Federal inquiry into social media
PIJI welcomes federal government inquiry’s recognition of public interest journalism’s role in the debate of the impact of social media on Australian society.
Adelaide coverage subjects revealed in April report
PIJI recorded two market changes in April and five retrospective changes, while for this month’s sampling our team analysed news in all 20 local government areas of Greater Adelaide.
Australian concern about mis/disinformation among highest in the world
Australians’ concern about online mis and disinformation is among the highest in the world, while one in four Australians say social media is their main source of news according to the Digital News Report: Australia 2024.
March, 1Q report logs 13 changes to newsroom mapping database
The Australian News Index recorded 13 changes in its March report, resulting in a net expansion of two outlets, taking the number of outlets to 1,211 across digital, radio and television news producers (or formats).
April Newsletter
Developments continue apace with PIJI’s submission to the News MAP consultation, new PIJI analysis showing patterns in local news markets and the latest news mapping report results.
‘Significantly lower than our commercial competitors’: ABC dismisses reports of increased advertising budgets
April report release, new data on news outlet ownership
PIJI’s April 2023 data report includes new data on news outlet ownership.
March ANMP report shows 25 local government areas with no print or digital outlets.
PIJI’s Australian News Data Report: March 2023 edition is now available, which includes both monthly and quarterly results. During March, there were 12 changes to the database, including one addition and two removals, as well as one reopening and eight other changes, which occurred across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. As at March 31, the Australian News Index […]
What does the Ben Roberts-Smith trial mean for news?
A wrap-up of reaction to the suit’s result.
May Newsletter
March quarterly data now live on the PIJI website, we have a federal budget round-up and PIJI’s submission on the roductivity Commission inquiry into philanthropy.
April Newsletter
PIJI releases submission to ACMA Framework consultation, February Australian News Data Project report now live and new Deakin research shows importance of rural media.
PIJI’s submission to ACMA framework consultation
PIJI’s submission makes a total of 34 technical recommendations.
January Newsletter
PIJI welcomes ACMA consultation on a measurement framework for news diversity and localism, while December Australian News Data Report shows persistent trend towards lower news availability in the regions.
News sector experiences third largest trough since COVID-19
Australia’s news sector has experienced the third largest market contraction within a single quarter since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest findings from the Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI).
Australia can learn from US models of philanthropy for journalism
The Vice President of Journalism at the influential Florida-based journalism funder and supporter Knight Foundation, will join a panel convened by the Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) at next month’s Philanthropy Australia national conference.
PIJI welcomes new minister for communications
PIJI welcomes the appointment of The Hon. Michelle Rowland MP as Minister for Communications. PIJI looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Minister moving forward.
PIJI data shows high number of news outlets not covered by News Media Bargaining Code
New research shows 41 per cent of local print and digital news outlets are not covered by deals under the News Media Bargaining Code, more than 12 months after its introduction.
PIJI welcomes regional newspapers inquiry report
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative welcomes The Future of Regional Newspapers in a Digital World report, which was today presented to the speaker of the House of Representatives.
PIJI shows emerging gaps in Australia’s news coverage for the first time
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative’s (PIJI) Local News Producers database – part of the Australian Newsroom Mapping Project (ANMP) – has shown for the first time where the emerging gaps in Australia’s print and online news production are situated.
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.
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.
PIJI concerned about Facebook
A statement from PIJI Chair Professor Allan Fels, also the former Chair of the ACCC.
Options available in code reflect broad spectrum of news media businesses and capacity
PIJI and JNI welcome the introduction to Parliament of the government’s News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code.
PIJI survey shows support for public interest journalism remains high
The Australian public’s media consumption has increased substantially through 2020, according to the third of PIJI’s investigations, Community Value of Public Interest Journalism.
Mandatory Bargaining Code essential to stemming erosion of public interest journalism
PIJI and JNI today reiterate their support for the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code and its urgent passage through Parliament.
Community Value Surveys
Community Value Surveys The benefits of public interest journalism are considerable, but difficult to quantify. In a series of surveys, PIJI used ‘willingness to pay’ analysis to evaluate how Australian communities value public interest journalism and to establish evidence-based reference points for future research and policy. Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 1 Findings […]
PIJI proposes tax rebates, unveils guidebook
PIJI releases its next tax investigation for the news media industry – the Guidebook to implement and claim a Public Interest Journalism Tax Rebate.
