For Immediate Release
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative welcomes the Federal Minister for Communications the Hon Michelle Rowland MP today announcing funding for PIJI’s independent, longitudinal data analysis on the health of Australia’s public interest journalism.
“PIJI has worked since 2019 to collect and assess meaningful, accurate data on the state of our news sector. Without this information, Australia cannot develop effective policy to support what is a key component of any healthy democracy,” said PIJI Chief Executive Anna Draffin.
“In the age of misinformation and fake news, and as the traditional financial model of journalism becomes increasingly obsolete, now more than ever we need decision-making regarding its future to be based on facts and informed, independent analysis.
I express PIJI’s gratitude to the Minister for ensuring we can continue to provide this crucial research.”
About PIJI
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) is a specialist think tank advancing a sustainable future for public interest journalism in Australia.
Established in late 2018, PIJI is a registered charity governed by an independent board of directors, advised by an expert research panel drawn from leading academic institutions and regulated by the ACNC, ATO and ASIC.
This funding will directly support PIJI’s core data research on Australia’s news production and availability including:
- Australian News Mapping Project: a continuous study of news publishers mapped by location, coverage geographies and business characteristics; includes monitoring of fluctuations in news production or availability.
- Australian News Index: a dynamic database of news outlets, including by scale (national, state/territory, regional, local, community) and primary format (digital, print, radio, television). Upcoming additions include ABR data, ABS jobs data, industry memberships and grants programs.
- Australian News Sampling Project: a rolling assessment of news output by specific geographic location/s to understand the local character and quantity of public interest journalism.
- Australian News Data Report: monthly analyses on data changes and quarterly analyses on broader trends observed across Australia’s news landscape.