A Senate Committee investigating media diversity in Australia has released its final report, which includes several recommendations included in PIJI’s submissions.
The Media Diversity in Australia report was released following a year-long inquiry and makes several recommendations based on our research and included in our submissions.
The Australian Senate Environment and Communications committee’s recommendations included deductible gift recipient (DGR) for appropriate public interest journalism (PIJ) organisations and reduced tax on PIJ investment.
“We were also pleased to see acknowledgement of important role of national public broadcasters and a national newswire to the PIJ ecosystem,” said PIJI Chief Executive Anna Draffin.
Ahead of a Federal Election next year, PIJI will release a position paper early in 2022 and is hopeful all political parties will develop a media policy platforms.
“PIJI is working on gathering further information so we can improve our understanding of Australia’s news production landscape and the changes that have taken place and continue to evolve, primarily through the Australian Newsroom Mapping Project and also our newly-unveiled Full Picture database,” explained Draffin. “But more data is necessary for industry intelligence and analysis, if we are to proceed with development of long-term-industry reform.”
PIJI supports a robust external complaints framework and professional standards to ensure industry held to account and build public trust.
“We also acknowledge the need for fit-for-purpose regulatory framework in era of media convergence and digital disruption,” said Draffin. “All of these are essential considerations in the integrity of the underlying public good of the news sector.”
PIJI research shows that an industry rebate scheme could inject $356 million per year into public interest journalism and tie investment directly to PIJ outcomes.
“Australia’s news blackout on Facebook earlier this year demonstrated to the community the extent to which their everyday lives rely upon news and current affairs, especially during COVID-19 and amid rising disinformation and misinformation,” Draffin said in her appearance in front of the committee.