The National Indigenous Times (NIT) is an Indigenous Australian affairs website, originally published as a newspaper from February 2002.
National Indigenous Times was first published in newspaper form on 27 February 2002.[1] It was established by Owen Carriage, the founder of the Koori Mail.[2]
In 2006, NIT published a major story about government staff anonymously representing themselves as independent witnesses in the Lateline report on child abuse in remote communities, with particular reference to Mutitjulu, in the Northern Territory.[3]
On 27 February 2012, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's program Media Watch aired a segment that detailed how the newspaper had repeatedly taken substantial material from other media sources without any attribution.[4] This was addressed by editor Stephen Hagan, who promised to deliver more original material and use citations when using external references. Hagan left in December 2013.[5]
In January and February 2015, the NIT was placed in administration because of accumulating legal bills arising from a defamation case and an unfair dismissal claim by former editor Stephen Hagan.[5] NIT survived administration with a mix of the longstanding owners/founders and a number new part owners.[5][6]
Gerry Georgatos was an investigative reporter and feature writer with the NIT for around six years. He delivered stories on native title in Australia, corrupt practices and government neglect of poverty-stricken communities.[7] His correspondence for NIT was as a volunteer, "bringing to the fore voices from his many travels".[8] Just before he announced in February 2015 that he was no longer with the newspaper, he spoke positively of the newspaper on National Indigenous Television.[9]
In December 2015, Tony Barrass bought the NIT masthead from Sydney liquidators O'Brien Palmer and launched the online version on 28 February 2016.[citation needed]
Since late February 2016, it has functioned as an online publication owned by Indigenous businessman and former Kimberley Land Council CEO Wayne Bergmann and Indigenous businessman Clinton Wolf . It was formerly owned and edited by Tony Barrass. As of September 2022[update] the editor is Tom Zaunmayr.[1]
The NIT's parent company, Destiny Publications was placed into voluntary administration last month over mounting legal bills sparked by an unfair dismissal case brought by former editor Stephen Hagan and a defamation case launched by former Fortescue Metals Group executive Michael Gallagher.(subscription required)
