A century in print is no small feat. For the young Greek Australians gathered in a recent focus group imagining the future of The Greek Herald, the newspaper’s milestone was more than a celebration of longevity. It was proof that a publication built by migrants, carried across generations and read around kitchen tables for a century still matters deeply.
What excited them most was not simply the past, but the possibility of what comes next.
“It’s important to commemorate,” says Cypriot youth leader Stephanie Dimitriou. “But what matters most to me is how The Greek Herald presents itself now and how it continues connecting with younger generations.”
That spirit, respect for legacy combined with excitement for reinvention, shaped the entire discussion. Their message was overwhelmingly optimistic: the next 100 years could be even stronger if the paper continues evolving alongside the community it serves.
Connection to the newspaper
For many young people, a relationship with The Greek Herald begins almost accidentally.
“I discovered it accidentally,” says UNSW communications and marketing student Giorgio Apostolopoulos. “It was my pappou’s paper, folded on the coffee table.”
Today, that discovery often happens online instead.
“I read it when it pops up on my feed,” says 16-year-old Oakleigh Grammar student Vassia Kosmas. “It’s more efficient to pull it up on my phone.”
While print remains treasured, especially by older generations, younger readers see digital platforms as the natural gateway into the publication.
“For my generation, news is instant,” Giorgio says. “The future of The Greek Herald isn’t traditional news, it’s stories. It’s representation.”
Yet what became clear throughout the discussion was that young readers are not turning away from heritage media. They simply want it delivered in ways that feel natural to their lives.
Seeking a “digital village”
The idea that energised the room most was the concept of The Greek Herald becoming more than a newspaper: a connector for young Greek Australians scattered across cities, industries and communities.
“The infrastructure of community has dissolved for my generation,” Giorgio says. “We know we’re all Greek, but we don’t always know where the other Greeks are.”
His vision? A “digital village.”
“The Greek Herald could become the digital version of that, not just reporting on the community, but actively connecting it.”
The suggestions flowed quickly: more initiatives like The Greek Herald’s Woman of the Year award, professional directories, youth networking, event calendars and opportunities to connect Greek Australians across Australia and globally.
“Just knowing there are people who can help you or mentor you would be beneficial,” says PhD candidate Melina Haritopoulou-Sinanidou, who has already benefited from being a recipient of The Greek Herald’s Woman to Watch Award that opened doors and connections.
“The Greek Herald is already a hub, bringing communities together, not just reporting on them and this can become even more prominent.”
From newspaper to meeting place. From publication to platform.
Stories that feel alive
The participants were unanimous about the kinds of stories they love most: stories that feel current, personal and alive.
“I love stories about young Greek Australians doing things in unexpected fields,” Giorgio says. “That’s community memory, that surge of pride, ‘that’s one of ours.’”
For National Union of Greek Australian Students (NUGAS) Co-President Panos Stamatopoulos, the paper’s greatest strength lies in community storytelling.
“You have the edge when it comes to community and diaspora profiles,” he says. “That’s where the real value is.”
The group repeatedly returned to one idea: younger generations want to see themselves reflected not only through nostalgia, but through contemporary Greek Australian life.
“We need to see ourselves in the present tense,” Giorgio says, pointing to The Greek Herald as fulfilling this need.
Rethinking Greek identity
For Panos, the discussion went beyond media and into the evolution of Greek identity itself.
“What our culture means to us is often defined very vaguely or at a surface level,” he says. “When we hyper-focus on things like dancing or language, we sometimes miss the nuance.”
Young Greek Australians, he argues, are creating something unique: a diaspora identity shaped both by heritage and by modern Australian life.
“We’re redefining what it means to be Greek outside Greece,” he says. “And newspapers play a role in archiving that.”
The bilingual nature of The Greek Herald also sparked passionate discussion. The group agreed that maintaining Greek in print and online remains symbolically powerful.
“It says Greek belongs in public,” Giorgio explains. “Not just at home.”
Vassia admits she already uses AI tools to translate articles into Greek when print copies are unavailable.
All the young people present say that despite language attrition, they want the Greek versions of the stories to continue.
Ideas for the future
The brainstorming session quickly became energised and imaginative.
The group envisioned:
- The group enjoys the Greek Herald’s short-form videos, and Instagram reels
- “how-to” videos on dance, traditions, recipes and even xematiasma
- more initiatives like the Unsung Heroines spanning to competitions for students
- stronger international connections across the diaspora as digital increases the news footprint
- community directories and event hubs
- more opportunities for young contributors
“We scroll, we watch, we listen,” Giorgio says.
“If it’s intriguing and not too long, I’ll watch it,” Vassia adds.
One idea in particular resonated strongly: creating pathways for younger voices.
“That creates a reader for life and a contributor for a decade,” Giorgio says.
He knows this firsthand.
“The Herald created me as a contributor by first creating a reader.”
The bottom line: trust us
Perhaps the strongest message of the night was also the simplest.
“Trust us,” Stephanie says. “Give us opportunities to lead. Don’t tell us what to do, guide us.”
They all appreciated the times when they were able to contribute or saw their byline in the paper.
Far from rejecting The Greek Herald, the young people in the room spoke about it with affection, pride and optimism. They see enormous value in a publication that has documented migrant journeys, preserved language and connected generations for 100 years.
As Giorgio beautifully summed up: “An influencer has followers. The Greek Herald has witnesses.”
That distinction matters.
Because after 100 years, The Greek Herald is no longer simply a newspaper. It is an archive of a people, a living memory of a diaspora and, potentially, a digital meeting place for the next generation.
“The Greek Herald will continue to be successful in 2036,” Giorgio says, “if it becomes the place where I go to find each other.”
And judging by the energy in the room, the next generation is more than ready to help build that future.
