As the year nears its end, Australia still awaits movement on promised government measures intended to support a sustainable public interest journalism sector.  

With many news publishers struggling to keep up as tech giants speed towards an uncompromising, AI-driven future, politicians on opposite ends of the political spectrum are united in calling for urgent action.  

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young tells PIJI the news media industry is at a crossroads, with Meta’s refusal to pay for news content and Google’s more gradual withdrawal from deals with publishers highlighting how the News Media Bargaining Code is not working as intended.  

“Good quality, trustworthy news is more important than ever, particularly on digital services and across the digital sphere,” she says. 

“We’re really staring down the barrel … of a very hard time for media and news companies unless something is done. 

“I suspect that without further action from government, we will see more journalists’ jobs lost over the next six to 12 months.” 

In August, Liberal MP Mary Aldred called for the finalisation and implementation of the government’s proposed News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) and News Bargaining Incentive in a speech to the House of Representatives.  

She tells PIJI the frameworks are a “good start”, but criticises the government’s lack of action since the announcing the measures. 

“We’ve got a number of regional newspapers doing their best right now, but they’re struggling to keep their head above water, and they just don’t have the resources to continue to wait and wait,” she says. 

“I really worry about a future where people consume their news through a very narrow algorithm that simply serves to reinforce their existing view on issues, rather than just [reporting of] facts and news [that] encourage all of us to read a broader spectrum beyond just our own experiences and views on issues.” 

Last year ended on a hopeful note for the public interest journalism sector, with the government releasing the policy framework for a four-year $180.5 million investment in local news and community broadcasting under News MAP.  

But implementation has been delayed, and the consequences have already been felt; in July, the Local & Independent News Association narrowly avoided closure after being unable to apply for grants under News MAP. 

Likewise, the government announced in December it would establish the News Bargaining Incentive to encourage digital platforms to enter or renew commercial deals with news publishers.  

A public consultation paper on the News Bargaining Incentive was due for release in early 2025, but has yet to materialise.  

In the meantime, Meta maintained its adamant refusal to make deals while Google ended existing deals years early and reportedly offered some publishers new deals for significantly shorter periods and lower dollar value. 

Hanson-Young says public interest journalism, with its role in holding authority to account, is essential for a strong democracy.  

With bad actors flooding platforms with “dubious content” and an erosion of government support for public interest journalism internationally, particularly in the US, she says Australia must support independent, accessible press “without fear or favour”. 

But she says the government has taken so long to implement the News Bargaining Incentive that the sector is already facing its next major battle: AI tools “scraping, stealing and then using” journalists’ work without sharing profits. 

Until further details about the News Bargaining Incentive are released, Hanson-Young says she cannot confirm whether she and the Greens will fully support it. 

“Obviously, we need to make sure these big tech companies pay for the content that they’re making massive profits off, whether it is public interest journalism or other types of creative content,” Hanson-Young says. 

“I think in the news space, the government’s plan for the News Incentive is worthwhile, but where is it?” 

“We’ve always been wanting the details on it and exactly how it would work, how it will be enforced. And is it just a short-term fix, or is this going to allow for a medium to long-term investment in public interest journalism?” 

PIJI contacted the office of communications minister Anika Wells for comment. 

Written by Sezen Bakan