onours for Indian Link at Multicultural Media Awards

Winning three presti gious awards at the inaugural Multicultural Media Awards, Indian Link stands tall as an acknowledged her ald of the subcontinent community recognition , no reward and no hal l of fame."

Community Affairs Abroad, Mui ticul tural Photographer of the Year, and Investigative Journalism.

Inwharisdeatlya significant milestone for community jou rnalism and more importantly Indians down under, ethnic newsgroup Indian Link has bagged duee of the nine awards at the inaugural Parliament ofNew South Wales Multicultural Media Awards.

The high- calibre media gro u p rook the top honours in the Editorials / News Reporting, Online Innovation in News , Blog or Website, and its publisher Pawan Luchra was named MulticulruraJ Journalist of the Year

Auscralia's Foreign M inister

Bob Carr presented the awards at a gala dinner on September 14. Winners in nine categories were selected from among 132 entr ies received from all over Australia.

The categories included, besides the three won by Indian Link, Concribution to Social Inclusion and MulticulruraJism , Coverage of Indigenous Affairs, Community Affairs in Australia,

Pawan Luthra shared the big one , the award for Multicultural Journalist of the Year, with Majid.a Abboud of SBS Radio.

The judging panel incl u ded senior academics in media studies, mainstream journalises, media representatives , c ouncillors and senior members of ethnic communities.

Initiated by Member of Legislative Council Shaoquett Moselmane, the awards are the first of their kind in Australia.

Addressing the special invitees , Moselmanenoced, " Since the first multicul tural newspaper Die Deutsche Post was published from Adelaide in 1848 and first Chinese paper Guangi Huabao in 1894, ethnic media has contrib u ted extensivel y to the Australian way of life:'

He added, " Today m ul ticultural media has diversified across print, radio , web , TV, sate ll ite and alJ forms of social media There has however been no standa lone award to recognise this substantial body ofwork. These papers and their pioneering journalists have passed into history with litde or no

" Tonight we break that drought and celebrate the beginnings of spring for multicultural and indigenous media in Auscralia ," he declared.

"Your ingenuity and spirit has left no stone unturned. With the capacity to bring news and events to eveiy multicultural household like never before, your dedication is admirab le ! '

Speaking co this reporter, chief guest Foreign Minister Bob Carr later said, " I was proud to be a part of the first Multicultural Media Awards. It is great co see multicult u ral media getting the attention it deserves. I believe it is essential to Australian democracy."

" I congratulate Indian Link for winning three Awards on the night," he added. "Journalists representing those of Indian ancestry are ambassadors for Australia to the Indian community. By sharing cultural ideas through journalism, you are helping to create the overlap of cultures that makes up Australia's national identity."

ABC cor respondent and one of the members of the judging panel, Llz Foschia said that she was impressed by the submissions and range of topics covered by ethnic media organisations.

"IL is very important to have a strong mulricuJrural media Lo inform their local communities about issues of particular concern to them , bur also to cover wider events with a different perspective," she noted.

"There were good examp les of quality joumallsm that would not have been our of place in mainstream publicacions. hidian Link, in particular had made a special effort with its entries and chat is reflected in the number of awards it received."

As the only speaker on the night from amongst the awardwinners, Pawan addressed the audience and spoke about the specific pressures faced by the multicultural media such as the constant struggles for funding.

Yee it was his story about Indian Li11k Radio that couched a chord. Pawan recounted the iucident from a few days ago, when a radio listener rang him to say chanks. " You're keeping my mother alive," the listener told Pawan. Apparendy, his mother, a nursing home resident, is an avid listener, turning on the radio as soon as she wakes in the morning as her only regular means of contact wich a Hindispeaking world.

"Three awards in one night can only be a team efforc," Pawan also nored in hi s speech, and thanked his ream , who work very hard to see that a quality product goes out every fortnight in press and every day on the airwaves. Seven full- time staff at Indian Link oversee the work of no less chan sixty newspaper concribucors across the country, and a dozen radio broadcasters in Sydney. Each of these individuals, Pawan fee ls stron gly, has ownership of rhe awards me company has received chismonch.

A journalist with over two decades of experience in boch Australia and India, Ltthra has certainly raised me bar in community journalism , since he and his wife Rajni founded Indian Link in 1994

Like most migrant success stories, cheirs has been founded on humble beginnings It is a truly inspirational tale born of a passion to excd and commitment to its cause.

