent that reflect the diversity of contemporary Australia, providing a platform to share diverse experiences and perspectives.
The competition received more than 2,000 submissions on the topic of ‘Growing up in diverse Australia’.
The winning submission, awarded $5,000 and published on SBS Voices, was by Papua New Guinean-Australian digital content maker, writer, director and producer, Alana Hicks .
Judge Melissa Lucashenko said the winning entry, detailing Hicks’ experiences growing up mixed race, showed a “joyful defiance and strength”.
Lucashenko added: “Judges were looking for courageous and original voices, writing with a sharp take on modern Australian life, and with nuanced views on our multicultural realities. The mix was so powerful and so striking that choosing the shortlist was a real problem. The winners stood out from an exceptional field. We are proud to award them their prizes, and eager to read their future work.”
Fellow judge Benjamin Law , said Alana’s entry was: “One of those stories that makes you tingle, knowing you’re reading an important new voice in Australian writing.”
The runner up, winning $3,000, is Nadia Johansen , and the two highly commended entries were by Amy Duong and Nakul Legha. All four pieces will be published on SBS Voices today.
Alana Hicks said of her win: “I was so excited and immediately humbled. I couldn’t feel more honoured.
“It is essential that there are platforms for people from under-represented demographics to explore and express themselves. If those platforms are not available or not made available to those people, we will miss out on a massive proportion of fundamental stories.”
Marshall Heald, Director of TV and Online Content at SBS , added: “We’re thrilled that Australians have embraced the SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition in its first year, with inspiring stories that engage and challenge our view of ‘Growing up in diverse Australia’. The entries showcased so many vibrant voices that in turn showcase the incredible diversity of Australia today. It was fantastic to receive so many submissions, making the task of choosing our winners a challenge for our judges, and now we’re excited to share their unique stories with all Australians via SBS Voices.
“It was also great to have the exceptional talents of acclaimed authors Melissa and Benjamin take part and help us choose this year’s winners.”
SBS Voices is a platform for, and champions, emerging writers from diverse backgrounds in Australia, particularly women.
Yep, that’s what it was… 
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According to The Australian, Senate estimates documents show that SBS spent $444,000 on five separate upfronts in five major capital cities last year to promote the network’s 2020 line-up. The most outlandish SBS overspend came at its lavish Sydney upfront at Barangaroo, where it outlaid $318,000 on a single event.
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And they complain about funding…
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These events are largely to appeal and promote themselves to advertisers, and for that cost it possibly more than paid for itself with advertising sales?
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The Australian neglected to state that fact.
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of course 
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True, but could SBS have considered other venues in Sydney CBD which would have been cheaper to rent than Barangaroo?
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There will always be somewhere cheaper but whether that has the same impact is to be considered, I guess.
What would be interesting is to know is if that expense led to a proportionate boost in ad revenue? But The Australian is more interested in “gotcha” headlines. It’s like all those people that moan that the ABC drains taxpayers of a billion dollars each year but what is never (or rarely) acknowledged is that so much of that is poured and invested back into the Australian economy which helps everyone.
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SBS launches ‘Summer Safety’ resource in over thirty languages
SBS has launched a new ‘Summer Safety’ resource targeted especially at culturally and linguistically diverse Australians. The website offers expert information on summer dangers from bushfire and flood preparedness to staying sun-safe and water-safe in Australia
Australia’s diverse communities often face additional language challenges when receiving messages around preparedness and emergency. This resource was developed following consultation with the Rural Fire Service, the Country Fire Authority, the Bureau Of Meteorology and peak disaster and fire coordination services The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.
‘Summer Safety’ will also assist emergency services in their outreach and build disaster resilience and knowledge in Australia’s diverse communities.
SBS Director of Audio and Language Content, David Hua , said, “SBS plays a critical role in keeping communities informed during times of emergency, like floods and bushfires but also in keeping people safe when fishing and swimming, and in being under the Australian sun. Like with our coronavirus coverage, this ‘Summer Safety’ resource demonstrates SBS’s commitment to ensure all Australians are getting the information they need to help protect themselves, their families and communities.”
SBS’s Summer Safety portal is at SBS.com.au/SummerSafety.
SBS to celebrate Lunar New Year with the launch of new Chinese digital service, SBS中文 (SBS Chinese)
All Australians are invited to mark Lunar New Year celebrations with a distinctive content line-up across the SBS network.
SBS is expanding its Chinese-language offering with the launch of SBS 中文 (SBS Chinese) , a new digital service for Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking Australians, going live as Lunar New Year begins next month.
