Media as a Lifeline for Languages

Across Asia and the Pacific, thousands of living languages face intergenerational decline, with almost a third of Asian languages at risk of extinction as urbanization, institutional neglect, and media standardization take their toll.

This strategic webinar, ‘Media as a Lifeline for Languages’ explores how broadcasters can help preserve and promote vulnerable native languages to make local languages dynamic, desirable, and self-sustaining for younger generations.

Join us for an exclusive, dynamic one-hour webinar to discover how broadcasters, creators and media professionals can turn linguistic heritage into living tools of global communication and identity.

Guest Speaker: Nimmala Shanmuganathan, Head of ABU Media Academy

KEY EXPERT TO DELIVER THIS SESSION:

Nimmala Shanmuganathan

Nimmala Shanmuganathan is the Head of Media Academy, operating at the intersection of media, education, and cultural advocacy. Growing up in a vibrant Chinese-Indian household surrounded by English, Malay, Cantonese, and Tamil, she experienced firsthand how language shapes culture, identity, and connection — a lifelong perspective that directly drives her work.

Holding a Bachelor’s in English, a Master’s in Media Studies, and certifications in teaching and curriculum development, her career began in content, marketing television programming to broadcasters and pay-TV operators across Malaysia. She later transitioned to higher education in Singapore, where she spent five years teaching digital media and marketing skills before taking on her current leadership role.