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The federal Government is to spend $180.5 million on a funding package for local news and community broadcasting journalism.
The government announced the funding at the launch of its News Media Assistance Program (News MAP).
Government will spend $153.5m over four years to implement the News MAP to support journalism in Australia.
Under the new package:
- A new advisory panel will advise on designing ways to support sustainable journalism and capacity building, including attracting philanthropy;
- the Australian Associated Press national news services is to get $33m over three years;
- $116.7 million over four years from 2024-25 and $1.7min 2028-29 to support news organisations including $17.6m for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to support program delivery;
- $3.8m over three years from 2025-26 to develop a national media literacy strategy;
- Government to spend at least $3 million a year for two years from 2025-26 for regional newspaper advertising.
The package comes on top of $15 million already announced in 2024-25 for the News Media Relief Program to provide urgent support for regional, independent suburban, multicultural and First Nations news publishers, and $10.5m for the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
The Government will also spend an extra $27m to back community broadcasting with:
- $15m for the Community Broadcasting Program (CBP) over three years to support the community broadcasting sector, including $3m for community television;
- $12m through the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program (IBMP) to support the First Nations broadcasting and media sector.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says News MAP builds on previous federal support for a strong, diverse and independent media sector.
“Local news and community broadcasting is at the heart of local communities and makes a vital contribution to national identity and media diversity in Australia,” she says.
“Community broadcasters provide millions of Australians with local news, information and entertainment and the government is providing additional funding as it works with the sector on the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review”.
Indigenous Australian Minister Senator Malarndirri McCarthy welcomed news of funding for Indigenous media.
“First Nations journalists, broadcasters and media are a vital part of Australia’s media landscape,” she says.
“They help connect, represent and tell the stories of our communities across the country.”
