In the 2nd of our regional media reports, CMT has been examining the flow of narratives between metro and regional news media on important policy discussions. The two policy areas we examined were the Murray-Darling Water Plan and the legislated alcohol bans on Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory – both policy areas which impact metro audiences.
We have also repeated our survey of the levels of coverage of regional issues in metro media outlets and examined regional media start-ups to enquire about the challenges and opportunities. Finally, we continue our annual examination of the impact of the Guardian Australia Rural Reporting Network established under this program of research.
Key findings in this report include:
- There is a declining level of coverage of rural and regional Australia in metropolitan media in the 2022-23 study period compared to 2021-22, with each surveyed metro outlet publishing or broadcasting fewer regional stories from fewer local government areas.
In case studies of water management and bans on alcohol in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory there was no evidence of narrative movement from regional news ecosystems to metro news ecosystems.
Regional news editors in South Australia reported that politicians traveling to the regions to speak on regional water issues sidelined local journalists in favour of those with larger platforms, despite established local journalists having a stronger understanding of regional issues.
We found there have been significant changes to the regional media landscape in the period 2022-23, with acquisitions by the Today News Group in Queensland and South Australia, and the establishment of a consortium of regional entrepreneurs strengthening news coverage in central west New South Wales.
However, these and other start-ups indicate that diminished government advertising is having an adverse impact on their ability to sustain their businesses.
Digital start-up editors say previous research pertaining to the reluctance of regional communities to consume media digitally is no longer relevant, and that government policy and grant making which favours print media needs to be reconsidered.
Our analysis of the Guardian Australia Rural Network has found an expansion of the regional issues and geographical areas covered and facilitated conversations with rural and regional communities which have contributed to the journalism process. However, we found an unclear impact on policy making by the network.
Download the report here:
