Alex Cramb: No reprieve in sight for small, independent media
The Federal Government’s News MAP funding package, announced in December 2024, remains untouched – not a single cent has been spent to support struggling independent media. When PIJI was invited for a briefing recently, it became painfully clear that the first tranche of the package, possibly opening for applications in November, offers little hope for small, largely volunteer-run […]
The Orange News Examiner battled the digital ad vacuum – and lost
To rewrite a popular adage, ‘build an audience, and advertisers will come’. Some news startups might pin their hopes on that line of thinking, but in an era where a social media ad campaign is just a click away, an ad in the local paper is not always an appetising prospect for businesses. Peter Holmes, […]
How a community resuscitated local news in Victoria’s South Gippsland
When the Foster Mirror printed its final edition after 134 years of serving South Gippsland, the loss was keenly felt by passionate and connected locals. Rather than stoically succumbing to the steady decline of local news, community members banded together to keep the flame alight. Former South Gippsland Shire councillor Mohya Davies and retired farmer […]
Support for News Media Bargaining Code remains strong – but swift action urged
Canada’s last-minute decision to rescind its digital services tax in response to US trade pressure does not signal doom for Australia’s efforts to get tech giants to the bargaining table with local news publishers. Instead, industry leaders on both sides are open to further developments, which the government promises are on the way. The […]
LINA back from the brink after News MAP delays
A last-minute lifeline thrown by the federal government to the Local & Independent News Association (LINA) has kept the doors from shutting on one of Australia’s most active supporters of small news publishers. In July, LINA, a not-for-profit charity dedicated to supporting local and independent digital news organisations, extended its grant contract with the government […]
Stalling tactics and costly tantrums: Latest in international push for news-digital media deals
Months after the Australian government unveiled measures to incentivise tech giants to comply with the News Media Bargaining Code, no progress has been made. The News Bargaining Incentive, introduced after Meta’s 2024 decision to not renew or make new commercials deals for Australian news content, builds on the 2021 Code by including a charge and […]
The state of news in the UK
What does the UK really think about news? And how many people are underserved by local media?
Harbouring a passion for the facts: news in Fremantle
Among those who make a living from words, a belief that Western Australia in general, and Fremantle in particular, is poorly served by its media is palpable, writes Richard King.
Tropic Wonder: community-first focus in Cairns and surrounding regions
“We question, probe, investigate, inform, entertain and educate. We’re there for the highs and the lows, and we hold people to account.”
“The story of us”: news on the Eyre Peninsula
The Eyre Peninsula’s local newspapers are looking towards the future with a new generation of talent onboard.
Investigating public interest journalism from all angles
PIJI is developing and refining several projects that expand and build upon our current research into public interest journalism. This suite of projects will help to build a robust dataset informed by both rigorous qualitative and quantitative data, as well as by community and industry knowledge. Health Check On Local News In September 2022, PIJI […]
Regional Newspapers Inquiry
PIJI’s submission to the Regional Newspapers Inquiry was informed by data from our Australian News Data Project. It recommended a tax rebate for public interest journalism and for the funding and development of a project to gather and analyse core longitudinal data on regional newspapers. In March 2022 the inquiry adopted a number of PIJI’s recommendations into its final report. […]