In the role, the award-winning journalist, producer and presenter leads the editorial direction and oversees the output of NITV's distinctive daily news, its current affairs line-up including weekly show The Point and the long-running Living Black, and news coverage of special events.
Natalie joined NITV in 2008 as a member of its inaugural news team and has been at the forefront of reporting news and events from a First Nations perspective in the Australian media. As the long-time anchor of NITV News, Australia's only dedicated First Nations national news bulletin, and weekly news review program show Nula, Natalie has reported and broadcast from communities across the continent over more than 15 years. She has also presented live coverage of a range of significant national events, including NITV's rolling coverage on January 26 each year, and from on the ground in northeast Arnhem Land for the annual Garma Festival, in addition to her extensive work behind the camera as a producer and senior member of NITV's news and current affairs team.
General Manager of NITV, Peter Noble, a Girramay and Bandjin man, said: Nat is one of Australia's most experienced Indigenous affairs journalists, trusted by communities to tell their stories. She's passionate about exploring issues through a First Nations lens and embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the stories that matter for all Australians. Her determination and dedication to the work she does is underpinned by a wonderful warmth that sees her connect with people in a unique way, whether on Country, on screen, or in the newsroom. We're thrilled to have Nat leading the team, and at such an important time in the national conversation.
On her appointment, Natalie added: NITV's news and current affairs play a vital role in providing a platform for First Nations voices to be heard. There are so many wonderful stories of the people and places of this country that we have unique access to and are privileged to share, along with the trust of communities to shine a light on issues and explore them with nuance and understanding unlike any other broadcaster. I'm proud to have the opportunity to work with the incredibly talented news and current affairs team at NITV, as we continue to amplify and elevate these stories, at a time when we know the importance of ensuring Australians are listening.
Natalie will continue to maintain an on-air presence on Nula and across special events coverage.
For a PDF version of this media release, click here.
About Natalie Ahmat, Head of Indigenous News and Current Affairs, NITV
A proud Mudburra (Wave Hill, NT) and Wagadagam (Mabuiag Island, Torres Straits) First Nations woman, Natalie Ahmat is passionate about telling Australian stories through an Indigenous lens.
Since joining the inaugural NITV News team in 2008, Natalie has travelled around the country reporting on First Nations issues, and has anchored the channel's live coverage of some of the most significant Indigenous events in recent history, including Garma from north east Arnhem Land, the Uluru First Nations Constitutional Convention and the National NAIDOC Awards.
Natalie and the NITV News team were early adopters of broadcast technology which allowed them to take the news out of the Sydney studio, to broadcast on country', talking directly to grassroots community about the issues affecting them. Natalie has broadcast NITV News from nearly 100 remote, regional and urban communities across mainland Australia, including Broome and Kalgoorlie in WA, South Australia's APY Lands, Kalkaringi and Yirrkala in the Northern Territory, and Thursday Island in the Torres Straits, to name just a few.
She has also appeared on television internationally, presenting Nations without Borders, a current affairs program produced in partnership with the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network, and shown in Canada, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Taiwan, the US, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Scotland. She has appeared as a commentator on radio and television programs, both in Australia and internationally, providing analysis on both Indigenous issues and bringing a black perspective on the big stories of the day. In 2017, she produced Shark Curry, a documentary celebrating the achievements of the Australian Indigenous Womens Cricket team on their history making tour of India.
Her on-air profile has given Natalie the opportunity to give back to community through a range of voluntary roles. Natalie is the Co-Chair of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and an Ambassador for Neighbours Every Day and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. She sits on Cricket Australia's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee and is a past member of the Walkleys Judging Board.
Natalie has won several awards for her contributions to the media industry and Indigenous community, including the University of Canberra Chancellors Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, Journalist of the Year at the 2015 Multicultural and Indigenous Media Awards and the 2012 Deadly for Community Broadcaster of the Year. She was also a finalist in the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award in 2023.
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In the role, the award-winning journalist, producer and presenter leads the editorial direction and oversees the output of NITV's distinctive daily news, its current affairs line-up including weekly show The Point and the long-running Living Black, and news coverage of special events.
