LINA works with Australian Commonwealth and State governments to enact policy mechanisms and fund projects that will foster a vibrant, diverse and sustainable news media landscape.
As an industry association, LINA works to provide capacity building support for local and independent newsrooms. Many of these are very small or emerging news organisations, whose unique challenges and needs haven’t always been reflected in policy. LINA engages with elected representatives through meetings, public hearings and policy submissions. To be represented by LINA, member newsrooms must be independent and meet a set of high editorial and organisational standards.
Key priorities
Legislated government advertising spend
LINA suggests government legislate a ratio (e.g. 10%) of the nearly $450 million spent in government advertising annually be expended on locally produced, community-focused media services publishing public interest journalism in both regional and metropolitan locations. This will allow government to reach a broader and more diverse audience group with messaging via trusted local news sources, while also supporting independent publishers. Audiences have increasingly transitioned to online platforms, and the government’s News MAP (2024) policy principles outline a platform neutral approach. Therefore, this advertising budget must include allocation to digital publications. A flexible approach across platforms would allow government media buyers to schedule advertising in locally produced print, radio, digital and/or video formats on a place-based basis across all government portfolios messages (e.g. health, emergency response, transport etc.) The commitment should be legislated to ensure continuity.
Following extensive advocacy, in December 2024 the News MAP announcement included a Government mandated minimum commitment of $3.0 million per year for 2 years from 2025-26 for regional newspaper advertising (including digital formats) across the total annual Commonwealth Government media advertising spend.
Previous commitments made within procurement contracts have been included and then dropped off when contracts are renegotiated.
LINA is currently working with member newsrooms to implement display advertising through ad manager platform Broadstreet, which will allow for group buying/representation.
- Various submissions
- Direct engagement with elected representatives (federal and state)
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) eligibility for not-for-profits producing public interest journalism
LINA encourages the government to enact the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s philanthropy inquiry that eligibility for DGR status be expanded to include not-for-profit newsrooms producing public interest journalism.
Other countries have implemented varying tax credits and concessions to support donations to news media from both the philanthropic sector and individuals. This has enabled the growth of a strong not-for-profit news sector in countries like the US.
Philanthropy inquiry (Productivity Commission): public hearing appearance and 2x submissions
- Media releases
- Treasury’s draft DGR Registers Reform: submission
- Referenced within various other submissions
- Direct engagement with elected representatives (federal)
Updated Local Government Acts
LINA seeks to have the Local Government Acts of the various states and territories updated so that governments are required to publish public notices within local news services on a platform-neutral basis.
This change would support increased government transparency and civic engagement with local decision-making.
Several states/territories no longer require governments to publish public notices within their local news publication, prohibiting audience engagement and consultation.
Some require governments to share public notices within newspapers, but this wording needs to be updated to include digital news services, where one exists.
- Various submissions
- Direct engagement with elected representatives (federal and state)
- Engagement with Local Government Associations
Eligibility for grant programs
Government grant programs should be expanded to include eligibility for local and independent newsrooms (both regional and metro) wherever relevant e.g. in the areas of small business, workforce development, emergency response, multicultural organisations etc. Eligibility should be platform-neutral and defined by content production, rather than income, employment or other financial thresholds.
Newsrooms producing public interest journalism are excluded from many government grants and funding opportunities that would support their capacity to deliver important services to Australian communities.
- Direct engagement with elected representatives (federal and state)
- Referenced within all policy submissions
“There is no doubt that LINA is helping to sustain a diverse news media ecosystem. The work of LINA and its members is vital to the communities you serve.”
The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, former Minister for Communications
Other engagement
News Media Bargaining Code/News Bargaining Incentive
While effective for some parts of the news media industry, the News Media Bargaining Code (NMBC) eligibility requirements excluded many newsrooms that provide strong public interest journalism services to local communities but did not meet the required revenue threshold. In consultation for the News Bargaining Incentive, LINA will be seeking opportunity for all public interest news publishers to engage in bargaining and for any funds raised through a levy to be redistributed to areas of the news media industry most in need of support who have not benefited from previous programs.
The NMBC was an attempt by government to return some revenue lost to big digital platforms back to Australian publishers. When Meta (Facebook) announced withdrawal from its commercial deals with Australian publishers in April 2024, the government was forced to decide whether to “designate” Meta under the code or develop an alternative program. Following extensive consultation, the News Bargaining Incentive was announced in December 2024. It is a charge and offset mechanism to incentivise digital platforms to renew or enter deals with publishers. Consultation on the program was intended to open in early 2025, but has been delayed.
- Submission to ACCC Request for Information regarding Meta and the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code
- Submission to Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society and hearing appearance
- Extensive engagement with inquiry committee and elected representatives
- Media releases
“Information is as vital to the healthy functioning of communities as clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health.”
Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, 2009
News Media Assistance Program (News MAP)
LINA welcomed the announcement of the News MAP, and will continue to engage with the government and Department of Communications to ensure the interests of local and independent publishers are considered in the design and implementation of programs rolled out under the News MAP policy framework. LINA encourages the government to expedite the roll-out of funding to deliver much needed relief to newsrooms.
LINA has supported member publishers to apply for grants under the NewsMAP Journalism Assistance Fund.
The commitment of $153.5 million over four years to implement the News MAP follows a long period of industry consultation, including extensive discussion with LINA. The News MAP policy framework outlines rationale for government interventions and policy objectives of access, diversity, freedom, quality, engagement and representation.
- Submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ Consultation Paper
- Extensive consultation with the Department, Minister for Communications, and other elected representatives.
- Industry roundtable on the design of the News Innovation Fund.
- Media releases
Let’s solve together
Find out how you can work with LINA to support Australian’s access to public interest journalism.
Murdoch media inquiry
Concerns over the concentration of media in Australia are well documented and broadly understood in policy forums. While LINA shares many of those concerns, direct industry support is a higher priority for the use of government resources. LINA’s programs are aimed at providing capacity building support for independent news organisations to foster a vibrant and diverse news media landscape.
The Environment and Communications Legislation Committee in October 2024 released recommendations that the proposed Murdoch Media Inquiry Bill 2023 not be passed.
- Submission to Committee
- Media release