Business News Australia the latest casualty in independent media’s fight for survival
While many spent the recent end-of-year holiday period relaxing and celebrating, Camilla Westerlund spent it coming to terms with the fact a 21-year chapter of her life was ending. In January, Westerlund, the founder and managing editor of Business News Australia, announced the publisher entered liquidation. Despite efforts to adapt to changes in the industry, she […]
PIJI’s 2025 highlights
PIJI spent the year delving into some of the biggest issues plaguing public interest journalism and getting insight from people across the industry on the work being done to keep news a constant, trustworthy resource. In case you missed any updates, or fancy a reread, here are PIJI’s top 10 most-clicked pieces from 2025. 1. First step towards […]
News MAP launch welcomed, but room for improvement remains
The News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) has finally arrived, with applications for the Journalism Assistance Fund opening last month. But the launch of the first of two rounds of grants comes too late for the news publishers which folded and journalists who lost their jobs since the development of the program was announced in […]
‘Where is it?’: Progress urged for News MAP and News Bargaining Incentive
As the year nears its end, Australia still awaits movement on promised government measures intended to support a sustainable public interest journalism sector. With many news publishers struggling to keep up as tech giants speed towards an uncompromising, AI-driven future, politicians on opposite ends of the political spectrum are united in calling for urgent action. […]
Why Australia’s media literacy must improve
At a time when technology makes it easier than ever to trick and mislead, media literacy is vital. Yet too many Australians lack the necessary skillset to sort truth from false. Ninety-seven per cent of Australian adults have insufficient ability to verify information online, a joint report by the University of Canberra, Western Sydney University, […]
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 […]