FECCA calls for more diversity in broadcast media 19 January 2017 The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has called for greater diversity in Australian television, radio and streaming services, to reflect the nation’s true cultural character. The Chairperson of FECCA, Ms Mary Patetsos, said that more than a quarter of Australia’s population was born overseas, almost half of Australians had at least one parent born overseas and one in five Australians spoke a language other than English at home. “Despite all this, a recent Screen Australia survey shows that that in current television drama, just 18 per cent of characters are non-Anglo Celtic,” Ms Patetsos said. “We have a long way to go before Australian media and broadcast entertainment is representative of the population.” Ms Patetsos said that FECCA had mounted a strong argument for diversity in Australian broadcasting in its recent submission to the Environment and Communications References Committee of the Australian Senate. • an increase in on-screen and behind-the-scenes diversity within the Australian media industry; • increased government funding to SBS so it can continue to produce high quality Australian content which reflects Australians of diverse backgrounds; and • SBS and other public broadcasters to be able to provide diverse and high-quality content, sourced overseas where appropriate, to meet the needs and interests of Australia’s multicultural community. “Australia is a wonderfully diverse community,” Ms Patetsos said. “There is enormous potential for broadcast, radio and streaming services to reach across the boundaries of race, faith, language and ethnicity.” “Our media can shape Australian society by reflecting who we are: a nation filled with a richness of experience beyond that of any country on earth.” FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from CALD backgrounds. FECCA’s role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of its constituency to government, business and the broader community. |