SBS 中文 (SBS.com.au/Chinese) will be a mobile-first digital offering, providing Chinese-Australians with independent, trusted Australian news, information, and entertainment, and keeping them connected with news from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and around the world. Content will be published in Traditional and Simplified Chinese text with audio available in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Featuring short-form video, articles and audio content, SBS 中文 will be the comprehensive go-to service for all Chinese-Australians, providing more breaking news and current affairs in their language, along with innovative coverage of topics ranging from health and education to food and finance, and more. An extension of SBS’s unique multilingual offering for Australia’s multicultural communities, it will build on SBS Radio’s Chinese-language radio and podcast services, and a growing Chinese subtitled content collection on SBS On Demand.
SBS Director of Audio and Language Content , David Hua, said, “We are thrilled to be celebrating the beginning of the Lunar New Year with the launch of our new service, SBS中文, at the heart of our offering across the network.
“SBS中文 will cement SBS as a trusted source of news for Chinese speakers in Australia, offering even more up-to-date, independent news and information important to the lives of Chinese-Australians, and telling their stories.
“Not only does SBS provide a trusted voice for these communities, as a network, we are uniquely positioned to help all Australians understand the issues behind the headlines about China. It’s a story that impacts all of us, making SBS’s role even more critical in contributing to understanding in the wider community.
“SBS中文 goes to the very heart of the SBS Charter, not only informing communities but also reflecting our multicultural society and promoting greater understanding across cultures, and evolving to meet the needs of our diverse audiences.”
In addition to the launch of SBS中文, SBS is helping all Australians to celebrate Lunar New Year with a collection of curated content across the network.
David Hua added: “Lunar New Year is celebrated by many cultures around the world and marked in many ways by communities here in Australia. While we can’t come together in ways we’re used to, all Australians can come to SBS to experience, learn, reflect and celebrate with content across our channels and platforms, and coverage from communities across SBS Radio.”
SBS’s curated Lunar New Year content will include the Australian television premiere of Be Water , the 2020 film about the life and legacy of trailblazer and martial arts legend Bruce Lee as well as Secrets of China’s Forbidden City, a special access documentary about Beijing’s Imperial Palace.
SBS VICELAND will showcase a range of shows including Kingdom of the Little People , a documentary about China’s controversial theme park. SBS Food will mark the occasion with a weekend of Lunar New Year-inspired travel food shows as well as sharing dedicated recipes and articles online.
SBS On Demand and SBS World Movies will celebrate with a curated collection of films and across SBS Radio there will be a range of interviews and discussions about Lunar New Year activities happening across Australia, and how communities are marking the occasion.
Program information:
SBS
Where Are You Really From? S1 E1 , 3 Feb, 2pm
Playful but moving, the series explores the complex issues of cultural heritage and identity, and the way our assumptions around what ‘an Australian’ looks like impacts our understanding of what it means to be Australian. Where Are You Really From? connects wider Australia to a history and to communities many people would not be aware of.
Be Water , 7 Feb, 9.30pm
In 1971, after being rejected by Hollywood, Bruce Lee returned to his parents’ homeland of Hong Kong to complete four iconic films. Charting his journey as a pioneer in his field, this portrait explores questions of identity and representation through the use of rare archival, interviews with loved ones and Lee’s own writings.
Destination Flavour China S1 E1-10, 8-19 Feb, 2pm
Adam Liaw discovers the vast and ancient country of China, exploring its history through its food whilst at the same time exploring his own family history.
The Great Wall of China: The Hidden Story, 11 Feb, 2.30pm
This documentary explores the origins, functions and significance – both as a political border, a statement of power and a military defence line – of The Great Wall of China.
China From Above S1 E1&2, 12 Feb, 2.40pm
An incredible bird’s-eye view of how China’s billion-plus population lives, travels and builds its cities.
Secrets of China’s Forbidden City , 12 Feb, 7.30pm
Beijing’s vast Imperial Palace, known as the Forbidden City, is one of mankind’s greatest and historic icons, and the world’s biggest residential building. It’s a bewildering maze of hidden secrets and unexpected legends, closed for hundreds of years to the outside world – until now. This special access documentary reveals the secrets about how and why the city was built, and what extraordinary events went on inside its walls.
Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam S1 E1-5 , 5-19 Feb, 2.30pm
Acclaimed Sydney chef, Luke Nguyen, returns to the country of his heritage to take a culinary journey through the southern regions of Vietnam.
