November 1st, 2024$15 million relief fund for regional news publishers
Australia’s federal government has announced a $15 million relief fund to support regional and community news organisations.
The announcement in recent days comes in the wake of extensive lobbying from Country Press Australia (CPA) and other stakeholders.
The News Media Relief Program (NMRP) will open this month and will provide grants to eligible regional, independent suburban, multicultural, and First Nations news publishers.
Country Press Australia President Andrew Schreyer welcomed the funding, crediting CPA’s persistent efforts in pushing for urgent support.
“The announcement is a direct result of an extended and consistent lobbying effort by a Country Press Australia delegation,” Mr Schreyer said.
“The CPA board would like to thank members for their own lobbying efforts, whether it was by sending newspapers to politicians in Canberra or writing letters and speaking with their local federal members.
“It has been a challenging year for the industry, increased printing and operational costs, a tough advertising market, and Meta’s decision to not renew agreements with Australian publishers have all weighed heavily,” he said.
Federal communications minister Michelle Rowland said local and community news outlets play a huge role in supporting a diverse and inclusive news media sector vital to the healthy functioning of Australian society and democracy.
“This funding will provide the urgent assistance local news outlets need as we continue our work on News MAP, an ongoing program that will enable us to deliver effective support to the Australian news sector into the future,” Ms Rowland said.
“We want to see more local journalists and publishers reporting on the issues that matter to their communities.”
The $15 million fund will be distributed through a demand-driven process, offering grants of $13,000 per full-time journalist producing core news content. The funding must be used within the 2024-25 financial year.
More details of the News Media Relief Program are expected to be announced over coming weeks, and Mr Schreyer urged eligible publishers to act quickly once applications open.
“CPA will continue advocating for more sustainable support to ensure our members can maintain their role as a fundamental piece of democratic infrastructure,” he said.
