Media Diversity Australia co-founder leaves, new board members appointed
Media Diversity Australia will farewell co-founder Antoinette Lattouf, who has stepped away from the non-profit after six years, in order to focus on her writing and broadcasting projects.
“This is really bittersweet for me,” Lattouf says.
“I am tremendously proud that MDA has helped to slowly shift and change things in the industry, which will produce better journalism and better connections with audiences. Yet, it’s the sort of organisation that in an ideal world wouldn’t need to exist if quality, fairness and inclusion prevailed.”
Lattouf founded MDA in 2017 with fellow journalist Isabel Lo.
“There’s so much I am proud of, but the two things that stand out as I reflect on my time with MDA is the two iterations of the agenda-setting research, Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories? and the fact that what started as a volunteer organisation run by working journalists now has a passionate team of paid staff who will continue doing this important advocacy,” Lattouf said.
Lo said that “MDA wouldn’t be where it is today without Antoinette’s courage, tenacity and advocacy.
“I am immensely proud of the work we have done together. Of course much work remains, which is why we are bringing on two additional non-executive board directors who will help us steer the ship.”
Brendan Thomas has joined the Board as MDA’s newest non-executive director, bringing three decades of experience working in the criminal justice system towards significant legislative, program and service reforms for victims of crime, Aboriginal people, domestic violence and prosecution of serious crimes.
“I’m really impressed with what Media Diversity Australia has achieved since its launch in 2017 and I am excited to support and guide their advocacy as the team seeks to speed up the pace of change in the media,” he said.
Last month, Sheryn Omeri KC joined the Board as non-executive director, bringing a wealth of experience through her work as a barrister in human rights, employment, and public international law in the UK and Australia.
“I am honoured to accept this appointment to the Board of MDA,” Omeri said.
“I look forward to contributing to its objective of encouraging the development of a more diverse media landscape in Australia, reflective of our modern multicultural society, in order to enhance news reporting and public debate on important issues.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Deputy Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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