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Why Lee Lin Chin thinks cultural diversity on TV is important

SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin has weighed in on the debate about multicultural representation in Australian media, agreeing that more culturally diverse faces need to be seen on screen to engage with current and future generations.

"Representation is important," the former Gold Logie nominee, who is set to appear at this weekend's Singapore: Inside Out festival, tells Be.

  • How culturally diverse is Australian TV in 2017?

"It tells children who may not be white that they’re normal and can become whatever they want to become."

Lee Lin Chin, who is set to appear at this weekend's Singapore: Inside Out, says that more culturally diverse faces need to be seen on screen to engage with current and future generations. Source: George Fetting©
Lee Lin Chin, who is set to appear at this weekend's Singapore: Inside Out, says that more culturally diverse faces need to be seen on screen to engage with current and future generations. Source: George Fetting©

Lee Lin migrated to Australia from Singapore in 1980, and has been working for the SBS in various news reporting capacities ever since.

Given there are over 300 languages spoken in Australia, and that almost half the population was born overseas or has a parent born abroad, Lee Lin's arguments for culturally diverse representation on screen make sense.

"It also [I think] fosters inclusion and acceptance, as well as allowing me to have a job," she says.

As Waleed Aly pointed out at the Media Diversity Australia launch earlier this week, it is possible to name all the prominent, ethnically diverse faces in Australian media, because there are so few.

Lee Lin Chin is a newsreader with SBS. Source: SBS
Lee Lin Chin is a newsreader with SBS. Source: SBS

Apart from Lee Lin and Waleed, the likes of ABC's Jeremy Fernandez, Kumi Taguchi, Del Irani and Stan Grant immediately come to mind as people of colour in the industry.

Using reality television casting as an example in his speech this week, Waleed shared a similar sentiment to Lee Lin. He said, "you have this diversity, and what happens is audiences bond with them".

Last year's census data reveals Australia has seen more than one million new migrants since 2011, and for Lee Lin, doing her job of reading the news is just one way she strives to promote intercultural understanding and cohesiveness .

Lee Lin migrated to Australia from Singapore in 1980, and has been working for the SBS in various news reporting capacities ever since. Source: SBS
Lee Lin migrated to Australia from Singapore in 1980, and has been working for the SBS in various news reporting capacities ever since. Source: SBS

This week she will be making a special appearance at the Singapore: Inside Out festival in Sydney's Chippendale.

"Australia is a multicultural country. We’re a melting pot so festivals like this are important," she tells Be.

"Not only are they fun but they also foster stronger relationships between our two countries and educate Aussies about different traditions and cultures."

Having fond memories of growing up and going to school in Singapore, Lee Lin adds: "I for one am looking forward to introducing Australia (or at least Sydney) to my homeland".

Last year she was the first SBS personality to be nominated for a 2017 TV Week Gold Logie. Source: Getty
Last year she was the first SBS personality to be nominated for a 2017 TV Week Gold Logie. Source: Getty

The 2016 TV Week Gold Logie nominee says her loved ones back home and the exquisite cuisine always tempt her to visit Singapore at least twice a year.

"Two of my brothers and one of my sisters still live there," she explains.

And as for the food, "No matter if you have the correct ingredients, a dish can never be perfectly recreated outside of its homeland".

As Waleed Aly pointed out at the Media Diversity Australia launch earlier this week, it is possible to name all the prominent, ethnically diverse faces in Australian media, because there are so few. Source: Getty
As Waleed Aly pointed out at the Media Diversity Australia launch earlier this week, it is possible to name all the prominent, ethnically diverse faces in Australian media, because there are so few. Source: Getty

Well, at least a sample of Singaporean food will be on offer this weekend when the Singapore: Inside Out – a festival of the country's culture, food, arts and night-life - takes place at Sydney's Kensington Street and The Old Clare Hotel, Chippendale from November 3 to 5.

"I'll be teaching the audience about Singapore, being funny and giving out beer... basically the three things I’m best at other than news reading," Lee Lin laughs.

She will make a special appearance on Kensington Street on Saturday November 4 at 5pm.

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