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An independent not-for-profit company by journalists will receive $900,000 in funds to continue doing journalism research that will help guide legislation on news media policies.
The grant is carried in the government’s 2022-23 budget as part of a $4 million commitment to develop the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP), a program that aims to “support a diverse and sustainable media sector.”
News MAP is a program of work that will lay the foundations for principled, targeted and evidenced-based support for the news media sector.
“The News MAP will guide and inform Government support for public interest journalism and media diversity, including with information about the state of the news media landscape across the country,” said Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland.
The first part of News MAP to be announced is a one-off $900,000 funding commitment to the Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI), an independent non-profit company that produces the Australian News Data Report which assesses media diversity and plurality.
The fund will support PIJI in its mission to collect, analyse, visualise and maintain Australian public interest news and journalism data. This grant is an important step toward journalism research that will inform news media policy. It will also help maintain data and evidence on changes in the state of public interest journalism and news media production in Australia over time.
“Public interest journalism is essential for informed citizens, consumers and communities. People need access to accurate and reliable journalism on issues that matter,” Rowland said.
Meanwhile, PIJI Chief Executive Anna Draffin expressed gratitude towards the funding agreement, stressing the critical role of data in making decisions that will impact the future of journalism.
“PIJI has worked since 2019 to collect and assess meaningful, accurate data on the state of our news sector. Without this information, Australia cannot develop effective policy to support what is a key component of any healthy democracy,” said Draffin.
“In the age of misinformation and fake news, and as the traditional financial model of journalism becomes increasingly obsolete, now more than ever we need decision-making regarding its future to be based on facts and informed, independent analysis,” she said.
Paulo Rizal is a content producer for Comms Room. He writes content around popular media, journalism, social media, and more.
