Research identifies socio-economic factors impacting local print and digital news

In 2023, PIJI commissioned Monash Business School Soda Laboratories (SoDa Labs) to conduct research into factors affecting the viability of local print and digital news outlets. This research was unveiled at PIJI’s first Future Focus Roundtable, held on Tuesday 12 December 2023.

The resulting report, titled ‘The Socio-economic Determinants of Public Interest Journalism in Australia’, conducted an empirical investigation into the socio-economic factors associated with the presence of print and digital local news outlets in Australia, studying 540 LGAs across Australia. It found that the size of the local market, in terms of readership and consumer base, is critical for news publishers; similarly, there seems to be a correlation between the presence of large companies in mining and manufacturing, and a robust local news market.

Read the full SoDa Laboratories research report on our website.

PIJI to host News MAP consultation sessions

The Federal government is seeking feedback on how to best support public interest journalism in Australia. Industry stakeholders are now able to provide input into the development of a policy framework under the News MAP (News Media Assistance Program).

PIJI will be holding a series of consultations on NewsMAP across the month of February to help inform our submission. Consultation closes on Thursday 22 February.

If you are interested in attending, please email info@piji.com.au and we will be in touch.

Fewer outlets listed on Australian News Index

As at 30 November 2023, there were 1213 print, digital, radio and television news outlets listed on the Australian News Index. This is one less than the number of outlets listed as at 31 October 2023.

One new publication was added in November and one outlet was removed from the database. The new publication, the Mt Gambier Times, was added to the database after a rebrand. Its content is now deemed to cover public interest journalism according to PIJI’s definition, meaning it meets the requirements to be listed in the Index.

This month’s sample features covers inner south Melbourne, which we found to have generally low levels of public interest journalism despite being well covered by a variety of news media outlets, at local and metropolitan scale.

Visit our website to read the full November 2023 report.

Future Focus Roundtable blog now on our website

Key leaders from across the local public interest news sector gathered in Sydney for a robust discussion on its future, as part of a PIJI roundtable held on local news and its future.

The event was the first in a series hosted by PIJI set to identify, interrogate and tackle some of the challenges and opportunities facing public interest journalism in Australia.

December’s event investigated the state of news in local areas, including how demand and consumption patterns have changed, how news producers have responded to, and considerations impacting the future supply of local news.

Read more about the event on our blog.

NMBC updates

In 2022, Treasury undertook a review of the operation of the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code. It provided a final report to the Treasurer and Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, which was published in December 2022.

On 18 December 2023, the government published its response, which supported the 5 recommendations of the Review.

Read the government’s response to the Review here, and the Review’s report here.

PIJI attends CONVERGE Conference

Last November, PIJI attended First Nations Media Australia’s annual CONVERGE conference in Canberra. First Nations Media Australia is the peak body for First Nations broadcasting, media and communications in Australia.

In this article on our website, PIJI research coordinator Maia Germano reports on the discussion and lessons learned from the event.

Walkley Foundation invites input

The Walkley Foundation is looking to hear from those in the journalism field – including reporters, producers, correspondents, photographers, social media managers and journalism academics – about the priority topics and challenges they face in the media industry.

Feedback is invited through an online survey, available here.

The survey is anonymous and will take about 15 minutes to complete. It will remain open until 19 February 2024. All answers will be treated confidentially and be used exclusively for Walkley Foundation research and planning. ​

Upcoming opportunities and key dates

• 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024 – News Media Bargaining Code deals expire
• 22 February 2024 – consultation on News MAP closes

Industry news

Australia:

• Antoinette Lattouf sacking shows how the ABC has been damaged by successive Coalition governments
• Albo captain’s pick unlikely as ABC chair hunt down to three
• Government supports including TikTok in news media bargaining code
• ARN Media given approval to retain its 14.8 per cent holding in Southern Cross Media
• ABC boss rejects claims of external pressure to sack Lattouf
• Australia joins international call for local content quotas on streaming TV platforms
• Local newspapers are withering under destructive owners. We should worry
• Did the battle against “misinformation” go too far?
• Tory Maguire elevated to Nine’s top publishing job
• Fox Corp’s Verify tool to combat AI ‘deep fakes’ and misinformation
• SCA announces extension of Network 10 affiliation agreement

International:

• Trust in media: UK drops to last place in Edelman survey of 28 nations
• American Journalism Project invests $5.4 million in four nonprofit local news organizations
• Los Angeles Times staffers stage walk-out to protest impending layoffs
• USA: RSF welcomes U.S. House passage of the PRESS Act and urges Senate to follow suit
• How The Guardian raised a record amount of reader revenue in the U.S.
• Young people are giving up on BBC News. A new podcast is helping try to get them back
• How publishers should respond to a deluge of news industry cyberattacks
• Billionaires Wanted to Save the News Industry. They’re Losing a Fortune.
• While New York Times litigates over AI, many media companies will liquidate – US Congress warned
• New CNN Boss Shakes Up News Operations, Explores Digital Subscription Model
• Two-thirds of Brits follow local news, mostly via social media and TV
• How Michael Glenn, a 16-year-old high school student, saved his town from becoming a news desert
• Threads vs Bluesky: Meta’s Twitter rival appears to be winning with publishers
• The Times sued OpenAI. OpenAI says that isn’t the whole story.
• As independent local news publishers reimagine business models, they face a fresh set of challenges
• Generative AI in the newsroom: Tips and tactics for 2024 from Reuters, Newsquest and BBC
• Why ad-funded journalism-for-all faces fight for survival in 2024
• The future of “big tech” compensation, now that Google’s $100 million deal with Canada is law
• New York Times sues OpenAI, Microsoft for using articles to train AI
• From the inside, a nonprofit news leader says the sector is several years away from its potential