Two newspapers in Gippsland will receive more than $300,000 to support local journalism during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Latrobe Valley Express and the Gippsland Times are among 107 regional news outlets across Australia to receive funding under the Federal Government’s $50 million Public Interest News Gathering (PING) program.
The Latrobe Valley Express will receive around $205,000 and the Gippsland Times, more than $100,000. WIN Television, which has regional newsrooms across Australia including in Traralgon, has been allocated almost $4.5 million.
Local MP Darren Chester, a former journalist who worked at the Times, Express and WIN Television, said the funding would help media outlets to continue sharing reliable news and information.
“Now, more than ever, our community is looking for and relies on the kind of detailed local information that only a local news organisation will provide,” Mr Chester said.
“This funding will go some way to supporting local media jobs and quality reporting on local issues relevant to their readers. With so much spurious information being widely available online, it’s never been more important to encourage quality journalism.
“The media also plays an important role in helping to keep our communities well-informed and connected at a time when we need to stay apart.”
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the PING program provided much-needed support to regional television, newspaper and radio outlets.
“Funding under the program will see $20 million for television, $12 million for radio and $18 million for publishing all across regional Australia,” Mr Fletcher said.
“This funding will support a broad range of activities such as staff wages, training and technology upgrades to allow the successful recipients to keep delivering important news services to their communities.”
The PING program is just one of the measures the Federal Government is providing to support the media industry during pandemic. Other measures include $50 million for a Temporary Interruption Fund to support local film and television producers to resume filming, $41 million spectrum tax relief for 12-months for commercial television and radio broadcasters, $5 million for the Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund and temporary emergency suspension of content quotas for 2020.
