Indian Link’s award at Premier’s Multicultural Media Awards

Best News Report, Best Online Publication of the Year, and Best Image of the Year

By LENA PEACOCK

The Indian Link media group walked away with three accolades at the Premier’s Multicultural Media Awards held in Sydney on Thursday, 28th February.

As well as a stack of nominations, Indian Link won awards for Best News Report, Best Online Publication of the Year, and Best Image of the Year. Held for the first time, the awards ceremony acknowledged and highlighted the important role that ethnic media plays in Australian society. With over 300 guests in attendance, awards were given to the best multicultural print, online, television and radio across the state. Awards were judged by an independent panel of academic and working media experts.

The evening was opened by NSW Premier Hon Barry O’Farrell, who underlined the importance of multicultural media in this state, as it “ensures that people regardless of language and cultural background can participate fully in public life and public debate.” Also in attendance on the evening were Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Hon Victor Dominello and the Chair of the CRC, Stepan Kerkyasharian.

A Sydney-based media group, Indian Link was nominated in a whopping 7 out of the 10 categories, including Best Print Publication, Best Editorial or Commentary of the year, Best Use of Online & Digital Media and Best Feature of the Year.

Indian Link has been in operation since 1994 and was born from Pawan Luthra and Rajni Luthra’s desire to act as more than just a voice of the Indian community in Australia, but also as a vehicle for change and a voyage of discovery. And judging from the results of this award ceremony, the media group is going from strength to strength. With its biggest strengths - focus on quality and high standards, comprehensive editorial content and sleek presentation skillsIndian Link has come a long way. Starting off as a small black-andwhite monthly production, it has today morphed into a media house with extensive reach across many mediums. The periodical of choice within Australia’s Indian community, it is also the first point of contact for mainstream media when it has a question on an Indiarelated issue.

Pawan Luthra, CEO of Indian Link said he was proud of the ongoing recognition that the company has received, from within the community as well as from the mainstream. “In 2011 we were honoured to receive the Harmony Award in the NSW Sub-Continent Community Awards. 2012 saw us bring home three of the 7 awards at the Parliament of NSW Multicultural

Media Awards, and to claim three awards yet again this year, reveals not only our dedication but also the high standards we set ourselves. I congratulate my team for their talent and their efforts”.

Co-Editor Rajni Anand Luthra accepted the awards on behalf of the high-calibre media group. She thanked the 70-odd contributors on both the radio and newspaper arms of the company, as well as the sponsors and supporters, who have all weighed in to take Indian Link to the high status it enjoys today.

But she had a special word to the core team who work full-time and behind the scenes. “The marketing staff Vivek Trivedi, Nitika Sondhi Verma and Ashish Chawla, HR manager Antoinette Mullins, contributing editors Preeti Jabbal and Sheryl Dixit, and graphic designer Danielle Cairis, all work very hard to see that a quality product goes out every fortnight,” she said. “Their commitment to excellence is truly inspiring, and they all have equal ownership of the awards we received this month”.

This media group shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, as it continues to grow its portfolio. For Australia’s Indian community, this can only mean fresh pathways for better integration and a stronger public voice.