Regional media outlets have been given a lifeline with the $15 million News Media Relief Package (NMRP) from the federal government. 

"The announcement is a direct result of an extended and consistent lobbying effort by a Country Press Australia delegation," Country Press Australia (CPA) President Andrew Schreyer said.

CPA members and regional stakeholders travelled to Canberra six times and wrote numerous letters to several MPs to draw the federal government's attention to the plight of regional media outlets since December 2023.

"This contribution is much appreciated and has really made a difference."

"Every little bit of support for our local publishers helps, and I know that there will be many in the Parkes electorate who will be looking to apply for this program," MP Mark Coulton said.

"I welcome the Australian Government’s announcement of the News Media Relief Program and hope it will provide much-needed support for regional media."

Mark Coulton showing his support for regional media at the Country Press NSW Awards in Dubbo with Coonamble Times editor Lee O'Connor. Photo: Mark Coulton MP Facebook

The News Media Relief Program (NMRP) announced on 22 October will open in November and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is open to regional, independent suburban, multicultural, and First Nations news publishers. A spokesperson for the Federal Minister of Communications Michelle Rowland said they are not able to comment on what type of publications will be included and what the definition of 'regional' is given the guidelines have not been published yet.

The funding is based on $13,000 per full-time equivalent reporter position. 

"It has been a challenging year for the industry, increased printing and operational costs, a tough advertising market and Meta's decision to not renew agreements with Australian publishers have all weighed heavily," Mr Schreyer said.

Lucie Peart, President of Country Press NSW and editor of the local papers in Gilgandra, Nyngan, Narromine, and Warren said showing politicians in Canberra the value regional newspapers offer their communities helped win the relief package. 

"We sent a paper campaign to Canberra where MPs received copies of multiple publications across the country just to increase their awareness about how many communities are benefiting from having a local paper," Ms Peart said. 

To reach a sustainable level, Ms Peart said continued support of the regional media industry is required. 

"This is an emergency fund. It's not addressing long-term sustainability."

"CPA will continue to advocate for more sustainable solutions to the challenges our industry faces and for support that recognises the vital roles our members play as a fundamental piece of democratic infrastructure in the communities they serve," Mr Schreyer said. 

The fight for additional funding has been ongoing for several years.

The Regional Cadetship Program, Regional & Small Publishers Innovation Fund, and the Public News Gathering Fund, however funding during the Covid pandemic went mainly towards media conglomerates, such as ACM, leaving funding for smaller outlets depleted. 

Nonetheless, one of the conglomerates closed more than 20 regional outlets in 2021, according to the Reuters Institute.

"My disappointment during Covid was that the larger publishers didn't fulfill the obligations of their funding agreements. 

"Our smaller media organisations were left to pick up the slack with very little recognition," Mr Coulton said. 

The Australian news industry is highly concentrated. 

The top four media companies control 95 percent of revenue among daily newspapers, according to 2022 research from the Reuters Institute. 

Mr Coulton said the relief program is the first step to increasing the sustainability of regional media. 

"Rural newspapers continue to be dealt a shocking blow by corporate takeover but our locally owned papers are in safe hands and this funding program is a positive step to keep regional media thriving."