David Baddiel On The Silk Road S1 E1-4 , 16-19 Feb, 3pm
Comedian and writer David Baddiel sets off on an adventure of a lifetime along the Silk Road, travelling from Xi’an, China to Istanbul, Turkey to uncover a series of remarkable locations, mysteries and hidden gems, many unknown to the western world.
Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam S1 E6-10 , 22-26 Feb, 2pm
Acclaimed Sydney chef, Luke Nguyen, returns to the country of his heritage to take a culinary journey through the southern regions of Vietnam.
SBS VICELAND
Longest Day In Chang’an , 11 Feb, 11.30pm
A former detective turned convicted criminal becomes China’s last hope to thwart mysterious invaders who threaten the empire’s capital city on the day before the Lantern Festival.
Kingdom of the Little People , 12 Feb, 2pm
Annette Lamothe-Ramos visits the controversial theme park in China - Kingdom of the Little People. In mushroom-shaped homes and old dormitories, a community of dwarfs sing and dance for tourists.
Huang’s World S1 E7 , 12 Feb, 2.50pm
Eddie Huang travels to China with his parents to explore his heritage as a Taiwanese-Chinese-American, and to discover the most important dish of his life: Red Cooked Pork.
Golden Job , 13 Feb, 12.35am
Former mercenaries reunite to plan an epic heist, boosting a truckload of medicine held by a foreign intelligence agency.
Detective Dee and The Four Heavenly Kings , 14 Feb, 12.20am
Accused of wrongdoing by Empress Wu, Detective Dee faces a formidable foe while investigating a crime wave that’s marked by strange and seemingly supernatural occurrences.
SBS Food - 12-14 February, 10.30am-1.30pm
Luke Nguyen’s Street Food Asia S1 E1-2 & E5-8
In this series, chef Luke Nguyen takes to the streets of Asia to embark on a culinary exploration of its food and culture.
Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown S11 E7
Hong Kong, a city that’s always in transition and unapologetically modern has another side…a beautiful one that’s in danger of disappearing entirely. Bourdain experiences this city through the eyes and lens of legendary cinematographer and long-time Hong Kong resident Christopher Doyle (Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love, The White Girl).
Donal’s Asian Baking Adventure S1 E3
Food writer, cook and social media host Donal Skehan explores the growing popularity of baking and flour-based foods in Asia. On his travels, Donal meets celebrity chefs, family bakers and food entrepreneurs who are all inspired by the growing trend for Asian baking.
Chilli Hunter S1 E3, 6 & 7
The series follows ‘Chilli Hunter’ Tyson Mayr as he travels across Asia in search of the region’s most devilishly spicy dishes.
A Cook Abroad S1 E6
Cook and food writer, Rachel Khoo, heads to Malaysia, home of her extended family, to explore on of the most exciting cuisines on the planet. From the tropical shores or a remote fishing village, to a foraged feast deep in the jungle, Rachel travels across this multi-cultural country to find out whether good food can unite a nation.
Instant Noodles Diary S1 E6
Instant Noodles Diary is an off-the-beaten path culinary road trip across Asia and its diverse instant noodles foodscape. It explores how a single food product introduced half a century ago grew into a unique Asian dietary culture and a multi-billion-dollar industry.
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Screen Australia and SBS bring Digital Originals initiative back in 2021
Screen Australia and SBS are excited to announce the Digital Originals initiative is returning in 2021, with applications now open. Digital Originals is a joint initiative of Screen Australia and SBS, aimed at developing exciting and innovative drama projects to premiere on SBS On Demand and NITV, from screen creatives who are currently under-represented in the sector.
The initiative aims to support practitioners and projects that reflect gender equity and/or the diversity of people and experiences from around Australia. This includes those who identify as First Nations Australians; are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds; those who are living with a disability; are female or trans/gender diverse; identify as LGBTQIA+; and those who are located in regional and remote areas.
Screen Australia Senior Online Investment Manager, Lee Naimo said, “We have been incredibly impressed with the online original projects we have funded over the years including critically acclaimed Homecoming Queens and Robbie Hood for SBS On Demand, and most recently The Tailings and Iggy & Ace . The web series format is a terrific way for emerging practitioners to explore and develop their creative voices, and this year we are expanding our initiative by supporting up to three projects to fruition with production funding. We hope the Digital Originals initiative will continue to find unique stories that add to the cultural landscape of Australian content and showcase our upcoming and underrepresented creatives to a national audience. We’re thrilled to once again partner with SBS on Digital Originals and unearth more distinctive and emerging voices.”
