TheNational Indigenous Times (NIT) is anIndigenous 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 theKoori Mail.[2]
In 2006,NIT published a major story about government staff anonymously representing themselves as independent witnesses in theLateline report onchild abuse in remote communities, with particular reference toMutitjulu, in theNorthern Territory.[3]
On 27 February 2012, theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation's programMedia 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 editorStephen 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, theNIT was placed in administration because of accumulating legal bills arising from a defamation case and anunfair 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 theNIT for around six years. He delivered stories onnative title in Australia, corrupt practices and government neglect of poverty-stricken communities.[7] His correspondence forNIT 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 onNational Indigenous Television.[9]
In December 2015, Tony Barrass bought theNIT masthead from Sydney liquidators O'Brien Palmer and launched the online version on 28 February 2016.[citation needed]
In July 2024,NIT launched the websiteThe Indigenous Business Review.[10] In addition to their website, aglossy paper magazine is distributed as bimonthly inserts intoThe Australian andThe West Australian newspapers, and be available inQantasairport lounges.[11]
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 businessmanClinton 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 formerFortescue executive Michael Gallagher.(subscription required)