December Newsletter
A Senate Committee investigating media diversity in Australia has released its final report after a year-long inquiry, which includes several recommendations included in PIJI’s submissions.
Media diversity report takes up PIJI recommendations
A Senate Committee investigating media diversity in Australia has released its final report, which includes several recommendations included in PIJI’s submissions. The Media Diversity in Australia report was released following a year-long inquiry and makes several recommendations based on our research and included in our submissions. The Australian Senate Environment and Communications committee’s recommendations included deductible […]
PIJI unveils Full Picture database
Today the Public Interest Journalism Initiative is launching the first stage of our Australian Newsroom Mapping Project: Full Picture, Australia’s first comprehensive database of public interest journalism production.
National Consultation Report 2021
Media Diversity Inquiry
In November 2020, the Senate referred an Inquiry to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee to examine the state of media diversity, independence and reliability in Australia and the impact that this has on public interest journalism and democracy. The Media Diversity Inquiry was established after a petition, calling for the establishment of a royal commission […]
October Newsletter
PIJI is building a database of local news producers around Australia that will identify gaps in the market and inform future research and policy design. We need your contributions to ensure that we capture as many news producers as possible.
PIJI showcases new research into philanthropy for journalism
PIJI Chief Executive Anna Draffin has highlighted new research into philanthropy for journalism showing the potential to grow support for the not-for-profit journalism sector through addressing regulatory constraints. Speaking at an event hosted by The Walkley Foundation and PS Media on September 15 entitled “Why philanthropy is backing local journalism”, one of the issues raised was the […]
September Newsletter
According to new research from PIJI released today, a broad lack of awareness of the support needed by news organisations is hampering the contribution philanthropy could be making as risk capital to the future of public interest journalism.
Philanthropic Giving For Journalism
The potential of philanthropy to contribute to the development of non-profit news production in Australia is under studied. PIJI has an ongoing program of research into the potential to grow philanthropic support for the not-for-profit journalism sector through addressing regulatory constraints.
August Newsletter
Protecting sources is a key component of the production of public interest journalism, according to PIJI and the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advancing Journalism in their joint submission to the Queensland government’s consultation on a proposed shield law for journalists.
Media Reform Green Paper
In 2021, PIJI made a submission to government on the Media Reform Green Paper — Modernising television regulation in Australia. PIJI’s Submission on the Media Reform Green Paper: Modernising television regulation in Australia noted that television remains a trusted source of news for Australians. It recommended that: To complement content obligations, any new broadcasting regulatory framework should be designed to incentivise news programming and diversity, […]
July Newsletter
Any new broadcasting reform must be fit-for-purpose and encourage diversity in news production, PIJI is arguing in the submission to the Federal Government’s Media Reform consultation on modernising television regulation.
Queensland shield law consultation
PIJI and the Centre for Advancing Journalism prepared a joint submission to the Queensland Government’s 2021 consultation on the introduction of shield laws to protect the confidentiality of journalists’ sources. The submission supported the development of shield laws on the basis that the protection of journalists’ sources is a key component of the production of public interest journalism. Prior […]
June Newsletter
PIJI is proud to announce that it will be expanding the Australian Newsroom Mapping Project (ANMP) to include The Full Picture, a comprehensive database of Australia’s newsrooms across all states and territories.
May Newsletter
PIJI continues to engage in broad consultation ahead of the submission deadline for the government’s Media Reform Green Paper on May 23, both around the possible spectrum changes floated in the paper, but also the possibility of a public interest news gathering (PING) trust.
April Newsletter
PIJI’s Australian Newsroom Mapping Project has recorded some concerning early indications of a closure trend in its March data report, which appears to be continuing into April’s emerging data.
News Media And Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code
The News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code is world-first legislation intended to address the market power imbalance between Australian news media businesses and digital platforms. A Bill to implement the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code was introduced to the House of Representatives in December, 2020. The Bill was then referred to […]
New research shows philanthropic tax incentives could support media diversity
A not-for-profit (NFP) news sector could increase media diversity and help build sustainable new financial models, according to research by the Public Interest Journalism Initiative.
PIJI welcomes passing of code, calls for SME capacity funding
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative welcomes and congratulates the government on the passing of the legislation of the Mandatory News Media and Digital Platforms Bargaining Code, a world first. We also welcome Facebook’s return to the negotiating table and its decision to return news to its Australian users.
PIJI concerned by dis/misinformation code
PIJI is expressing deep concern regarding the voluntary Australian Code of Practice On Disinformation and Misinformation, released this morning by the digital industry association, DIGI.
Disinformation and news quality code
In 2019, as part of its response to the Digital Platforms Inquiry, the Australian Government tasked the digital industry and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to develop a voluntary code on disinformation and news quality. In June 2020 the ACMA released a position paper outlining its expectations of the code. Development of the code […]
PIJI concerned about Facebook
A statement from PIJI Chair Professor Allan Fels, also the former Chair of the ACCC.
February Newsletter
It remained a busy time over the summer for news media industry and PIJI is investigating the potential for philanthropic giving to support the production of public interest journalism, specific to the Australian context.