SBS Director of TV and Online Content, Marshall Heald , said: “We’re thrilled to be continuing this important partnership with Screen Australia which provides tangible opportunities and support for emerging creatives under-represented in our sector, to develop and share their unique stories. As we’ve seen from the success so far, stories which reflect and explore the diversity of Australia today in innovative, entertaining and compelling ways can really connect with audiences, and that’s something we’re deeply committed to and passionate about across the SBS network.
“It’s also a brilliant screen creative pathway as we’ve seen with Corrie Chen, who directed the short form series Homecoming Queens , went onto direct numerous TV shows and is currently directing SBS’s upcoming drama series, New Gold Mountain .”
This year, SBS will premiere two new Digital Originals projects – Iggy & Ace , a comedy exploring friendship, addiction and recovery through a queer lens, filming in Western Australia in early 2021, and The Tailings , a murder mystery set against one of the most fragile, beautiful landscapes in Australia, the west coast of Tasmania, and celebrates the tenacity and pride of regional communities rarely seen on screen.
SBS Director of Indigenous Content, Tanya Denning-Orman , added: “SBS, with NITV at its heart, is committed to the development of the incredible First Nations creative talent that exists around the country, and providing vital pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners. This initiative is a great way to bring more Indigenous voices, telling their stories on their terms, to all Australians. We can’t wait to see a range of new projects and practitioners in 2021, and look forward to the journey ahead with them.”
Up to ten teams (which must include at least one writer) will be invited to attend an exclusive workshop in Sydney scheduled for 4 - 6 May, 2021 run by Screen Australia and SBS, and will also feature a range of guest presenters from the industry. Teams of either two or three members are eligible. The workshop will focus on short form narrative writing skills, as well as developing the projects to align with the SBS Charter and SBS platforms, culminating in a pitch to Screen Australia and SBS. Teams outside of Sydney will receive flights and accommodation for up to two team members to attend the workshop. The workshop may be held virtually pending travel restrictions in place at the time.
From these ten teams, up to four will be chosen to take their projects into further development, and from these up to three will be chosen for production funding and commissioning with Screen Australia and SBS. Submissions should include an up to three page pitch document outlining the details of the series and more information on the creative team; an up to three minute pitch video outlining the creators personal connection to and reason for wanting to develop the project; and an up to 10 page script sample of previous work. For more information on eligibility and application guidelines click here.
Screen Australia’s Senior Online Investment Manager Lee Naimo, SBS Development Executive Donna Chang and NITV’s Head of Commissioning and Programming Kyas Hepworth will host a Q&A webinar on Wednesday 10 February, 2021 at 12pm AEDT for practitioners interested in applying for the initiative. The webinar will include a panel discussion with more information on the initiative and include a question and answer session for those interested in applying. Practitioners interested in applying are strongly encouraged to register to attend the webinar and registration is essential. Please register here.
Submissions are open now and will close 5pm AEDT Thursday 11 March, 2021. Please ensure you read the guidelines here before contacting the Program Operations team here with any remaining enquires.
Emerging Screenwriters’ Incubator
SBS, in partnership with Screen Australia, state and territory agencies Film Victoria, Screen Canberra, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screenwest and the South Australian Film Corporation, and with the assistance of the Australian Writers’ Guild, are launching the Emerging Screenwriters’ Incubator : a new, nationwide initiative to support the development of diverse fiction writing talent in the Australian screen sector.
Working with some of Australia’s leading production companies, the Emerging Screenwriters’ Incubator will bring the industry together to contribute to greater diversity among Australian screenwriting talent, by providing significant work experience in drama production for 18 emerging writers from backgrounds and with lived experiences currently underrepresented in the sector. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; people who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; those who are living with a disability; are female or trans/gender diverse; identify as LGBTQIA+; and people located in regional and remote areas.
Each year for the next three years, six successful candidates will be employed for 12 months in production companies around the country acclaimed for their delivery of Australian drama. During their placement, they will develop ideas into treatments, work across a production company’s fiction slate of programming, participate in writers’ rooms, and work closely with development producers and others to increase their knowledge and further develop their skills.
Co-funded by SBS, Screen Australia with participating state and territory screen agencies, the national initiative will launch with its first round of placements in July this year.
