Senate Report Includes PIJI Recommendations
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 a tax rebate scheme for investment in public interest journalism as examined by PIJI and deductible gift recipient (DGR) for appropriate public interest journalism (PIJ) organisations.
“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.
“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 continues to gather critical information improve our understanding of Australia’s news production landscape and the changes that have taken place and continue to evolve, through the Australian Newsroom Mapping Project and newly-unveiled Full Picture database,” explained Draffin. To better understand media diversity in this country, more data is needed to inform fit-for-purpose long-term-industry reform.”
Ahead of a Federal Election next year, PIJI will release a position paper early in 2022 to assist political parties to develop media policy platforms.
To read more about the Media Diversity in Australia report, its recommendations and PIJI’s position on key issues, please click here.
Newsroom Mapping
PIJI’s Australian Newsroom Mapping Project report for November got a boost from the launch of Full Picture, which contributed a number of backdated entries.
In total, 32 new records were added, of which 13 were new print editions, 14 were new operations, two were mergers and three were closures. Thirty one of these changes occurred before November, and most related to hyperlocal presences.
Meanwhile, the October report included 12 new records, of which three were new operations, six were ends of print editions, two were decreases in service and one was a closure. Most of the changes logged in October were related to past activity at Australian Community Media.
Click here to read the November and October reports or view the current status of the map.
In 2022, this map will be incorporated into the Full Picture project to build a comprehensive snapshot of Australia’s news production.
Partnership News
PIJI is extremely excited to announce that it has begun a formal collaboration with the University of Melbourne to work in partnership with its Centre for Advancing Journalism (CAJ).
Together we will be seeking opportunities to collaborate in researching viable future financial models for public interest journalism and other ways of strengthening this integral piece of our democratic infrastructure. CAJ’s fundamental aim is to advance the practice of journalism at a time of great change.
This collaboration, with one of the world’s leading academic institutions, at the forefront of research and teaching of journalism, represents yet another important period of growth for PIJI, from our start-up partnership with The Conversation, to operating as a major research project of the newDemocracy Foundation.
“This relationship represents an exciting new chapter for PIJI with an organisation that has shown itself to be fiercely committed to public interest news, representing perfect strategic synergy,” says PIJI CEO Anna Draffin. “We look forward to identifying new projects on which we can collaborate and contributing the future of an industry everyone needs to succeed.”
Recent Media Coverage
Australia
- News Corp Australia posts $60.7m loss as pandemic takes toll on media. The Guardian, November 8
- Australian journalism needs more than better protection, it needs better standards. The Conversation, November 9
- Government reveals plan to reform Australia’s whistleblowing laws. The Guardian, November 11
- Queensland Shield Laws leave journos adrift. Herald Sun, November 16
- Media Watch Dog: Ita’s ‘we warn the Kaiser’ moment on proposed senate committee. The Australian, November 19
- Australian billionaire to help publishers strike content deal with Google, Facebook. iTnews, November 22
International
- United Kingdom
Scottish Government mulls idea of grants to sustain diverse news media. Press Gazette, November 17 - New Zealand
Meta announces new commitment to support sustainability of New Zealand newsrooms. StopPress, November 4 - USA
The fight for America’s future – Guardian US launches end of year appeal. The Guardian, November 23
News
A monthly selection of new research from academic and industry groups, relevant to the future of public interest journalism.
- Local beats, national consequences: the link between local news and American democratic health
Robert Saldin, B. Kal Munis, Richard J. Burke, Niskanen Center - A ‘full stack’ approach to public media in the United States
Ellen P. Goodman, Sanjay Jolly, The German Marshall Fund of the United States - The media welfare state: a citizen perspective
Johan Lindell, Peter Jakobsson, Fredrik Stiernstedt, European Journal of Communication - The labor conditions of the digital journalist in US local television newsrooms
Carey L. Higgins-Dobney, Electronic News - News you can use to promote your interests: media ownership forms and economic instrumentalism
Timothy Neff, Rodney Benson, Journalism Studies - The effect of corporate media ownership on the depth of local coverage and issue agenda
Justin C. Blankenship, Chris J. Vargo, Electronic News