FUNDING BOOST TO HELP RETAIN LOCAL NEWS

Local MPs Michael McCormack and Sussan Ley have congratulated local media organisations across the Riverina and southern border regions of NSW after gaining vital funding from the Federal Government’s Public Interest News Gathering (PING) program.

Grants have started to flow to 107 regional news outlets across the country through the $50 million PING program which is providing much-needed support to regional television, newspaper and radio outlets during COVID-19.

Mr McCormack said it was important for residents to be able to receive news relevant to their local communities, particularly in regional and rural areas.

“As a former regional newspaper editor, I know how important it is for local communities to have access to news which is important to them,” Mr McCormack said.

“The Federal Government appreciates this important relationship, which is why we have invested so heavily in supporting the regional media industry in its time of need.

“I am pleased Prime Media Group has received more than $4.7 million which will go towards its regional newsrooms, including at Albury and Wagga Wagga, which will support local jobs and local news reporting.”

Ms Ley said the funding to maintain staff for the continuing delivery of Prime Local News was in addition to grants for a range of traditional media outlets operating throughout the Riverina and Farrer electorates.

“Diversity in the news we receive is vital – with each of these commercial media organisations battling sharp downturns in advertising revenue, this money is imperative to keep a strong and independent voice in our rural towns and communities,” Ms Ley said.  

Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher said the Public Interest News Gathering program would deliver $20 million for television, $12 million for radio and $18 million for publishing across regional Australia.

“This funding will support a broad range of activities such as staff wages, training and technology upgrades to allow the successful recipients to keep delivering important news services to their communities,” Minister Fletcher said.

Applications were considered through a demand-driven process, meaning organisations which satisfied the eligibility criteria, including the production and distribution of public interest journalism in regional Australia, were eligible for funding.