Investigating a sustainable future for public interest journalism

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Investigating public interest journalism from all angles

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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 […]

Survey: News coverage of local councils

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The Public Interest Journalism Initiative is surveying councils about news coverage of their activities to ensure public interest journalism continues to thrive. Since 2020, PIJI has been gathering information on the impact of COVID-19 on local news and the impact of government interventions to support the sector. PIJI now wants to hear from communications staff, elected officials […]

Media diversity report takes up PIJI recommendations

We are looking down into the Australian senate. It is a red room with empty red bench chairs around it and wood panelling on the walls.

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 deductible […]

PIJI showcases new research into philanthropy for journalism

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PIJI Chief Executive Anna Draffin has highlighted new research into philanthropy for journalism showing the potential to grow support for the not-for-profit journalism sector through addressing regulatory constraints. Speaking at an event hosted by The Walkley Foundation and PS Media on September 15 entitled “Why philanthropy is backing local journalism”, one of the issues raised was the […]

Media Reform Green Paper

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In 2021, PIJI made a submission to government on the Media Reform Green Paper — Modernising television regulation in Australia. PIJI’s Submission on the Media Reform Green Paper: Modernising television regulation in Australia noted that television remains a trusted source of news for Australians. It recommended that: To complement content obligations, any new broadcasting regulatory framework should be designed to incentivise news programming and diversity, […]

Queensland shield law consultation

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PIJI and the Centre for Advancing Journalism prepared a joint submission to the Queensland Government’s 2021 consultation on the introduction of shield laws to protect the confidentiality of journalists’ sources. The submission supported the development of shield laws on the basis that the protection of journalists’ sources is a key component of the production of public interest journalism. Prior […]

ACMA disinformation code submission

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In November PIJI made a submission to the Digital Industry Group Inc (DIGI) on its draft Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation. Our submission stated that the code did not sufficiently address the issue of news quality and the role that the availability of high-quality news plays in improving the digital information ecosystem. A recommendation was […]

Journalism’s new normal

We are looking down at a person typing on an old fashioned orange typewritter. It has a piece of paper stuck in it. We can only see the person's hands.

By Professor Glenn Withers Applied Economics and Australian National University Australian communities are battling multiple challenges of the times. The vast majority of Australians believe good journalism is important during these trying days. Fires, floods, storms, drought and pandemic have had impacts for us all. In dealing with this, public interest journalism has been a […]