Boost for regional journalism on the Liverpool Plains

23 Oct 2019

Quirindi Printing & Publishing has been awarded $40,335 in support of the sustainability of local publishing activities, including news gathering, production and distribution.

 

The newspaper and multi-media organisation is among 62 small and regional publishers across Australia to share in around $9 million of funding under the Coalition Government’s Regional Grant Opportunity program to support local journalism.

 

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, offered his congratulations and said the funding will provide a much welcomed boost to journalism and news gathering on the Liverpool Plains.

 

“The Advocate and Quirindi Printing & Publishing team demonstrated a solid business case to increase publishing activities for our region, with the grant providing much-needed funding to develop a new website, email portal and upgrade of its computer systems,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“Local newspapers make an invaluable contribution to rural communities and as one of the last remaining independently-operated newspapers in our region, it is vitally important we help maintain its presence on the Liverpool Plains.”

 

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher, said in the digital age the sector is facing profound and continuing change and the funding will help regional publishers invest for the future.

 

“The Government recognises the challenges facing regional publishers and local newspapers as they reshape their business models to deal with the digital landscape and put themselves on more sustainable footings for the future,” Minister Fletcher said.

 

“These grants provide regional our publishers with the opportunity to invest in new technologies to support news gathering skills development and digital initiatives.”

 

The Regional Grant Opportunity program is overseen by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which received 113 applications for the grants.

 

 (ENDS)

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