Regional and Local Newspaper Publishers Program

Overview

On 13 May 2022, the Australian Government announced a total of $15 million (GST exclusive) in grants to support regional, independent suburban, First Nations and multicultural print publishers. Funding will be delivered to eligible applicants under two streams with Stream 1 providing $10 million funding for regional print publishers producing core news content in regional Australia and Stream 2 providing $5 million funding for independent suburban, First Nations and multicultural print publishers producing core news content. Australian media organisations play a crucial role in informing Australians about events and developments that are important to their daily lives and enable them to participate in our democratic processes. Journalism is also vital in holding public office holders and those in positions of power to account and exposing wrong doing and injustice. Access to a diversity of voices provides a critical safeguard against undue influence over Australia’s public discourse and democratic system, while effective competition enhances the incentive for media businesses to produce high-quality, accurate news and journalism. There is a continuing decline in the quantity and quality of news. Many communities do not receive adequate coverage of issues and events due to the closure and contraction of news outlets. Regional and local newspaper publishers remain exposed to external shocks, such as newsprint price increases which threaten to wipe out local newspaper titles for good. The objective of the Program is to support eligible print publishers to alleviate the increasing costs of print publishing, enabling them to continue to provide core news content to local communities across Australia.