- Have any questions?
- 02 9247 6000
- media@commsroom.co
- Have any questions?
- 02 9247 6000
- media@commsroom.co
Menu
This funding is directed towards regional and community news outlets.
Opening in November, the News Media Relief Program (NMRP) will provide grants to eligible regional, independent suburban, multicultural and First Nations news publishers creating news content.
The news content must be distributed online, but can also be distributed in other formats.
“Local and community news outlets play a huge role in supporting a diverse and inclusive news media sector that is so vital to the healthy functioning of Australian society and democracy,” says Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP.
“We want to see more local journalists and publishers reporting on the issues that matter to their communities.”
The program will deliver critical support to a sector struggling to survive in the face of changing readership habits, increasing costs and declining advertising revenue.
Read also: South Australia’s digital safety initiative targets youth engagement with social platforms
With local and community news outlets playing a vital role in keeping Australians up to date about the matters and events that impact them – enabling them to make informed decisions and contributing to social cohesion. The program will help to strengthen the health and diversity of our media sector.
“This funding will provide the urgent assistance local news outlets need as we continue our work on News MAP – an ongoing program that will enable us to deliver effective support to the Australian news sector into the future.”
Grants will be open to regional or suburban publishers with an annual revenue under $30 million, or which predominantly serve First Nations and multicultural communities, with the primary purpose of publishing core news content.
It will help these news organisations to keep their doors open and audiences informed.
The NMRP forms part of the Government’s broader efforts to safeguard Australia’s media diversity and promote public interest journalism, through the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP).
Earlier this year, the Government completed consultation on News MAP which will provide a principles-based policy framework, informed by robust evidence, for future interventions to inform next steps on measures to ensure the news sector remains robust and strong, and continues to serve communities across Australia.
Adrianne Saplagio is a Content Producer at Comms Room, where she combines her passion for storytelling with her expertise in multimedia content creation. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for engaging audiences, Adrianne has been instrumental in crafting compelling narratives that resonate across various digital platforms.
