Ethnic media play a vital role in ensuring communities stay up-to-date with local and international news in their language of comfort. During these unprecedented times, ethnic media not only communicate vital information about the COVID-19 pandemic, but have faced hard-hitting financial challenges to continue to tell their community’s stories.
A recent article by Christopher Gogos, publisher of Neos Kosmos, an Australia-based news platform serving the Greek diaspora, has outlined the frustration in the lack of equal support and representation of ethnic media, especially when it comes to their access to essential media briefings with government leaders. Gogos notes that, “We are continuously denied, being given excuses and that our request will be ‘put forward.’”
During these past few months, the Canadian Ethnic Media Association has advocated for a level playing field, especially when it comes to supporting independent producers during COVID-19 and third-language media’s role in relaying important information about the pandemic. Aligned in regards to our essential and tireless works and similar frustrations, we stand with our colleagues in Australia.