The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) and Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas (JNI) today reiterate their support for the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code and its urgent passage through Parliament.
PIJI and JNI made joint submissions to the Treasury Laws Amendment (New Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2020.
They are now calling on the government, and indeed all parliamentarians, to ensure the Code is inclusive and provides meaningful support for the public interest journalism, which continues to be under significant threat, with more closures and job losses expected before Christmas.
“There are several issues of paramount importance to public interest journalism within the Code,” explains PIJI Chief Executive Anna Draffin.
“One of these key factors is media diversity, meaning the inclusion of news producers of all sizes, across regional, rural and metropolitan areas.
“Also, while it may feel like the immediate crisis of Covid-19 has eased, the extreme financial pressure weighing on producers of public interest news is very much still in play.
“The Mandatory Bargaining Code must incorporate fair value exchange in both directions, starting with a fair information exchange to ensure equitable commercial outcomes.”
JNI Executive Director Mark Ryan reiterated his support for the Code and its potential in supporting quality, public interest journalism.
“There has been a lot of talk about the need to encourage more reliable and accurate journalism and the Code can be a world-leading, practical step towards doing just that,” he said.
“We urge the Parliament, the media industry and the digital platforms to work in good faith to introduce the Code as soon as possible.”
To read the PIJI-JNI joint submission please click here.
PIJI and JNI also note the publication of an open letter from 10 media organisations and producers of public interest journalism in support of the Code and its passage through our legislative system.
About The Public Interest Journalism Initiative
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative was established to ensure Australia develops a sustainable ecosystem of independent, pluralistic journalism. We are a non-partisan organisation conducting research, developing policy solutions and building a public conversation on the importance of this issue.
PIJI’s work is guided by its core principles of public interest, neutrality, independence, a diversity of voices and duration.