SBS News tackles Indigenous Voice for diverse audience
SBS Director of News and Current Affairs Mandi Wicks tackles SBS challenges
In this edition, SBS Director of News and Current Affairs Mandi Wicks talks about the difficulties her team face when telling Indigenous Voice stories to a multicultural audience.
Mandi has more than 30 years’ experience in the media industry that includes working at four of Australia’s leading networks. She worked as a journalist for 12 years before moving to senior management roles.
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament is perhaps one of the most significant issues in terms of Australian society since the 2017 marriage equality legislation passed. In terms of our Indigenous communities, this is arguably the most important next step in advancing the needs of those communities since Mabo passed through the High Court in 1992 and in terms of a referendum since the 1967 that allowed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be counted as part of the population.
The Voice is a simple proposition asking Australians to agree to Indigenous recognition in an advisory Voice to parliament. How do you communicate news that includes a range of views to audience from diverse backgrounds, let alone Indigenous communities some in remote areas.
I started off asking Mandi how she manages to build trust, credibility and legitimacy for broadcast then carry it into the digital world while covering a big issue such as The Voice.
The conversation uncovers the SBS News strategy its coverage of The Voice, the needs of the SBS audience and how SBS understands its audience - when belonging to an audience is about more than just where you live. and your sense of place matters for multicultural Australia. Do join us.
Conversations on Communication podcast is a collaboration with The University of Queensland
The University of Queensland is situated on the land of the Turrbal/Jagera people.
Production Support Iwina Gan and Jesslyn Tan
University Liaison Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao
Technical Support Paul Smith
He’s known simply as Kos. He is Kosmos Samaras – Director Strategy and Analytics RedBridge agency
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Samaras reflects on Federal Politics, the role of women, Gen Z and the potential permanent stain caused by the politics of retribution and purity over pragmatism. Listen in to find out more.