With media operations in Canberra and across Australia reeling as advertisers in key sectors slash spending or shut down, the Federal Government is being urged to put in place emergency measures to save the country’s news industry.

The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) said it is imperative, especially at a time that so clearly demonstrates the role of public interest journalism in Australia’s emergency infrastructure.

Stretched news organisations – services the government has itself named as essential – are being put under further stress as advertisers in key sectors like tourism, aviation, sport and entertainment slash their spending in the midst of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction in advertising budgets has hit all media operations hard, especially already-struggling local and regional publishers.

PIJI wants to work with the Federal Government to take the following steps to support public interest journalism in Australia as a matter of urgency:

• To immediately release current funds in the government’s Regional and Small Publishers Jobs and Innovation Package – thought to be around $40 million, and add an additional $60 million
• Make local news subscriptions tax deductible as a temporary supportive measure during the pandemic crisis
• Grant temporary relief on license fees to broadcast media and ease content obligations
• Increase public-service advertising in local news media over the next three months by at least $100 million
• Earmark further funding to assist a national newswire to provide public interest reporting

“Measures taken by the Federal Government, such as cash injections for small business are a great start, as is payroll tax relief being offered by State governments,” said PIJI Chairman Professor Allan Fels AO. “It is clear ministers are working as quickly as possible to inject much-needed stimulus into the economy.

“But given the inherent public interest in maintaining a healthy news sector, we are asking the government to urgently look at stimulus measures to keep public interest journalism alive.

“The sector was already struggling under the weight of a broken revenue model – unless we act now, there will be little news infrastructure left to save.”

News readership and subscriptions have spiked in the midst of the economic and health crises; News Corp alone saw a 48% increase in total audience across all metro and regional titles and subscriptions rose by 21% when compared with the same week last year.

But this week alone has seen the closure of several regional newspapers (Sunraysia Daily, Sunraysia Life, Swan Hill Guardian, Gannawarra Times and Loddon Times), while News Corp is flagging more redundancies across its national operation. Buzzfeed will slash staff pay by up to 25%, Southern Cross extended a trading halt on its shares as it assesses the effect the pandemic will have on its business. Last week, Seven downgraded the profit guidance for its half-year earnings. The Saturday Paper and The Monthly report they have lost “almost all their advertising revenue” in the fallout of the crisis.
Last month the sector was put on notice that AAP will close in June. While it has since emerged that AAP is now in talks with potential buyers, if the closure goes ahead it will be yet another devastating blow to news operations across the country, especially regional and local operators.

Editor’s note: At Canberra Daily, we know many of our advertisers are doing it tough during the COVID-19 restrictions, which in turn is impacting our revenue. As a result, most members of our team are now working reduced hours and many are working from home. We ask you to continue to support our local advertisers where possible, while we continue to keep you informed and entertained as we travel through uncharted territory together.

To find out more about the Public Interest Journalism Initiative, visit piji.com.au