The Bengali Association of Victoria (BAV) joined the growing list of organisations to take part in the media training offered by The Indian Sun with support from the Victorian Government, aimed at helping multicultural communities enhance their public communication and media presence.
The workshop, delivered by journalist Indira Laisram on 9 July, focused on practical tools such as how to write a press release, structure a news story, and build a consistent presence on social media.
Speaking to a room of committee members and volunteers, Laisram opened by highlighting the value of real stories in building visibility and trust. “You may not have large budgets or full-time communication staff, but you have something just as important – strong community links and stories worth telling,” she said.
BAV, the oldest Bengali community association in Victoria, has long been active in cultural programming. But as the workshop showed, being active is not always the same as being seen.
“It’s not about getting into the newspaper for the sake of it. It’s about making sure our work is visible to those who might want to engage, support or learn from it.”
— Soumya Maitra, secretary, BAV
“We have a lot happening and a lot of activities,” said Narayan Banerjee, its new president.
One example shared during the discussion was the association’s seniors group, which meets fortnightly and is supported by the local council. Banerjee explained that the sessions help address social isolation among older members. “Over time, this group has become more connected. There’s a sense of care and consistency.”
The importance of documenting such efforts came up repeatedly. “If this is happening regularly and is making a difference, it should be reported,” said Laisram. “Not just for visibility, but so that others can learn from it or support it.”
Vice president Swapna Halder spoke about the challenges of ageing in Australia with limited extended family nearby. “You can’t always rely on someone being there in an emergency,” she said. “So community spaces like this matter.”
The workshop also covered how to identify a story, write headlines, and use photography effectively. Laisram introduced participants to the structure of news and feature articles, with an emphasis on keeping language simple and factual.
For those managing social media, she outlined practical tips such as posting regularly, tagging organisations, using hashtags, and engaging with followers. “You don’t need to be everywhere, but wherever you are, be consistent,” she said.
Joint cultural secretary Abhishek Banerjee found this part especially useful. “Our Instagram page is still growing, and now we know how to make our posts stronger and more engaging,” he said.
He added that the tips on captions and hook lines had really resonated with them. Until now, they had been improvising, but the workshop had given them a useful toolkit to work with.
There was also discussion about how BAV could promote its Durga Puja event more effectively. Laisram encouraged the team to focus on what makes their celebration unique and to plan media outreach early. “What’s different about your event? That’s what makes a good story,” she said.
Throughout the workshop, Laisram stressed that media outreach should be timely, accurate, and based on facts. She also addressed the role of tools like ChatGPT, advising caution. “It can help draft and edit, but it cannot feel what your community feels or attend your events. The story still needs to come from you.”
The session ended with participants reflecting on how they could start applying what they’d learned. Some discussed making short videos to capture their events. Others suggested preparing press kits and building contact lists of local media.
“It’s not about getting into the newspaper for the sake of it,” said secretary Soumya Maitra. “It’s about making sure our work is visible to those who might want to engage, support or learn from it.”
Laisram offered to continue supporting the group with guidance on writing and outreach. “You already have the stories,” she said. “The next step is telling them clearly and consistently.”
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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