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.

Muhammad Yunus – the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Bangladesh, coming to Christchurch on April 9

Muhammad Yunus – the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Bangladesh, coming to Christchurch on April 9

Migrants Centre
Community organisations, Ethnic communities, News

(caption for the above picture: Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus at a special summit hosted by the University of Salford on May 18; picture credit: By University of Salford Press Office - Professor Muhammad Yunus: Building Social Business Summit, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38983058)

In a build up to the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) 2017, scheduled to be held in Christchurch between September 27-29, Noble laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus will be in the City on April 9.

The Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, economist, civil society and global thought leader, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of micro-credit and micro-finance, will be addressing and interacting with audiences during the event. It’s an initiative of SingularityU Christchurch Chapter in collaboration with Ākina Foundation, Ministry of Awesome, Ohu, XCHC, Te Pūtahi and Christchurch City Council; and will be held at Charles Luney Auditorium from 4.3pm.

Notably, started in 2008, SEWF - an international event for social enterprises from all over the world to come together, share wisdom, build networks and discuss how to create a more sustainable future – is coming to New Zealand for the first time, though Melbourne had hosted the Forum in 2009.

Music and dance: A Bollywood musical coming to Christchurch in April

Music and dance: A Bollywood musical coming to Christchurch in April
Grateful: Christchurch says thank you to the rebuild workers

Grateful: Christchurch says thank you to the rebuild workers