MEAA
The media section of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), representing journalists, has appointed a new federal president and two vice-presidents.
ABC environment reporter Michael Slezak will immediately begin as the federal president.
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s environment and climate reporter Bianca Hall, and Kasun Ubayasiri, a senior lecturer and program director of communication and journalism at Griffith University and freelance documentary photographer, will serve as federal vice-presidents.
They replace former media section president Karen Percy, and vice presidents Erin Delahunty and Kate Ferguson who stepped down in a row over the future of the Walkley Foundation which runs the journalism awards of the same name.
Insiders say the resignations a related to a proposal to change the foundation’s constitution so that a majority of the board of directors be independent. Currently the union has the right to appoint some directors.
MEAA federal president Michael Balk said the appointments of Slezak, Hall and Ubayasiri had been approved by the MEAA Board. They also become directors of the Walkley Foundation.
They join current Walkley directors Adele Ferguson (chair), Sally Neighbour and Victoria Laurie.
“We believe it is time to move forward on uplifting our governance as we enter a landmark 70th awards year, when the Walkleys will be under intense media and public scrutiny, and we will continue to face a complex set of challenges,” Ferguson, Neighbour and Laurie said.
The new leadership team paid tribute to their predecessors and pledged to work with all MEAA members to advance the interests of Australian journalists.
Slezak and Hall work at two of the biggest newsrooms in Australia - newsrooms they’ve led through significant campaigns and wins for members.
Ubayasiri’s role at the university puts him face-to-face with the industry’s future workers, while his freelance work puts him in touch with particularly vulnerable MEAA members outside traditional newsrooms.
“There are many big issues confronting our industry: the sustainability of media business models to continue delivering independent and quality journalism, tackling the financial and employment insecurity of freelancers, the roll out of Artificial Intelligence, maintaining trust with audiences through ethical journalism, and diversifying the workplace profile of our industry so it truly represents modern Australia,” they said.
“MEAA has a long and proud history of more than a century advocating for Australian journalists and media workers, including as custodian of the Walkley awards, and whenever there has been a challenge we have always overcome it.
“As directors of the Walkley Foundation, we will take very seriously its constitutional requirement to build a community of journalists and protect it from any undue corporate influence. Independent, ethical journalism will remain the foundation’s driving goal.
“Our invitation to representatives from the foundation to meet with us and our elected colleagues on MEAA’s National Media Section committee to discuss the future governance of the foundation remains open.”
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