NEMBC MEDIA is now operating three multilingual news agencies after the initial start-up of a news service in response to the Covid-19 pandemic early last year.

NEMBC CEO Russell Anderson says “the newest addition to the service is the NSW multilingual news service with daily news in sixteen languages, explainers and animation, supported by the NSW government. This news service has just commenced and has its own dedicated writers, translators and producers and distributes to 8 radio stations in NSW.”

The Victorian Multilingual News Service has received ongoing support from the Victorian Government for news and regular explainers. It has been running daily since September 2020 and produces in 24 languages and in addition to daily news has produced over 29 specialised explainers, and over 400 productions.

“Announced last week the Facebook Australian News Fund, Meta and The Walkley Foundation grant will support the NEMBC MEDIA to start a National Multilingual News service. This will be a mix of established language and new and emerging languages broadcasting in 14 languages,” according to Russell Anderson.

Each of the news services delivers targeted news and information to radio stations playing the 5-minutes news bulletins.  Social media, podcasts and digital platforms play a significant role in distributing the news to millions of culturally and linguistically diverse listeners.

“The daily news and explainers are also distributed and promoted by Government, multicultural organisations and by direct emails,” says Anderson.