Media Diversity Australia
Media Diversity Australia is a Sydney-based non-profit founded in 2017 that runs fellowships, mentorships, and industry roundtables to grow the representation of culturally and linguistically diverse journalists across Australian newsrooms. It is funded by philanthropic foundations, media membership fees, and platform sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Media Diversity Australia does
Media Diversity Australia (MDA) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2017 and headquartered in Sydney that works to improve the representation and working conditions of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) journalists in Australian media. The organisation serves three broad stakeholder groups: aspiring and mid-career CALD journalists who participate in its talent programs, Australian newsrooms that are members or partners, and the broader policy and research community interested in media diversity outcomes. Its programs include Summer and Winter Fellowships, a Mentorship program, Media Pathways (delivered with Western Sydney University), Industry Round Tables, and the TalentHub talent directory. MDA is also a producer of original research, with publications including "Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories?" and the "Online Safety of Diverse Journalists" report (May 2024), the latter also feeding into the 2025 Annual Online Safety Survey delivered with the eSafety Commissioner.
MDA's business model is a mixed non-profit revenue stack rather than a commercial product. Funding is drawn from three channels: philanthropic donations (notably the Bennelong Foundation and Jibb Foundation), media membership fees from a roster that includes ABC, SBS, Nine, Seven, Ten, News Corp, The Guardian, AAP, The Daily Aus, The Conversation, and Private Media, and program sponsorships from technology platforms (Google News Initiative, Meta Australia) and academic partners (Western Sydney, Macquarie, Griffith universities). The organisation is registered with the ACNC and holds DGR status, giving donors tax deductibility. Operations are lean — approximately 13 staff with board-level and volunteer involvement — and the leadership structure comprises an Executive Director (Paula Kruger), Chair (Andrea Ho), and Founder (Isabel Lo). The organisation convenes an annual Industry Roundtable (instituted 2023) and is establishing an annual MDA Symposium (first scheduled for October 2025) as flagship events.
Media Diversity Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Media Diversity Australia
- Legal name
- Media Diversity Australia Limited
- Website
- https://mediadiversityaustralia.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Media Diversity Australia is a Sydney-based non-profit founded in 2017 that runs fellowships, mentorships, and industry roundtables to grow the representation of culturally and linguistically diverse journalists across Australian newsrooms. It is funded by philanthropic foundations, media membership fees, and platform sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Media Diversity Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Media Diversity Advocacy
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers (MPAJADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural) (MPABADAN), Special Needs & Inclusive Educational Programming (MPABAKAJ), Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description) (EDALAGAC)
Keywords
Where Media Diversity Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Media Diversity Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tax-deductible donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations to support programs supporting CALD journalists, conducting research, running networking events, and providing practical solutions for the media industry.
- Media membership model: Media organizations pay membership fees to join MDA, gaining access to diversity initiatives and talent pipeline programs. Members include NewsCorp Australia, The Conversation Group, Private Media Group, Nine Network, ABC, SBS, Seven, Ten, The Guardian, The Daily Aus, AAP, and others.
- Program sponsorships: Organizations such as Bennelong Foundation and Multicultural NSW sponsor specific programs like the Media Pathways Program, providing funding for operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Media Diversity Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Media Diversity Australia is a national not-for-profit organization that delivers structured fellowship, mentorship, and education programs to create career pathways for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) journalists in Australian media. It produces evidence-based research including the annual 'Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories?' report card and the Online Safety of Diverse Journalists study, and publishes reporting handbooks covering race, disability, and Indigenous reporting. The organization sells media-organization memberships, runs industry roundtables with media CEOs, and operates the TalentHub directory and Find an Expert platform to connect diverse professionals with newsrooms.
Product overview
Media Diversity Australia is a nationwide not-for-profit organization offering an integrated portfolio of programs and resources focused on increasing cultural diversity in the Australian media industry. The core offerings include structured fellowship and mentorship programs (Summer Fellowships, Winter Fellowship, Women of Colour Mentorships, MDA Mentorship Program) that provide pathways for diverse talent into media careers, complemented by the TalentHub platform connecting diverse professionals with opportunities. Research initiatives include the annual 'Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories?' report card and the Online Safety of Diverse Journalists research. The organization also provides practical resources including Disability, Race, and Indigenous Reporting Handbooks, operates a Find an Expert directory, hosts annual MDA Symposiums, and convenes Industry Round Tables with media leadership. The Membership Program enables media organizations to commit to diversity improvements with access to programs and collaboration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Summer Fellowships
- Winter Fellowship
- Media Pathways Program
- Women of Colour Mentorships
- MDA Mentorship Program
- Membership Program
- TalentHub
- Find an Expert
- Industry Round Tables
- Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories? Report
- Online Safety of Diverse Journalists Research
- Race Reporting Handbook
- Disability Reporting Handbook
- Indigenous Reporting Handbook
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% of diverse journalists (Aboriginal, CALD, LGBTQIA+, people with disability) experienced online abuse or harassment
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Media Diversity Australia
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Media Diversity Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Media Diversity Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Google News InitiativemajorGoogle News Initiative provides funding and support for MDA's programs and research initiatives. The partnership supports efforts to increase diversity in Australian media through various initiatives.
