The organization, founded by Dr. Hayg Oshagan, aims to raise the visibility, enrich the content and strengthen the economic viability of ethnic media throughout Michigan.  The group seeks to achieve this by building an organized media network and collaborating to establish a unified presence that helps to increase resources across the state.

"By joining together we can raise not only the economic potential of ethnic media, but also raise its visibility as a political power in the state of Michigan," said Oshagan.  "It is most appropriate for Wayne State to host this conference as the university has always had a mission to serve its ethnically and geographically diverse population."

Conference panelists discussed the role of local and national ethnic media and the potential for financial growth.

Panelists included Miriam Muley, founder and CEO of the 85% Niche, Bob Diakow, program director of JCI Design, Sandy Close, executive director and director of New America Media, Daniel Cherrin, press secretary for Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., Tracy Walker, communications director for U.S Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Matt Williams, deputy press secretary for Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Mick Dedvukaj, district director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.

The NMM network works to represent the 100+ ethnic and minority media outlets in Michigan, which represent hundreds of thousands of readers, viewers and listeners in the Michigan media market.

Both the conference and the NMM are supported by a grant from the McCormick Foundation.

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Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.