PRESS RELEASE
New collective launches to support Indigenous representation, storytelling and languages
16 March 2026
The Public Media Alliance will act as the secretariat for Indigenous Public Media (IPM), which has been founded by a group of public service media organisations and Indigenous media bodies.
Seven Indigenous leaders for public service media and media organisations have united to form the new and historic collective, Indigenous Public Media (IPM). Spanning the Sámi ancestral lands to Oceania, Aotearoa New Zealand to North America, IPM unites global public media powerhouses, including the ABC, NITV, CBC/Radio-Canada, RNZ, NRK Sápmi, and Swedish Radio, to reclaim Indigenous narratives and ensure Indigenous voices are not just participants in public media, but also its architects.
IPM was born from the 2024 “Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Public Media” summit hosted by CBC/Radio-Canada in Ottawa. The alliance is designed to build bridges between national public broadcasters, creating a forum of shared strategy, editorial excellence, and cultural sovereignty. By pooling their collective influence, IPM will advocate for greater representation within existing media structures, while pioneering new ways to preserve and promote Indigenous content and languages across global digital platforms.
The founding members of the IPM are ABC (Australia), NITV (Australia), RNZ (New Zealand), CBC/Radio-Canada (Canada), NRK Sápmi (Norway), and SR Sámi Rádio (Sweden), together with Ngā Aho Whakaari (New Zealand), a not-for-profit organisation promoting Māori on-screen representation.
The IPM Council comprises representatives from each member organisation, ensuring a self-determined and community-centric approach. The Public Media Alliance, a non-profit global association of public service broadcasters, acts as the secretariat for the IPM.
“First Nations knowledge in social justice, community and environmental stewardship has never been more vital. Indigenous Public Media members working within national broadcasters play a crucial role in sharing that knowledge with audiences around the world.”
– Kelly Williams, Bundjalung woman, founding IPM Council member and ABC Director First Nations Strategy
“This isn’t just about collaboration; it’s about building a global stage where our stories are told on our terms. We are moving from being guests in the mainstream media landscape to being the leaders of our own global association.”
– Robert Doane, founding IPM Council member and Senior Director, Indigenous Office, CBC/Radio-Canada
“At this pivotal time, Indigenous storytellers around the globe are taking centre stage to reshape narratives, reclaim language and culture, and challenge the colonial frameworks within mainstream media systems. We are excited by the new opportunities that Indigenous Public Media will provide to stand in solidarity with others upholding the principles of public interest journalism, media independence and social justice. We look forward to learning from others, sharing our knowledge, and championing stories that connect us all.”
– Kay Ellmers, founding IPM Council member and Executive Director, Ngā Aho Whakaari – Māori in Screen
“We are in a time of great misinformation, disinformation, distrust, ‘fake news’, news avoidance and fear – I believe that First Nations storytelling has the potential to bridge those challenges – because collectively we already are. Indigenous Public Media creates a new platform to tell, share, and amplify important stories – and that’s incredibly exciting. It’s been an honour to be part of the team building and shaping this platform.”
– Dan Bourchier, founding IPM Council member, and General Manager and Editor-in-Chief, NITV.
“Public service media have a duty to reach and reflect all audiences. Yet historically, public media have neglected this responsibility to Indigenous Peoples. But I do believe we are witnessing a shift in how PSM recognise their role, and act upon it. Indigenous Public Media (IPM) is a vital new group that stands at the forefront, both as an example of this change, and as a marker of a coordinated international effort to continue this fight.
“On behalf of the Public Media Alliance, I am proud that we will act as the secretariat for IPM, and excited to work with its members directly. We are here to offer support and technical expertise to help ensure this network succeeds in its essential mandate.”
– Kristian Porter, CEO, Public Media Alliance
“The collaboration lays the foundation for stronger journalism rooted in Indigenous voices and everyday life worldwide. It contributes to increased news coverage and a broader range of content based on our deep knowledge of Indigenous societies. This journalism plays an important role in sharing knowledge and countering prejudice and racism, as well as in examining internal power structures and norms to support development within Indigenous communities.