Bucking the trend: Building a newsroom in regional Australia
By Eliza Berlage Senior Journalist, Naracoorte Community News South Australia’s south-east region continues to have one of the largest losses of media jobs and outlets in the country, a worrying trend for a highly populated and valuable area. Between 2006 and 2016 the region recorded a 3.5 per cent decline in the number of journalism jobs, the […]
PIJI recommendations seek ACCC code clarity and fairness, but more initiatives also needed
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code is a welcome step towards acknowledging the digital transformation of the news industry and the importance of public interest journalism to our community.
PIJI welcomes world-first code to support public interest journalism
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) welcomes today’s release by the Federal Government of the draft Mandatory News Media Bargaining Code and the inclusion of many of PIJI’s key recommendations in the proposed framework.
PIJI, JNI support ACCC mandatory News Media Bargaining Code
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) and Judith Neilson Institute For Journalism and Ideas (JNI) support the establishment of a Mandatory News Media Bargaining Code by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and have outlined how it can work, including calculating the value placed on news content used by digital platforms such as Facebook and Google. However, their joint […]
Number of public interest news contractions in Australia tops 200
The number of contractions in Australia’s public interest news landscape has grown to over 200 since January 2019, according to newly updated data from PIJI’s Australian Newsroom Mapping Project.
Community values and is willing to pay for public interest journalism
The vast majority of Australians value public interest journalism and are willing to pay for it, according to a research report released today by PIJI, in the midst of a dramatic contraction within the news industry.
PIJI welcomes rescue package, recommends additional policy options available to government
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) welcomes the media rescue package announced this morning by Minister for Communications and the Arts the Hon Paul Fletcher MP.
Mandatory code to make online platforms pay for news content is a good move
A mandatory competition code to make digital platforms such as Facebook and Google pay for the content they publish from Australian news media businesses is appropriate and timely for the future of public interest reporting.
PIJI commends Victorian government’s $4.7m plan to buy regional advertising
The Victorian government’s plan to book one page of print and digital advertising in more than 100 regional news outlets each week for six months is a commendable move that will contribute in the short-term to easing the cash crisis in public interest journalism, made acute by the COVID-19 pandemic.
PIJI welcomes funding for regional and small publishers but much more is needed to save public interest journalism
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) welcomes this morning’s announcement from the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP that the Federal Government will release $5 million from its Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund to support journalism during COVID-19.
Government must act now to save public interest journalism
PIJI is calling on the federal government to put in place emergency measures to save the country’s news industry at a time that so clearly demonstrates its role in Australia’s emergency infrastructure.
Public interest journalism in Australia needs AAP
PIJI welcomes the final report of the ACCC Inquiry into Digital Platforms, as an important document that puts a stake in the ground in the battle to sustain public interest journalism.
ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry response: government should act, not defer
While the federal government’s response to the recommendations of the ACCC Inquiry into Digital Platforms shows Australia trying to get out in front, it has not done enough, fast enough, to address the current crisis in public interest journalism.
New research supports tax rebates for public interest journalism
PIJI has released new research that shows tax rebates for investment in public interest journalism would have wide support and would be an efficient and effective way to boost the amount of democratically important information available to the public.
The Nature of the Editorial Deficit
This research project, The Nature of the Editorial Deficit, sheds light on the nature of the editorial deficit in different kinds of Australian newsrooms and gains insight into how editors and newsroom managers would deploy additional journalistic resources, should they become available. Key Findings The Nature of the Editorial Deficit finds that: Data drawn from […]
Professor Allan Fels AO appointed Chair of Public Interest Journalism Initiative
The board of PIJI has announced the appointment of former leading corporate regulator, Professor Allan Fels AO, as its new Chair.
PIJI welcomes ACCC report but calls for action on tax offsets
PIJI welcomes the final final report of the ACCC Inquiry into Digital Platforms, as an important document that puts a stake in the ground in the battle to sustain public interest journalism.
WIN closures continue the alarming local journalism decline
Last week WINTV announced the axing of five regional news bulletins across New South Wales and Queensland. Newsrooms will close in Orange, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury and Hervey Bay. This follows the closure of WIN’s Tasmanian newsroom last August.
Availability of Local News and Information
Key findings The Availability of Local News and Information, 2019 State of the Regions Report finds that: The availability of local news in the regions of Australia has sharply declined since 2014, and is likely to decline further; Research suggests that journalistic deficits result in a reduction in accountability for interest groups and public institutions, and Declines in […]