Upcoming SBS commissioned drama series, New Gold Mountain
SBS Director of TV and Online Content, Marshall Heald, said: “SBS is proud to be working with our partners across the industry, who share our commitment to diversity, to make an important contribution to the future of Australian storytelling through the Emerging Screenwriters’ Incubator. Not only is this initiative an important investment in the next generation of screenwriting talent, it will help to ensure the unique perspectives and experiences of those who reflect contemporary Australia, are explored on our screens.
“I want to acknowledge those in our sector like director, screenwriter and showrunner, Tony Ayres, who have long demonstrated their passion for the benefits a more inclusive industry and have inspired so many. It’s through conversations with Tony that this initiative came to be, and it’s now incredibly exciting to see the momentum we have across the industry to come together to do more. Our storytelling will be all the better for it.”
Tony Ayres added: “Marshall and I have been having a great and ongoing discussion about the best ways to make long lasting and meaningful change to our industry, and to genuinely shift the needle towards a wider, truer representation of Australia. This initiative is a brilliant start and will broaden the talent pool of writers from underrepresented parts of our society. Writing is where it all starts.”
Screen Australia’s Head of Content, Sally Caplan, said: “This initiative is testament to our industry’s commitment to working together to make the sector more inclusive, and accessible for emerging talent. We are excited to be collaborating with SBS, AWG, and state and territory screen agencies on uncovering and developing the next generation of screenwriting talent through this program.”
Susie Hamilton, Professional Development Manager, Australian Writers’ Guild, said: “The Australian Writers’ Guild is delighted to be part of the Emerging Screenwriters’ Incubator, an initiative designed to not only create opportunities but to break down the barriers standing in the way of meaningful representation in the screen industry. It will provide participants with significant opportunities to develop their craft and networks, and will undoubtedly change their career trajectories. We look forward to seeing the talent of the writers and the stories that emerge from this experience.”
Film Victoria CEO, Caroline Pitcher, said: “Film Victoria’s screen development internship and key talent placement programs have long demonstrated the significant impact these intensive experiences can have on the careers of screen creators. We are proud to support the Emerging Screenwriters’ Incubator to elevate new voices and to ensure that we see more diverse stories on screen.”
Monica Penders, CEO of Screen Canberra, said: “We are very pleased to be involved in this exciting initiative. For a small jurisdiction like ours it is so vital that we can provide opportunities for our writers to upskill, increase their networks and get those all important credits. And sometimes that means outside of the ACT.”
Screen Queensland Chief Creative Officer, Jo Dillon, said, “This new incubator initiative has the potential to dramatically increase the diversity of Australian screen stories being made for national and international audiences, and Screen Queensland is wholly committed to delivering and supporting programs that give voice to underrepresented screenwriters.”
Grainne Brunsdon, Head of Screen NSW, said: “The time has come to hear new voices and the Emerging Screenwriters’ Incubator and Screen NSW is proud to invest and support diverse writing talents through this program. This initiative will make it possible for a refreshingly new cohort of screenwriters to learn the ropes, tell their stories, and redefine the idea of what makes an Australian story, and I can’t wait to hear what they have to say!”
Willie Rowe, CEO of Screenwest, said, “Screenwest is always looking for new ways to enhance the representation of Indigenous and diverse voices and talent within the industry. This is an incredible opportunity for Western Australian screenwriters to improve their craft develop their skills and build their networks.”
CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, Kate Croser, said: “The SAFC is pleased to support this initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to grow and diversify the pool of credited South Australian key creatives.”
Details on applying for the Emerging Screenwriter’s Incubator will be released in the coming weeks. Each participating state and territory screen agency will reach out to local networks and from June, the selection process will begin, with placements at production companies from July 2021.
SBS releases coronavirus vaccine information video in over 60 languages
SBS has today released a video, in more than 60 languages including AUSLAN, informing communities about Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination roll-out plan, how vaccines work and how they are approved in Australia.
The video explains the different phases of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Plan, specifically in what order different workers and age groups will receive the vaccine. It also highlights where it will be available, who will receive it free of charge and points to additional resources for further information.
The video, available on the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus Portal and on SBS On Demand, is part of SBS’s ongoing work serving diverse communities during the coronavirus pandemic, providing vital information that they may not otherwise be able to access in the language of their choice.
SBS Director of Audio and Language Content, David Hua , said, “SBS has a unique ability to reach Australia’s diverse communities through its services in more than 60 languages, available across multiple touchpoints. As we all move through this next phase of the pandemic, SBS is proud to be the place for multicultural communities to access crucial information about the vaccine roll-out and to continue to provide independent and accurate information around COVID-19 on radio, On Demand, through podcasting, and other digital platforms. We are also pleased to be underlining SBS’s commitment to inclusion by offering our vaccine video in AUSLAN, ensuring more Australians are able to receive information at this critical time.”