– Thomas Sarri, founding IPM Council member and Head, Sámi Radio, SR
About IPM
IPM was formed following a conference held by CBC/Radio-Canada in 2024, “Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Public Media”. The journalists, producers, content creators, and media leaders it brought together, inspired by their shared similarities and the conversations the gathering fostered, agreed to work closely to address their challenges and harness opportunities.
The group also met in Paris in November 2024 for UNESCO’s Expert meeting and Media Partnership Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the Media. This group’s formation also marks the realisation of a key recommendation [12] in UNESCO’s global study on Indigenous Peoples and the media which calls for “New multistakeholder partnerships and professional associations … to enhance collaboration.”
In the time since, the group has started sharing best practices for internal strategy and editorial policies, while exchanges, funded by PMA’s Global Grants, have taken place from the ABC to CBC/Radio-Canada, and from CBC/Radio-Canada to Swedish Radio and NRK. Several members also appeared at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum, where they spoke at a panel session on reaching and reflecting Indigenous audiences. There has also been work around how national broadcasters have been working with Indigenous communities around the substantial archives they hold.
The IPM Council will meet regularly and will also be gathering in-person ahead of the WIBN conference, hosted by NRK Sápmi in Norway in September 2026.
The IPM Council members are:
Dan Bourchier, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief, NITV
Robert Doane, Gitxsan Nation, Senior Director, Indigenous Office, CBC/Radio-Canada
Kay Ellmers, Ngāti Tamateraa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Executive Director, Ngā Aho Whakaari
Shannon Haunui-Thompson, Tumu Māori, RNZ
Johan Ailo Kalstad, Director, NRK Sápmi, NRK
Thomas Sarri, Head, Sámi Rádio, Swedish Radio
Kelly Williams, Bundjalung Nation, Director, First Nations Strategy, ABC
The group’s full mandate and composition and governance can be found here:
PRESS RELEASE
New collective launches to support Indigenous representation, storytelling and languages
16 March 2026
The Public Media Alliance will act as the secretariat for Indigenous Public Media (IPM), which has been founded by a group of public service media organisations and Indigenous media bodies.
Seven Indigenous leaders for public service media and media organisations have united to form the new and historic collective, Indigenous Public Media (IPM). Spanning the Sámi ancestral lands to Oceania, Aotearoa New Zealand to North America, IPM unites global public media powerhouses, including the ABC, NITV, CBC/Radio-Canada, RNZ, NRK Sápmi, and Swedish Radio, to reclaim Indigenous narratives and ensure Indigenous voices are not just participants in public media, but also its architects.
IPM was born from the 2024 “Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Public Media” summit hosted by CBC/Radio-Canada in Ottawa. The alliance is designed to build bridges between national public broadcasters, creating a forum of shared strategy, editorial excellence, and cultural sovereignty. By pooling their collective influence, IPM will advocate for greater representation within existing media structures, while pioneering new ways to preserve and promote Indigenous content and languages across global digital platforms.
The founding members of the IPM are ABC (Australia), NITV (Australia), RNZ (New Zealand), CBC/Radio-Canada (Canada), NRK Sápmi (Norway), and SR Sámi Rádio (Sweden), together with Ngā Aho Whakaari (New Zealand), a not-for-profit organisation promoting Māori on-screen representation.
The IPM Council comprises representatives from each member organisation, ensuring a self-determined and community-centric approach. The Public Media Alliance, a non-profit global association of public service broadcasters, acts as the secretariat for the IPM.
“First Nations knowledge in social justice, community and environmental stewardship has never been more vital. Indigenous Public Media members working within national broadcasters play a crucial role in sharing that knowledge with audiences around the world.”
– Kelly Williams, Bundjalung woman, founding IPM Council member and ABC Director First Nations Strategy
“This isn’t just about collaboration; it’s about building a global stage where our stories are told on our terms. We are moving from being guests in the mainstream media landscape to being the leaders of our own global association.”
– Robert Doane, founding IPM Council member and Senior Director, Indigenous Office, CBC/Radio-Canada
“At this pivotal time, Indigenous storytellers around the globe are taking centre stage to reshape narratives, reclaim language and culture, and challenge the colonial frameworks within mainstream media systems. We are excited by the new opportunities that Indigenous Public Media will provide to stand in solidarity with others upholding the principles of public interest journalism, media independence and social justice. We look forward to learning from others, sharing our knowledge, and championing stories that connect us all.”
