The decline of regional journalism, coupled with the increasing influence of social media, poses a significant threat to the coverage of local communities in Australia.
With multiple local papers shutting down, fewer resources are available for regional journalists. Leaving local news and community events unreported, whilst social media platforms fail to fill the gap left behind.
Regional journalism has been declining at an increased rate since the Covid-19 pandemic. With many rural news outlets already facing financial strain before covid, the lockdowns finalised their position. Forcing many outlets to become digital only.
A report published in 2022 by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, “Rescuing Regional Journalism“, noted how many publications were affected by the pandemic.
“Since the start of 2020, we have seen more than 100 regional and community newspapers cease printing and commercial broadcasters cut back their staff, bureaus, bulletins and coverage. This is on top of the 106 local and regional papers that closed over the previous decade.”
The survey within the MEAA’s report showed that almost 200 regional journalists working for media outlets across the nation found that regional and rural journalists are overworked, underpaid and pessimistic about the future of their careers and the outlets they work for.
Regional journalism has been further exacerbated by the increasing influence of social media. While social media has provided new opportunities for journalists to reach audiences and share news, it has also disrupted traditional news models and reduced the demand for local news.
With the rise of social media, many people are turning to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and even TikTok for their news. This has led to a decline in readership for regional newspapers and broadcasters.
Social media often lacks the rigour and accountability of traditional journalism, which can lead to the spread of false information and sensationalism, making it difficult for regional journalists to maintain their credibility and trust with their readership.
Despite the reports and surveys, regional journalists remain confident that they are needed and supported. Sophie Else, a Journalist from the Border Mail Albury, says that regional journalism is very resilient and that there is no decline.
“I don’t think it’s declining at all; it’s very strong. You see a lot of comments about newspapers in non-country areas closing, but that’s those little one-horse towns where it’s not really sustainable.”
Sophie’s experience in reporting for the community has given her hope that regional journalism will always be a prominent form of reporting.
“Local truly does rule, and people can’t get that anywhere else but from regional media.”
However, the reality is that many regional publications have been forced to shut down due to financial difficulties, and more are likely to follow suit. In April 2022, former journalist Leon Gettler published his findings which stated that more regional papers were either merging with other mastheads or going digital.
“Over the past two years, more than a hundred of the 435 regional and community newspapers that existed in 2019 ceased printing, continuing as digital-only publications or being merged with other mastheads.”
While some journalists remain optimistic about the future of regional journalism, the reality is that many publications are shutting down, leaving critical issues unreported. It is vital that steps are taken to support and sustain regional journalism to ensure that local communities have access to the critical coverage they need.