In March 2020, SBS launched the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus Portal in more than 60 languages—to curate all COVID-19 content in one, easily shareable destination: SBS.com.au/Coronavirus
Since its launch, more than 6.6million Australian unique visitors have accessed SBS’s COVID-19 content across the multilingual digital offering.
Working with the Australian Government Department of Health, SBS created videos in over 60 languages to promote key health and safety messages throughout 2020, and this commitment to keeping communities informed will continue in 2021.
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SBS and NITV announce new Commissioning Editor appointments
SBS and National Indigenous Television (NITV) have announced the appointment of two commissioning editors, with Bernadine Lim joining SBS as Commissioning Editor, Documentaries, and Marissa McDowell joining NITV as Commissioning Editor.
As a member of SBS’s Unscripted team, Lim will work across SBS’s slate of distinctive commissioned documentaries, championing diverse stories and exploring issues impacting contemporary Australia.
McDowell will join NITV’s commissioning team, working on the development and delivery of a diverse slate of commissioned programming for the channel, including documentaries, entertainment and children’s programs reflecting, exploring and celebrating First Nations stories.
Lim is an award-winning director and producer with more than 20 years’ experience, and joins SBS from Screen Australia where she has been Head of Documentary since 2018. Born in Malaysia, she began her career as a TV journalist in New Zealand and has worked across a range of factual formats, from current affairs, entertainment, arts, science and documentary, in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia. Her appointment sees her return to SBS having previously been the Executive Producer of Dateline, SBS’s long-running international current affairs program.
Joseph Maxwell, Head of Documentaries, SBS, said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming Bernadine back to SBS, and bringing her extensive industry knowledge, working across a range of formats, to the documentaries team. Her experience reflects her talent and passion for storytelling, and we’re looking forward to having her join us as SBS continues to deliver a strong and diverse slate of commissioned documentaries in 2021, and has an exciting mix of projects in development.”
On her appointment, Lim said: “It’s been an amazing time at Screen Australia with a talented team of dedicated people. I’m very excited to make my next move into the creative heart of SBS’s strong factual content team. As a passionate storyteller, it’s a privilege to have this type of role across such compelling content and help celebrate multicultural Australia.”
McDowell, from the Wiradjuri Nation and currently living in Canberra, has worked with Indigenous communities to tell their stories through documentary film making, photography and writing, throughout her career.
On McDowell’s appointment as Commissioning Editor for NITV, Kyas Hepworth, Head of Commissioning and Programming, NITV, said: “Marissa’s passion and craft for storytelling is matched by her dedication and commitment to supporting the ongoing development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent in the screen sector. Her creativity, expertise and strong industry networks will be a great asset to the NITV team, and we can’t wait to have her on board at a busy time with a number of exciting projects in the pipeline for the channel.”
McDowell added: “Our people have so many stories which are universal that need to be told. I am excited to be joining NITV, a channel dedicated to telling the stories of the world’s oldest continuing culture, and be able to play a part in bringing these stories to the world.”
A multimedia producer and filmmaker with her production company, Black & White Films, McDowell has produced content for various platforms including NITV, and also facilitates filmmaking workshops for youth and community. In 2016, she was selected as part of Screen Forever’s Ones to Watch development and mentoring program, is a member of First Nations Writer group, Us Mob Writers, and is also a published poet and exhibited photographer.
Bernadine Lim will commence in the role in the SBS documentaries team on 3 May, and Marissa McDowell will join NITV from 24 March.
Media agencies challenged to go Beyond 3% as SBS and NITV champion Australia’s First Nations media
SBS Media is raising awareness of the benefits of greater investment by agencies and brands in Australia’s Indigenous media platforms with the launch of Beyond 3%, an initiative designed to inspire, engage and encourage a long-term shift in the sector.
National Indigenous Television (NITV), part of the SBS network, is one of the many media services across Australia providing a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and a place for their stories to be shared, explored and celebrated.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples represent 3.3 per cent of the Australian population however, the media that exist to serve these communities are often not considered as part of campaign planning.
Beyond 3% seeks to engage media agencies to begin to address this gap by learning more about the role and value of First Nations media in Australia today, doing more to contribute to inclusion in the sector, and re-thinking media spend by committing to increasing investment in Indigenous media platforms to at least a 3 per cent target.
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