Local publishers hopeful of support for funding

Mar 26, 2022 at 06:01 pm by admin


Regional publishers in Australia have welcomed inquiry recommendations that urge financial support for independent local newspapers.

Country Press Australia president Andrew Manuel has welcomed the “positive findings” from the federal parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Regional Newspapers and has called for bipartisan support for its recommendations.

“This has been an important and productive inquiry, and the findings can make a real difference to help sustain independent regional news services into the future if implemented,” he said.

These include ensuring 20 per cent of government print advertising is placed in regional newspapers, and that the government considers the viability of a tax rebate for regional businesses that support their local newspaper.

One recommendation is that the Australian government develops a targeted grants programme aimed as small, independent newspapers based in regional and remote Australia communities, which he says aligns with a recommendation of the ACCC’s 2019 Digital Platform report, which called for targeted grants to supports production of “original local and regional journalism”.

Manuel says regional newspapers are “the perfect medium” to reach many regional Australians with important government messages, “so it’s a wise and welcome recommendation to ensure more government advertising is placed with our local independent publications.”

He expected broad political support for the recommendations due to the wide and diverse range of voices that were heard by the inquiry.

“There were clear and consistent themes presented to the inquiry, and at the very top of that list is how important having a local independent news service is to regional communities,” he said.

Inquiry chair Dr Anne Webster noted that regional newspapers were about regional stories “and are a shared community experience”. As newspapers closed, readers were pushed towards social media for their news, “which increases Australians’ exposure to misinformation and creates a disconnect in communities”.

Sections: Newsmedia industry

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