Bush newspapers need support to survive

The NSW government’s budget, included funding of $3 million for Regional and Community Newspaper Support, to better support regional media in diversifying and expanding digital content – but is it enough?

The Western Magazine and Broken Hill’s 126-year-old Barrier Daily Truth closed their doors this year – and more rural newsrooms could follow without funding support.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler, asked a question in Parliament recently, seeking assurances that regional media will be supported.

His question was directed to Jihad Dib, the Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government.

“Paid advertisements, particularly government advertising, is the baseline of revenue for rural media,” Mr Butler said.

“With recent newspaper closures, how is the Government supporting regional media?

Minister Dib acknowledged the important role of local newspapers in the bush and said he had met with the Country Press Association.

“We are working through a heap of matters,” Minister Dib said.

“I made it very clear that this government is taking its role very seriously in ensuring that all communities across NSW—including remote and small communities—have access to public information.”

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