The federal government today launched the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP), investing $180.5 million to support local news and community broadcasting.
The government will invest $153.5 million over four years to implement the News MAP.
“Local news and community broadcasting is at the heart of local communities and makes a vital contribution to national identity and media diversity in Australia,” said communications minister Michelle Rowland.
Among the projects:
- $33 million over three years to support the Australian Associated Press newswire service.
- $116.7 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $1.7 million in 2028-29) to support and build the sustainability and capacity of news organisations so they can deliver public interest journalism and local news.
- $3.8 million over three years from 2025-26 for the development of Australia’s first National Media Literacy Strategy, co-designed in partnership with the media literacy research sector, education sector and communities,.
The government will also spend a minimum commitment of $3 million per year for two years from 2025-26 for regional newspaper advertising.
This is in on top to the $15 million in 2024–25 already announced for the News Media Relief Program to provide urgent support for eligible regional, independent suburban, multicultural and First Nations news publishers, and the $10.5 million for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to implement the Media Diversity Measurement Framework.
The government will also invest an additional $27 million to back Australia’s community broadcasting sector:
- $15 million through the Community Broadcasting Program (CBP) to support the community broadcasting sector, including $3 million to support community television
- $12 million through the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program (IBMP) to support the First Nations broadcasting and media sector.
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