Investigating a sustainable future for public interest journalism

Search

AI vs Democracy: The battle is already here

The following article first appeared in The Interpreter, published by the Lowy Institute, and is republished with permission. The first disruption was to the business model of journalism. Australia has yet to heed the warning.   The race for Artificial Intelligence dominance is now on. And with the rise of AI has come dire warnings about its […]

March Newsletter

March quarterly data, Federal Budget round-up, Productivity Commission inquiry into philanthropy, News measurement submissions now available & Reuters report on press freedom

February Newsletter

PIJI submission to ACMA framework consultation, PIJI news sector research, Deakin research shows importance of rural media & Industry News & Events

PIJI statement on government funding agreement

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 […]

PIJI welcomes ACMA consultation paper

The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) welcomes the consultation paper “A new framework for measuring media diversity in Australia”, released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority this morning. “We are pleased to see the government’s commitment to longitudinal data, which is essential if we want to create informed policy to support diversity and plurality in the […]

News Media Bargaining Code review shows need for more ACCC information gathering

PIJI welcomes the recommendation of the News Media Bargaining Code for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to be granted further information-gathering powers in order to obtain information about the commercial agreements struck under the legislation. Over 30 commercial agreements have been struck between the digital platforms and Australian news businesses since the Code’s […]

PIJI welcomes federal budget funding for news media industry

The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) welcomes the supportive funding measures for Australia’s news media industry announced in last night’s 2022/23 federal budget. PIJI CEO Anna Draffin says that the Labour Government’s investment package, which includes $4M to support longer term policy interventions, will assist communities and news producers affected by the sector’s ongoing volatility. […]

Review Of The News Media Bargaining Code

Share This Post PIJI’s submission to Treasury’s Review of the News Media and Digital Platforms Bargaining Code is informed by data from PIJI’s Australian Newsroom Mapping Project showing that 12 months after the legislation was introduced, 41% of local print and digital outlets were not covered by deals under the Code. News Media & Digital Platforms Mandatory […]

Blurring the lines: journalism or council promotion?

Blurring the lines – journalism or council promotion? In the wake of local news outlet closures, are some council-produced newspapers and news websites ‘masquerading’ as independent news sources? Local newspapers have served a critical and important role in communities across Australia for decades. They put the work of councils under the spotlight, celebrate people’s achievements […]

PIJI Federal Election Position Paper 2022

Share This Post In its Federal Election Position Paper 2022, PIJI is calling for commitment to a comprehensive media policy as an imperative in maintaining sector and community confidence, and investment in PIJI’s ongoing data and active monitoring projects The gathering and distribution of news and journalism has declined across the country – as demonstrated by our Australian Newsroom Mapping […]

Watch: PIJI’s Walkley Regional Journalism Summit session

The 2022 Walkley Regional Journalism Summit took the pulse of regional journalism across Australia with a thought-provoking program of Australian and international experts. The Public Interest Journalism Institute’s Summit panel session is now available to watch. PIJI CEO Anna Draffin, alongside Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation (UK), Sue Cross, Institute for Nonprofit News and, Natalie […]

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.

Public Interest Journalism Tax Rebate

PIJI’s program of research into taxation to encourage investment in public interest journalism suggests that a tax incentive scheme is worth serious consideration. The following guidebook and research report investigate an industry rebate scheme, specific to news producers.