Faculty Award of Excellence: Arts and Social Sciences
From the time she was in primary school, Antoinette Lattouf knew she wanted to do two things: tell stories and challenge power structures.
Since those decisive early years, the multi-award-winning Lebanese-Australian journalist, author, social commentator, TEDx Speaker, and advocate has become one of Australia's premier thought leaders in the anti-racism, diversity and inclusion space – shaking up the local media industry along the way.
Ms Lattouf witnessed the lack of diversity and inclusion in Australian media first-hand – not only in print and on screen but also behind the scenes. After a decade as a journalist, and the first Arab-Australian female reporter on commercial television, she realised the media was getting less diverse as Australia’s population continued to evolve. Ms Lattouf decided that rather than leave the industry, like many others from marginalised backgrounds have, she wanted to change it. So in 2017, she joined forces with Isabel Lo and established Media Diversity Australia (MDA) – a not-for-profit organisation working to transform the Australian media landscape so it authentically represents the country’s diversity.
Ms Lattouf’s work through MDA has led to a groundbreaking report card for the Australian media industry, the Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories report. The second edition of this agenda-setting research, conducted in partnership with UTS, is cited in journalism schools around the country, has sparked uncomfortable yet important conversations and reflections about the industry, and made headlines overseas.
Ms. Lattouf’s time at UTS exploring the power of research and advocacy established the foundations for her industry-defining work. The insights she gained into the resistance of power structures while studying at UTS inspired her to write her first book for Penguin in 2022. How to Lose Friends and Influence White People is a cheeky and approachable exploration of systemic racism in Australia and the steps people can take to make a difference.
In addition to her incredible journalism and anti-racism works, Ms Lattouf also advocates for more support and awareness of perinatal mental health, especially among refugee and migrant communities. She continues to share her own journey with postnatal depression and is an ambassador for The Gidget Foundation.
Ms Lattouf was listed in the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence in 2019. In 2021, she was awarded a Women’s Agenda Leadership Award and named B&T’s Women in Media Champion of Change. She has recently moved on from MDA and is working on a range of satirical broadcasting and writing projects. She became a UTS Alumni Ambassador in 2023.
Australia’s media has a really problematic representation and inclusion issue. I'd love to see a future where people like myself can just get on with our jobs. Where we don’t have to do advocacy work and be labelled trouble makers for doing so In a fair and inclusive society, we could just get on with things, enjoy our work, without carrying such an unfair load.