– Kay Ellmers, founding IPM Council member and Executive Director, Ngā Aho Whakaari – Māori in Screen
“We are in a time of great misinformation, disinformation, distrust, ‘fake news’, news avoidance and fear – I believe that First Nations storytelling has the potential to bridge those challenges – because collectively we already are. Indigenous Public Media creates a new platform to tell, share, and amplify important stories – and that’s incredibly exciting. It’s been an honour to be part of the team building and shaping this platform.”
– Dan Bourchier, founding IPM Council member, and General Manager and Editor-in-Chief, NITV.
“The collaboration lays the foundation for stronger journalism rooted in Indigenous voices and everyday life worldwide. It contributes to increased news coverage and a broader range of content based on our deep knowledge of Indigenous societies. This journalism plays an important role in sharing knowledge and countering prejudice and racism, as well as in examining internal power structures and norms to support development within Indigenous communities.
– Thomas Sarri, founding IPM Council member and Head, Sámi Radio, SR
“Public service media have a duty to reach and reflect all audiences. Yet historically, public media have neglected this responsibility to Indigenous Peoples. But I do believe we are witnessing a shift in how PSM recognise their role, and act upon it. Indigenous Public Media (IPM) is a vital new group that stands at the forefront, both as an example of this change, and as a marker of a coordinated international effort to continue this fight.
“On behalf of the Public Media Alliance, I am proud that we will act as the secretariat for IPM, and excited to work with its members directly. We are here to offer support and technical expertise to help ensure this network succeeds in its essential mandate.”
– Kristian Porter, CEO, Public Media Alliance
About IPM
IPM was formed following a conference held by CBC/Radio-Canada in 2024, “Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Public Media”. The journalists, producers, content creators, and media leaders it brought together, inspired by their shared similarities and the conversations the gathering fostered, agreed to work closely to address their challenges and harness opportunities.
The group also met in Paris in November 2024 for UNESCO’s Expert meeting and Media Partnership Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the Media. This group’s formation also marks the realisation of a key recommendation [12] in UNESCO’s global study on Indigenous Peoples and the media which calls for “New multistakeholder partnerships and professional associations … to enhance collaboration.”
In the time since, the group has started sharing best practices for internal strategy and editorial policies, while exchanges, funded by PMA’s Global Grants, have taken place from the ABC to CBC/Radio-Canada, and from CBC/Radio-Canada to Swedish Radio and NRK. Several members also appeared at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum, where they spoke at a panel session on reaching and reflecting Indigenous audiences. There has also been work around how national broadcasters have been working with Indigenous communities around the substantial archives they hold.
The IPM Council will meet regularly and will also be gathering in-person ahead of the WIBN conference, hosted by NRK Sápmi in Norway in September 2026.
The IPM Council members are:
Dan Bourchier, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief, NITV
Robert Doane, Gitxsan Nation, Senior Director, Indigenous Office, CBC/Radio-Canada
Kay Ellmers, Ngāti Tamateraa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Executive Director, Ngā Aho Whakaari
Shannon Haunui-Thompson, Tumu Māori, RNZ
Johan Ailo Kalstad, Director, NRK Sápmi, NRK
Thomas Sarri, Head, Sámi Rádio, Swedish Radio
Kelly Williams, Bundjalung Nation, Director, First Nations Strategy, ABC
The group’s full mandate and composition and governance can be found here:
For more information, please contact Yusra Malik, Communications Officer: yusra@publicmediaalliance.org
Related Posts
Different ways of storytelling and a new Indigenous news alliance
A discussion with Tristan Ahtone on…
Global Media Forum: Reaching and reflecting Indigenous Peoples
Read about our panel at this year's DW…
CBC/Radio-Canada releases progress report on National Indigenous Strategy
More Indigenous partnerships and…
PMA attends UNESCO Meeting on Indigenous Peoples and the Media
PMA was at the UNESCO headquarters for…