Supporting public interest journalism during COVID-19
The Australian Newsroom Mapping Project
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve, media, alongside other essential services in the community, is in intense demand as never before.
Like other industries, it is suffering deep financial shock. But the key difference is the stress already faced by the news industry before the pandemic hit. The flight of traditional advertising revenue online has seen successive years of decline in revenue. Now the economic crunch has erased almost all remaining advertising dollars due to the paralysis of the airline, tourism, hospitality, real estate, sport and entertainment sectors.
In response, PIJI has examined immediate crisis relief options for the government’s consideration while also undertaking new research to inform future needs and hopefully in time, the recovery of public interest journalism. This week, we launch The Australian Newsroom Mapping Project to track the now rapidly changing health of Australia’s news industry. We are now calling for public submissions of relevant data (see below).
These are challenging times for us all. The health of a country’s news media is a barometer for the health of its democracy. There is inherent public interest in ensuring news infrastructure remains in place. Without, recovery and rebuilding are almost insurmountable.
If you have any feedback or suggestions, please reach out.
Regards,
Anna Draffin, CEO
anna.draffin@piji.com.au
Relief recommendations to government
With media designated as an ‘essential service’, PIJI has provided the following remedial recommendations for the Federal Government’s consideration:
Immediately release available funds in the government’s Regional and Small Publishers Jobs and Innovation Package – thought to be around $40 million, and add an additional $60 million to replicate the original investment
Make local news subscriptions tax deductible as a temporary supportive measure during the pandemic crisis
Grant temporary relief on license fees to broadcast media and ease content obligations
Increase public-service advertising in local news media over the next three months by at least $100 million
Earmark further funding to assist a national newswire to provide public interest reporting
To read more about PIJI’s recommendations and comments from PIJI Chair Professor Allan Fels click here.
Mapping Australia’s newsrooms
PIJI has unveiled The Australian Newsroom Mapping Project, a visualisation tool tracking changes to media companies, mastheads, newsrooms and stations.
Created as a long-term, cumulative research project, the map has been launched with data starting from 1 January 2019 and includes news service closures and decreases announced this week.
PIJI is now calling for public submissions to assist in gathering more information. Anyone- general public or industry – may submit information by completing the form on our website or by email to newsmap@piji.com.au.
Initial categories for information are masthead or station closure, newsroom closure, decrease in service, end of print edition and job losses.
Data to date clearly shows the accelerating deterioration in news availability, especially in rural and regional areas and in local coverage.
More data will be added progressively, including data from previous years.
See the full map here.
Board appoints new CEO
PIJI’s board of directors have appointed Anna Draffin as PIJI’s new CEO, following a three-month external search.
Anna is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in business strategy and stakeholder relations across government, corporate and non-profit sectors. Her previous roles include senior positions with Australia’s peak body for philanthropy and federal, state and local government bodies.
She was most recently the Executive Director of ShareGift Australia, and has been PIJI’s Interim Executive since late 2019. Anna commenced as CEO at the beginning of April.
The PIJI team has also expanded with the addition of Isabelle Oderberg to the new role of Communications Strategy & Media Manager. To contact Isabelle on any communications inquiries, please email isabelle.oderberg@piji.com.au.
In the news this week
Coverage of COVID-19’s impact on public interest journalism
Australia
- ‘Vital to communities’: Government urged to save regional media outlets
The Sydney Morning Herald, April 2 - Virus, big tech ‘one-two’ blow for media, says ACCC’s Rod Sims, The Australian, April 2
- Regionals fold in wake of corona, The Australian, March 30
- Coronavirus underscores the crucial role and responsibility of the free press in a crisis
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 30 - Nine suspends some print sections, and shakes up newspaper homepages during COVID-19 crisis
Mumbrella, March 31 - As the pandemic cuts a swathe through newsrooms, communities will count the toll
Croakey Health Media, March 30 - Regional broadcasters request emergency relief, Financial Review, March 30