Dear readers, we are happy to inform that we have finished analysing the feedback on our last year’s pilot launch of Multicultural Times (MT), New Zealand’s first nation-wide multicultural newspaper. As was the case with our Christchurch-based multicultural newspaper, The Migrant Times (TMT), MT too received innumerable accolades, appreciation and love from all of you. We are also very grateful to various communities, leaders, decision-makers and organisations from across the country who have shown immense faith in the idea of MT, and TMT before that. Based on the feedback, and after a lot of introspection, we have taken two strategic decisions to ensure that we continue to lead New Zealand’s journalism landscape towards diversity and innovation, while staying true to the basic tenets of the fourth estate. 1) The future of journalism is digital. We will continue publishing MT on our various digital media platforms and will cease publication of our print version. The reach, engagement and scope of innovation in the digital space is far superior to print. The financial viability is also superior in digital, due to the trade-off between the cost of production and results achieved. A better reach, engagement, innovation and viability, will ultimately lead to better-quality journalism for our society. 2) The future of journalism is data and artificial intelligence (AI). We are exploring how to use open data and natural language generation techniques to generate quality content and narrative stories, pertaining to local issues relevant to people’s everyday lives. We are immensely excited.

Stay tuned.

Photo essay: Yogyakarta - The city of graffiti

Photo essay: Yogyakarta - The city of graffiti

Migrants Centre
Ethnic communities, Photo essays

One of the stated goals of this newspaper is to build bridges between communities, and play a part in developing mutual respect and admiration for each other's way of life. This is important because it is we - the media - that help people formulate opinions, depending upon what we choose to report or ignore. For example, everyone was told that Taliban destroyed the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afganistan in 2001. But not many know that Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, has embarked on massive restoration efforts for 9th century Buddhist and Hindu temples. Or that, Yogyakarta - the cultural capital of Indonesia - is actually a "city of graffiti".

Yogyakarta is the hub of Javanese culture in Indonesia, which has seamlessly integrated cultural traits of Hinduism and Buddhism, with Islam. Even though, the people of Java are mainly Muslims, they are very proud of their links with other cultures and religions. On top of it, the most striking feature of the city is the omnipresence of graffiti on almost every wall around the city, presenting a very liberal face of Indonesia. To quote the Lonely Planet, "Yogyakarta is where the Javanese language is at its purest, arts at their brightest and its traditions at their most visible."

Click on the image to read the printed version of the story.

Click on the image to read the printed version of the story.

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