From a smal l 24-page black and whice newspaper co glosswrapped monchly e ditions in all major metros besides fo rtn ightly editions in Sydney, with a priut run of 44,000 copies and a readership of 200 ,000 per edition, a 24-hour radio station, e-paper and live website, Indian Link has grown co become noc merely a trusted media house , but a forum for me community.

" Our desire was to start a communi ty newspaper of the community &om ourside, .., g substance, seeking ouc Indian including demographers, 1i links iu Australian life," political analysts and social explained Indian Link editor historians.

Rajni Ltthra, looking back The award for Online "' nosraJgically on those scare- up Innovation is eq ually a well- years. Rajni gave up a career iu deserved one, for Indian Lillk psychology to build the Indian has always embraced technology link brand wholeheartedly.

" It was definitely not "We have been on the cutting an overnight success," she edge of technology since confessed. "We did everything, our inception," commented from content generation to Luthr a. ' With our most recent ddivery, by ourselves. Bue innovation, che Indian Link as che Indian community iu Radio App for smar1 phones, Sydney grew, so too did che the 24/7 Radio station has gone interesL With a strong focus on global. le can be downloaded quallty and authenticity, readers free from iTunes and allows became addicted to the features, people me &eedom co listen co the stories of other migrants live radio." settling in10 life here, even the "The application has already Bollywood articles. Growing clocked over 5 ,500 downloads in scope and influence through and is growing everyday. With various forms of digital and the Indian diaspora worldwide print media, Indian link is now currendy esd.matecl at over 30 a vehicle for celling the Indian million, che Australia-developed story in Australia." radio app has far- reaching

Both through che Ilagshlp potential," Luthra observed. newspaper and diversi fied " Listeners not onJy in media portfolio, Pawan Luchra Australia buc also in New has established himself as the Zealand , India, US , Canada, voice of the community noc Dubai, even Afghanistan and only within , buc also in the Korea, are enjoying our pick mainstream. 11 is to his credit ofBollywood music , and that he is repeatedly asked participating in talk back and to speak on behalf of Indian discussions live on air," be Australians ar mainstream added. gatherings and media panels, A ' family' feel bas inexplicably commenting on current affairs been created out of the Indian such as the uranium issue , che Link Radio aura: regular international scudenc fracas lis1encrs ' know' ca.ch ocher, and che Delhi Commonwealth wichou t ever having physically Games crisis, and also on Indian met, as callers ring in; milestone traditions and beliefs. birthdays are celebrated; old

D urin g the 2010 friends have found each ocher; Commonwealth Ga.mes, gee- well- soon wishes are shared Luthra was invited by Foxtel aL hours of ill-health; even co commentate on the marriages have resulted amongst opening ceremony, the first listeners. Babies have been born ethnic journalist to do so on as expecting mums have taken mainscream TV. His insighcful the radio with them to the comments on che opulent maternity ward (welcome, pageant helped facilitate cross- baby Om Ganwani of cuJrural understanding. Melbourne), and listeners have

Ltthra's contributions have even mourned togecher the loss been recognised not only ofone of their own ( RIP, Col through the Multicultural Kle.r of Sydney)

Journalist of the Year award but " Our listeners will happily also for his thought stimulating vouch for chis comrnunicy editorials that have effectively feeling," Pawan said, adding, bridged the gap between his "I fed fortunate indeed to councry of birth and adopred have created this forum that land. Always in rune wich the has connected people ac s uch a pulse of the community, his level" discerning and candid scyle of Only last year, Ltchra won me writing has a loyal readership NSW Government' s Community base and Is repeatedJy endorsed Harmony Award for facilitating by community dders. and promoting social cohesion

Encompassing a range of and understanding between current and topical issues, the communities of the Indian including local politics, subcontine n t and che broader health and education, state NSW community. of economy, thorny India- Nor those to rest on meir Ausrralia re lationship and laurels, the Luthras are already burning communicy Issues, his exploring new pastures to powerful editorials represent the build and extend on me voice of reason while fearlessly existing portfolio. For Indian confronting the hard truth. Australi ans, this can onJy Pawan's notes on community mean fresh pachways for beccer affairshavebeenofparticuJar integration ancl a stronger interest to those observin g public voice.