- Meta AustraliamajorMeta Australia co-funded the Online Safety of Diverse Journalists research report, an Australian-first study examining online abuse and harassment of diverse journalists and media workers.
- eSafety CommissionmajorGovernment body supporting the Online Safety of Diverse Journalists research initiative, providing expertise and co-funding for the Australian-first study on online harassment of diverse journalists.
- Griffith UniversitymajorJoint research partner leading the Online Safety of Diverse Journalists study, with lead academic Faith Valencia-Forrester from Griffith University co-presenting findings.
- Macquarie UniversitymajorJoint research partner in the Online Safety of Diverse Journalists research, with Professor Bronwyn Carlson from Macquarie University as lead academic.
- Western Sydney UniversitymajorEducational partner for the Media Pathways Program, hosting seminar series and internship placements at WSU's Parramatta City Campus. Partnered for the 2025 MDA Symposium.
- MEAA (Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance)coreUnion partner collaborating on industry events and networking initiatives, including co-hosting events with ACT Chapter featuring Peter Greste.
- NEMBC (National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters' Council)corePeak body for multicultural broadcasters in Australia, partner in diversity initiatives.
- University of Technology SydneycoreUniversity partner; UTS Centre for Media Transition co-directed by Monica Attard; students involved in MDA programs.
- Monash UniversityminorUniversity partner listed among organizational supporters.
- University of MelbourneminorUniversity partner listed among organizational supporters.
- Deakin UniversityminorUniversity partner listed among organizational supporters.
- Macquarie UniversityminorUniversity partner listed among organizational supporters.
- IsentiaminorMedia intelligence company listed as organizational supporter.
- Walkley FoundationminorJournalism foundation partner listed among organizational supporters.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Media Diversity Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Women's Media Foundation: Global non-profit supporting women journalists; comparable as an international peer with fellowships, safety programs, and reporting on representation — closely aligned with MDA's mandate.
- Reporters Without Borders: International non-profit for press freedom and journalist safety; comparable at the macro level as a global advocacy body for media workers, with similar research, convening, and policy influence playbooks.
- Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas: Australian journalism philanthropy; comparable as a foundation funding journalism diversity, quality, and ideas, with overlapping board/leadership (Andrea Ho was Director of Education there).
- Committee to Protect Journalists: Global non-profit defending journalists' rights and safety; comparable as a larger international organization addressing journalist welfare — MDA's Online Safety research aligns with CPJ's protective mandate.
- MEAA (Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance): Australia's media and entertainment industry union; comparable as a national member organization serving media professionals, with whom MDA co-hosts events for CALD and diverse journalists.
- Walkley Foundation: Australian journalism foundation supporting journalists and media excellence; comparable as a non-profit operating in the journalism ecosystem with industry-wide programs and convening power, listed as an MDA organizational supporter.
Direct peers
- First Nations Media Australia: Peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media in Australia; directly comparable as a national non-profit focused on Indigenous representation and media workforce pathways, addressing a parallel underrepresentation challenge.
- National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters' Council (NEMBC): Australian peak body for ethnic and multicultural broadcasters; directly comparable as a national non-profit advocating for representation of culturally diverse communities in broadcasting — MDA is an active partner of NEMBC.
- Australian Women in Media: Australian not-for-profit advocating for gender equity in media; directly comparable as a peer non-profit tackling underrepresentation in media industries with programs, awards, and industry convening.
Regional players
- Diversity in Media Awards (UK): UK-based initiative focused on diversity in media; comparable as a regional non-profit working on the same underrepresentation issue through industry awards and programs, useful proxy for international comparability.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Media Diversity Australia social profiles
Digital presenceMedia Diversity Australia compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Media Diversity Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Media Diversity Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Media Diversity Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Media Diversity Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Media Diversity Australia
What does Media Diversity Australia do?
Media Diversity Australia is a national not-for-profit organization that delivers structured fellowship, mentorship, and education programs to create career pathways for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) journalists in Australian media. It produces evidence-based research including the annual 'Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories?' report card and the Online Safety of Diverse Journalists study, and publishes reporting handbooks covering race, disability, and Indigenous reporting. The organization sells media-organization memberships, runs industry roundtables with media CEOs, and operates the TalentHub directory and Find an Expert platform to connect diverse professionals with newsrooms.
Is Media Diversity Australia a public or private company?
Media Diversity Australia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Media Diversity Australia founded?
Media Diversity Australia was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Media Diversity Australia based?
Media Diversity Australia is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Media Diversity Australia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tax-deductible donations are the primary driver. The others are media membership model and program sponsorships.
Who are Media Diversity Australia's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Women's Media Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, Committee to Protect Journalists, MEAA (Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance) and Walkley Foundation. Direct peers are First Nations Media Australia, National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters' Council (NEMBC) and Australian Women in Media. Diversity in Media Awards (UK) is listed as a regional player.
Does Media Diversity Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Media Diversity Australia.
What industry is Media Diversity Australia in?
Media Diversity Australia's product category is Media Diversity Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAG, Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers, with a secondary code of MPABADAN, Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural). Its SIC code is 2741.