In a recent statement, social media giant Meta - which owns both Facebook and Instagram - announced they would not renew their agreements with Australian news publications that formed the basis of their Facebook News tab. 

Meta reported that the number of people using Facebook News in Australia and the U.S dropped by over 80 per cent, saying users instead go to Facebook for ‘new opportunities, passions and interests’.

Country Press Australia (CPA) - which represents several local newspapers and publications - said that the announcement is a devastating blow to members who benefited from the existing and soon-to-expire agreement. 

“Meta has been providing grants to Country Press Australia publishers which has provided vital sustainability,” CPA President Andrew Schreyer said. 

“There will be publishers who close their doors and won’t be able to continue supporting their communities with news in the wake of this announcement,” he said. 

“These regional and local publishers are the major, and in most cases sole, providers of local public interest journalism in their communities.” 

The existing agreements with Meta were a result of government negotiations with the tech giant, which saw many Australian publications blocked from the site for a number of days drawing community backlash and 'bad press'. 

Mr Schreyer denied the lack of engagement with news content on Facebook. 

“The most popular Facebook pages in most regional and rural communities are those of the local news publishing company, yet Meta says people don’t go to Facebook for news or political content.”

“What about in times of bushfire and floods or when the chips are down and someone in the community needs help? Local experience would suggest otherwise.” 

For newspapers that have come to rely on the Meta agreement as a stream of income for their news content, Mr Schreyer predicted job cuts could be ahead. 

“Given the already well-documented challenges our industry faces (major cost increases for  newsprint, ink, energy and the decline in federal government advertising spend), this announcement will force many publishers to confront the issues ahead of them and cut  staff. 

Coonamble Times and Western Plains App owner and editor Lee O’Connor said that locally, it’s too early to tell the true impact. 

“We are supported through advertising by our local government and by local businesses and community groups who value what we provide,” she said.

Lee O'Connor with Country Press NSW President Lucie Moss and Administrative Officer Greg McFarland at NSW Parliament House in 2023.

Mrs O’Connor has been part of an ongoing campaign to see more advertising dollars from government reach bona fide regional news outlets. 

“It is an ongoing disappointment that both federal and state governments continually choose not to back up their statements about the importance of public interest journalism and regional news with their actions,” she said.

“We are not asking for handouts, we are asking for recognition for what our publications contribute to our local communities and our society as a whole - we deliver authentic local news that you can't get anywhere else.”

“As just one small business in this industry I don’t think it’s too much to ask that our elected representatives and government staff back us as taxpayers and citizens and put our interests ahead of the mega corporations like Meta.”