Multicultural broadcaster SBS pushes into sexuality space with focus on LGBTI issues
SBS is pushing into sexuality-based content focusing on LGBTI issues as the broadcaster prepares to launch a dedicated website.
The initiative is spearheaded by former editor of Star Observer Drew Sheldrick and will compete with that newspaper as well as the likes of SameSame, which Junkee Media sold to Evo Media at the end of September, and DNA magazine.
An SBS spokesperson told Mumbrella: “As a public broadcaster with a remit to explore Australia’s diverse multicultural society SBS has always been committed to covering issues relevant to all Australians, including examining a range of views on sexuality and gender diversity across our content.
“As the national broadcaster of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, we also look to develop more content, including online and social media, in the lead up to each year’s event.”
The multicultural broadcaster has launched a Twitter handle @SBSexuality and is actively soliciting for content.
SBS kicked off the initiative by promoting an eclectic range of stories from does your MP support marriage equality to Meet the man who came out after 20 years of marriage and a piece on the gay merman of Melbourne.
The initiative is understood to be the idea of new SBS head of editorial, online and emerging platforms Ben Naparstek, who previously edited The Good Weekend and The Monthly.
Miranda Ward
Linkedin
Here’s a call-out to the creative minds of the industry: somebody needs to come up with a better term than “LGBTI” – it’s a train-crash of an acronym.
An unmitigated naming-convention disaster.
And everybody is so fearful of the PC police, walking on egg-shells that nobody ever states the obvious, that if ‘LGBTI” was a brand, it would be bankrupt, as nobody could pronounce or remember it.
The English language has nearly 1 million words in current use – it grows by the second. How about some suggestions to fix this clumsy mess, so that the LGBTI-ers can start communicating their messages, rather than trying to pronounce their own name?
User ID not verified.
Well put Mike, coming from a G or is it a B in the LGBTI community I cannot agree more
User ID not verified.
@Mike omg you oppressive sonnofabitch you didn’t use the QA+ in LGBTQIA+
User ID not verified.
INSIDEOUT-TV: Good for SBS, but we have been producing stories on the web for the gay community for over four years. We produce our own specials each Mardi Gras. Interesting the LGBT community only gets in the news when a major broadcaster takes up our issues.
User ID not verified.
@Mike. And it should be pointed out not all transgender people like being lumped in with the LGB bit. Gender is not the same as sexuality.
User ID not verified.
There’s DSG – Diverse Sexuality and Gender as an alternative.
User ID not verified.
I agree with ‘Sexually Diverse’
User ID not verified.